Yuck it up with newly launched Comedy Radio 102.7 FM

Stuck in Austin traffic?

You can either laugh or cry.

The folks at Emmis Communications hope you'll choose the former and tune to Comedy Radio 102.7 FM, which debuted Oct. 20.

The station is part of the 24/7 Comedy Radio Network and airs two- to three-minute bits from a number of well-known comics, including Jeff Foxworthy, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and Wanda Sykes.

Local talent, including Andy Ritchie and Shane Mauss, is featured, as well.

"Austin is renowned for its live music scene and music-loving residents, and that scene is supported by great local radio stations playing a wide variety of musical artists," said Scott Gillmore, market manager for the Austin Emmis stations. "Now the growing Austin comedy scene — and laugh-loving Austinites — will have a place on their radio dial to find their favorite comedians, to discover new comedians and to provide an outlet for the local comedy scene, too."

A simulcast of co-owned KGSR 93.3 FM was previously found at 102.7 FM. The second frequency was added to address complaints from South Austin residents who had trouble getting a clear, consistent signal. Research, however, showed few people were tuning in, the company says.

Changes at KLBJ-FM

KLBJ 93.7 FM has shuffled its DJ lineup.

The moves are a result of this summer's cancellation of the "Charlie Hodge Rock 'n' Roll Halftime Show" featuring Charlie Hodge and Matt Sadler. B-Doe, an eight-year veteran of Emmis-owned KLBJ-FM, can now be heard from 3 to 7 p.m. and CJ, who has spent the past four years at the station, inherits the 7 p.m. to midnight shift.

"The talent pool for these positions was outstanding," said Chase Rupe, vice president of programming and operations for Emmis. "We had an incredible group of internal and external candidates."

‘StateImpact' staffers hired

Three journalists have been hired for "StateImpact Texas: Power, Policy and the Planet," an NPR project that will focus on state government's impact on energy and environmental policy.

Austin's KUT 90.5 FM and Houston's KUHF 88.7 FM are spearheading "StateImpact," which will be heard on several other Texas NPR affiliates. The new hires are:

• Mose Buchele comes from KUT, where he served as a news reporter. He joined the station in 2004.
• Dave Fehling spent a significant chunk of his career reporting for KHOU-TV, Houston's CBS affiliate, and has covered a number of high-profile stories, including the Branch Davidian standoff, Hurricane Andrew and the O.J. Simpson case.
• Terrence Henry will focus primarily on the project's online offerings. He has worked at a number of news outlets, including the Washington Post, Atlantic Monthly, National Journal, Edible Austin and the Atlantic Online.

"StateImpact" kicked off on air this month, and its website should debut in November.

Around the dial ...

Arbitron is out with its latest list ranking radio markets nationwide. Austin is No. 36 with an estimated 1,487,800 people ages 12 and older. San Antonio comes in at No. 28; Houston, No. 6; and Dallas, No. 5. Our city has a 12-and-older Hispanic population of 444,600 and a 12-plus black population of 108,900, according to Arbitron. ... Clear Channel, owner of five Austin radio stations, has teamed up with LivingSocial.com. In the coming weeks, expect plugs aplenty — on air and online — for the daily deal site. ... Tune to 103.1 FM for a simulcast of sports-focused 1300 AM the Zone. ... Follow me on Twitter for updates on local radio and TV stations: @gdinges.

gdinges@statesman.com; 912-5987