LINCOLN, NE WANTS TODD N TYLER

Jeff Korbelik: ‘Todd-n-Tyler’ expands its reach

The empire is growing.

“The Todd-n-Tyler Radio Empire,” arguably Omaha’s most popular morning show, now can be heard on stations in Tri-Cities (Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings), McCook and Scottsbluff.

“We like to say you can now drive along I-80 and never get rid of us,” Todd Brandt said last week in a phone interview about the expansion.

Brandt and Mike Tyler have been paired on Z-92′s (KEZO 92.3 FM) morning show for 17 years. The station is owned by Journal Broadcast Group, based in Milwaukee, Wis.

Their show is syndicated on Omaha’s Big Sports 590 and a rock station in Wichita, Kan. Both are JBG properties.

But the new affiliates, courted by “Todd-n-Tyler’s” syndicator Benztown Radio Networks, are owned by Grand Island-based Legacy Communications.

The new stations carrying the morning show are KKJK (103.1 FM, Grand Island), KZMC (102.1 FM, McCook) and KETT (99.3 FM, Scottsbluff).

So the big question now: Can Lincoln be far behind?

Tyler and Brandt said they would love to be in the Capital City. Z-92 can be heard here, but its signal is sketchy in parts of town and inside office buildings.

The Eagle (KTGL 92.9 FM) would seem the most logical fit. The classic rock station, owned by Lincoln-based Three Eagles Communications, already has a syndicated morning show in “Bob and Tom.”

Why not have one from Nebraska, especially one as popular and well-known as “Todd-n-Tyler”? It makes sense to me.

“We could come in tomorrow and beat the s*** out of ‘Bob and Tom’ in a heartbeat,” Tyler said.

I tend to agree with him.