From Staff Reports

Veteran broadcaster Pete Kaliner was named the host for the high-profile daily afternoon drive-time talk-show (3-6 p.m.) for WWNC-AM/570 in Asheville on Jan. 20.

Kaliner, 37, is promising a lively show. He formerly was an evening host for WBT, a powerhouse AM radio station in Charlotte. He worked as a journalist and on-air personality for the station from 1999 to 2011. In 2011, he worked as a news reporter at News 14 Carolina, a Charlotte television station.

Pete Kaliner

At WWNC, he replaces Matt Mittan, who left the station in October after several of his co-workers were let go by the Clear Channel-owned station, including his producer, Agnes Cheek. Mittan’s show was known as “Take A Stand.”

(Mittan returned to the airwaves of Western North Carolina on Dec. 5, when he began a “drive time” show on WHKP-AM/ 1450 in Hendersonville. The show airs from 5:05 to 6 p.m. weekdays.)

Following Mittan’s departure, that time slot has been filled by syndicated host Sean Hannity, whose program will return to its previous 6-9 p.m. slot.

“The Pete Kaliner Show” debuted on Jan. 23. He has described himself as neither a Republican nor a Democrat. Kaliner has said in various interviews that he wants his show to include conversations with locals about current events, as well as feature lighter subjects. He also plans to include high-profile guests.

WWNC Program Director Brian Hall received about 130 applications from radio personalities across the country.

In promotions for Kaliner’s new show, WWNC billed him as Western North Carolina’s new “watchdog.”

The West Islip, N.Y., native got his radio start at Charlotte public station WFAE-FM in its membership department. Next, he worked at WRHI in Rock Hill, S.C., then moved to WBT, first as a reporter and then as on-air host. Last June, he filled in as a guest host for Mittan at WWNC.