Strong Earthquake Rocks Anchorage Media

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A earthquake registering 6.6 on the Richter scale rocked Alaska’s biggest city just before 8:30am local time Friday (11/30), reporting causing damage to many of the Anchorage market’s media outlets.


The earthquake was located 8.3 miles south of the city, the USGS reports. A tsunami warning was quickly cancelled for the Hawaiian Islands.

Information was scant as of 10am local time. However, CBS affiliate KTVA-11 in Anchorage shared on its website and via social media a photo of a heavily damaged studio. The station is owned by a subsidiary of local MVPD GCI. The station’s Twitter feed was just beginning to provide updates. A live stream was not active as of 10:15am local time.

Also updating its Twitter feed, albeit sparingly, are the co-owned FOX and ABC affiliates and NBC affiliate KTUU-2owned by Gray Television.

For local radio, live programming on Rocker KWHL-FM 106.5an Alpha Media property, saw midday host Brad taking live calls from listeners offering on-the-scene reports of the damage in the Anchorage area. While on the air, cracks on the walls were noted; one KWHL office was ravaged. A call from Costco noted that it “will take some time” to be reopened.

“This moment is exactly why a radio station exists in 2018,” Brad said.

Alpha-owned Classic Hits KEAG-FM 97.3 is simulcasting News/Talk KFQD-AM 750 and its FM translator.

At iHeartMedia‘s Anchorage cluster, KYMG-FM “Magic 98.9” was live and local, offering information and news updates to listeners while temporarily ceasing Christmas music; at 10:24am “Last Christmas” by Wham! provided a quick break from Total Traffic Network’s Brian Ross, who offered enhanced coverage to Magic and to co-owned Top 40 KFAT-FM 101.3.