Idaho Radio News Etc.

The Associated Press reports Clear Channel Communications will be taken private by a group of investors for $18.7 billion. CC also announced it would dump more than 400 radio stations on the market – most outside of the larger DMAs. Boise, ID is at the top of the list to be sold. Pocatello and Twin Falls are also on the list.

Boise is the LARGEST market on the block – at 108.

The folks at Bronco Country are hot under the collar – pointing their ire at KBOI. The station made a big deal of Zabransky being not likely to play the BSU-SJSU tilt (which turned out to not be the case). After the game, the station said that Ian Johnson was injured (which is true) and speculated that it was a rib or spleen injury (neither of which turned out to be correct).

KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM seems to be downright giddy that Britney Spears is back on the market.

The station played a whopping 13 cuts from the chain-smokin’ popster across the 7pm hour Friday – and even called itself “BS 103.” And yes, I’m mostly writing about this so I could use the snappy headline.

While we’re on the Kiss subject, the station has officially slotted a new midday host — “Monroe.” Her shift is being branded as “The Ladies Room.” More here.

KKGL/96.9 The Eagle’s contest to rack up publicity in exchange for Rolling Stones tickets wraps up tomorrow.

Some of the ideas already in motion: One person is calling Treasure Valley motels, and asking them to switch all their radios to KKGL. Another person has put an Eagle logo on her spare tire cover. Someone else put a sign touting BSU & The Eagle in the stands at the BSU/Fresno tilt.

One person even changed the name of his business to “The Eagle”.

Radio & Records is tracking the CC layoffs nationwide. Since November 1, the trade mag has filed 15 stories with dozens of layoffs.

KBOI will provide live election coverage begining at 7pm.

KIDO will stick with regular programming and round up all the winners Wednesday morning.

The search for an afternoon host is over at KCVI/K-Bear 101. The Active Rocker picked up the Hammer – who was last at 106.1 KRAB/Bakersfield. (via FMQB)

BSU Radio’s NPR News 91 is gearing up for election night – this Tuesday. The public radio network will feature Sadie Babits, Elizabeth Wynne Johnson, Don Wimberly and Idaho Public Television’s Marsha Franklin with election results and live reports starting at 9pm.

I’ve checked in with the KBOI and KIDO camps to see what they have planned — I’ll let you know what I hear.

Boise radio veteran Carl Scheider, perhaps best known for his time at KJOT/J-105 will join Victor Pacania as host of Private Idaho on BSU Radio on a permanent basis.

Pacania is battling pancreatic cancer, but continues to host the acoustic rock program each Saturday from 10am to 2pm on KBSU.

Scheider filled in earlier this month, as part of a cast of rotating co-hosts.

Why is Google ramping up its Google Audio sales staffs in big markets – like New York, Chicago, LA and DC? GA – the search giant’s radio sales arm – currently controls almost no inventory – so why the staff?

An RBC Capital Markets analyst thinks Google and Clear Channel are a natural fit. Perhaps not for an outright buyout – but some sort of partial investment:

“With an estimated $15.6 billion in local spot revenue in 2005, we think Google is looking to move in on the very large local radio market both as a complement to its nascent efforts in local search, as well as an extension into a more diversified revenue stream. A deal with Clear Channel would have the potential to be very good for Clear Channel and very bad for everyone else in the near term. We think Google would be willing to purchase inventory from Clear Channel at attractive prices and then essentially drop the floor out from everyone else in the pricing environment. A scenario such as this would have serious negative implications for the rest of the terrestrial broadcasting industry.”

As I noted last month, Clear Channel is widely believed to be in play – and a group of investors could take the company private.

BusinessWeek notes that for $250 million, a company could grab a 5% stake of CC. Considering G just spent $1.65 billion for a website that’s basically an online flea market filled with America’s Funniest Home Videos and Daily Show clips – $250 million doesn’t seem like such a big deal (and Clear Channel actually generates sizable revenue, whereas YouTube does not).

Google already controls an astounding portion of the Boise-area ad market (without giving details, it’s safe to say that Google pulls in more ad spend than any individual radio station in the Valley.) Imagine the ripple effect if the company added a large chunk of radio inventory to its toolkit.

Google gobbled up dMarc Broadcasting last year – a company that owns technology that allows you to (among other things) purchase ads on the air – online. Sound a little bit like Google AdSense? (dMarc also owns a little something called Scott Studios… perhaps you’ve heard of it). dMarc’s technology paired with the vast inventory of Clear Channel’s 1,000 plus stations is a potent mix.

Go online, punch in your credit card info, upload a spot and pick your targeting… boom. No need to call a sales rep. Don’t have a spot? No problem, fill out another form and pick from a variety of templates, and a voiceover artist custom builds a spot for you.

If video killed the radio star, what exacly will the Internet kill?

KTPZ/Music Monster 99.1 has made an adjustment to its branding – picking up “Southern Idaho’s Hit Music Leader” as its positioner.

Also in the past few months, KRVB/94.9 The River seems to have transitioned away from “World Class Rock” toward “True Music Diversity.” I also think I detect some new voices in the imaging package…

KSNA/Sunny 94.3 is back to Christmas music. The station flipped this morning. It’s a return of sorts to the “K-Santa” format that took over last year, after the station dumped its alternative format.

(Thanks, Ben!)