Just shy of 14 years on the air, Steve Helleksen, KCPI’s morning show DJ, has been replaced by a syndicated host. He was the station’s last live DJ.

&uot;I’m not being fired. I’m being invited to leave. I don’t know how to put it,&uot; Helleksen said. &uot;There are so many stations out there opting to use satellite feeds. I call it robot radio.&uot;

Helleksen was replaced by a DJ recording out of Lincoln, Neb. earlier this month, without an explanation to listeners. His last day at work is today. News and sports reports are local, but recorded and played throughout the day, Helleksen said.

Helleksen said he doesn’t blame the station for the decision, but rather its owner, Nebraska-based Three Eagles Communications Company. He said he is worried that the company’s cost cutting will threaten the jobs of other employees and friends of his.

&uot;The corporation made the decision and the station has to make the best of a bad decision,&uot; he said.

KCPI’s station manager, Bill Lubke, answered few questions about Helleksen’s departure. He said it was a decision made by corporate headquarters and wouldn’t disclose the reason behind it.

He said the decision had nothing to do with Helleksen’s performance, which he said was excellent.

Three Eagles Communication Company President Gary Buchanan referred questions about Helleksen’s dismissal to Lubke, and would not answer other questions about DJs at its other stations. Three Eagles’ Web site lists it as owning 34 stations in the Midwest, most acquired after 1996. It bought KCPI and its sister station, KATE, in 1997. KATE, an AM station, has several live DJs.

Michael Bracy, Director of Government Relations for the non-profit Future of Music Coalition, said that this is a common move by corporate radio station owners who want to increase revenue by having one DJ serve several stations. But he said using a syndicated host can be positive, for example, if it’s a national talent.

&uot;You have to question what is the real value. What is the impact on the listener and on the community? Maybe the town appreciates having the national talent. But you also lose the localism. You lose your connection to your community,&uot; he said. He said that the town would lose a DJ who is accessible and, for example, can comment on storms in the area and community events &045; adding to the sense of community.

It’s a trend in radio that gained momentum in 1996 when FCC rules for radio ownership allowed companies to buy more stations than they had been allowed before, Bracy said. The subject of media ownership of several radio stations is being considered by the United States Congress this session.

KQPR &uot;Power 96,&uot; a locally owned station, uses some syndicated prgramming during the day, but it’s only done so for a few weeks, and will stop when a new DJ is hired at some point in the future, said owner Greg Jensen. Jensen said that most of his nighttime airtime is done through satellite.

Helleksen, for his part, said he’s more worried about KCPI than himself.

&uot;I’m industrious. I’ll find another job,&uot; he said.

(Contact Tim Sturrock at tim.sturrock@albertleatribune.com or 379-3438.)