Idaho Radio News Etc.

Dave Tester tells Idaho Radio News that Boomer 100.7 will launch on KAYN-FM 100.7 in the next few weeks. The station is already using an Oldies format, but is without branding or a morning show.

That will change soon, when Jack Armstrong joining the station to anchor AM drive.

Some background here. There’s a couple mistakes – mostly that the station didn’t launch at noon, but other than that – pretty interesting

…the one at 96.1 FM anyway…

Update:KSAS is still running the “Bob is coming” liners as of 9:25am…

It’s going to be a busy few days kids and kiddies. Here’s what to watch out for:

- Tester Broadcasting will launch Bob FM on KSRV 96.1 over the next few days

- Peak Broadcasting will take control of six Boise radio stations via an LMA on Sunday April 1. Those stations are KSAS, KCIX, KFXD, KTMY, KXLT and KIDO

- Peak Broadcasting will likely flip KSAS to another format within several days of taking control of the CC group

- KZMG/Magic 93.1 will do “something” at 7:20am on Monday morning. Of all the stories the past few weeks, this appears to be the hardest to shake lose. The station has changed its home page

- Our friends at the Idaho Business Review will feature a piece on the area radio changes in the edition that hits streets Monday

- Did I mention Sunday is April Fool’s Day?

OK gathered masses, help me solve a puzzle:

Someone with Entravision in Sacramento purchased the following domain names yesterday:

1033bob.com
bob1033.com

Entravisison owns a bunch of Spanish-language radio stations across the country. None operate at 103.3 FM. I can’t find any link between Peak and Entravision – except their geographic proximity in central CA. My hunch? Entravision is acting as proxy for Peak – but I can’t seem to connect those two dots. Can anyone else come up with something?

I left a message for Peak CEO Todd Lawley at his office in California today regarding the two Bobs – but that call has not been returned.

UPDATE: I just looked at the domain listing again. The domains are NOT registered to Entravision – but someone named Rick Sutherlin. Rick Sutherlin’s e-mail address is rick.stewart@entravision.com. Rick Stewart is the name of the gentleman who posted on All Access last week trying to gin up resumes for Peak Boise. Those are the dots… do they connect?

EXCLUSIVE

At least one station named “Bob FM” is coming to the Boise market in coming days.

FM Idaho/Tester Broadcasting will exit the country radio game, and flip KSRV-FM to a variety hits format in the next few days. As I noted earlier today, KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM is currently running liners noting “Bob is coming soon to 103-point-3 F-M.”

According to Tester Broadcast CEO Dave Tester, the frequency will become “96.1 Bob FM,” using the satellite-delivered format from Waitt Radio Networks. The Bob FM brand is service marked by Waitt – and KSRV will become the licensee for the Boise DMA. It’s unclear how any move by Peak with the KSAS frequency will play in to this.

From Coldplay to Lovin’ Spoonful to Elton John to Aerosmith – the variety hits format has been all the rage for a while in many markets (the “Jack FM” trend).

The station’s HUGE playlist (1500 cuts) would rival even KRVB/Idaho’s 94.9 The River. The format overlaps with just about every other station in the market: KRVB, KCIX/Mix 106, KXLT/Lite 108, KJOT/J-105, KKGL/96.9 The Eagle, KZMG/Magic 93.1 and others. BOB usually blows up in cume, but can falter in TSL (because you invariably hit that “ICK” song before too long).

Bob FM runs jockless in most markets, which will also be the case in Boise. FM Idaho moved KSRV-FM from its transmitter site in Ontario to a spot on Deer Point last fall. Tester notes that he sees opportunity in focusing on the western part of the market – from Meridian to Ontario, and Bob will be the first part of that puzzle.

The new station will be supported by an outside media campaign – including billboards, bus benches and TV.

KSRV-AM will stay intact. Current KSRV-FM morning man and PD Dale Jeffries is staying with the company – and will “honcho” Tester Broadcasting’s Oldies efforts on 100.7. More on that story soon.

“Bob is coming to 103.3 FM”

AllAccess reports a flurry deals involving Idaho frequencies.

Minnesota Public Radio sold its CP in Hailey (K266AV/101.1 FM) to Boise State Radio. BSR currently operates 89.3 FM in Bellevue, and 93.5 in Ketchum.

Morningstar Media picks up a translator in Soda Springs (K258BC) – and will retransmit KITT FM 100.1 Country on the frequency.

That “big news” is still coming… but I’ve elected to sit tight for a bit. I’ll have to ask for your faith to trust me for a few days, and I’ll explain why soon. Sorry to be so annoyingly cryptic.

…and it has nothing to do with Peak or Citadel…

I’m always on the lookout for something to write about around here. I’ve been meaning to read KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM program director Aaron Traylor’s book for more than a year now. I finally cracked the cover of The DJ Chronicles: A Life Remixed and flew through the paperback tale in about four days (before recent developments).

Traylor tells a mostly-autobiographical tale of his youth in radio and underground club scene in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area. The book is a light read – with a strong central character (Traylor), and a cast of supporting players – including DJ buddies, high school friends and others.

The story revolves around Aaron’s rise through the radio and rave DJ ranks, the loss of a close friend to meth use, and his spiritual journey to the edge and back. A series of radio stunts – including a memorable run through a N. Idaho mall, and a rousing rendition of the National Anthem will leave anyone who has spent time in a radio station smiling.

There’s also one sequence where Traylor gets fired from one station, goes to work for the competition – then has his new station bought by the company that owns the station he got fired from.

If you remember, when Traylor came to town – I asked him if he had proof that his “Tallest DJ in America” nickname was the real deal. Let’s just say Tallest DJ is a better name than a previous moniker: Dookie. As in… ‘oh the little baby took a dookie.’ Yeah. Nice.

You can read an excerpt here, or buy it at Amazon.com

Not radio-related… not even all that interesting. But Life magazine will cease publication… again. This is the third time the magazine has gone away. At some point, do you think they just call it quits so people can write headlines like “the end of Life?”

My favorite headline of the month has to be this:

Fox gets more Smarter

…Daily Variety on the renewal of Fox-TV game show “Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.” Genius.

We now return to our regularly scheduled turmoil, already in progress.

There’s good news for the local radio industry: new market owner Peak Broadcasting is looking to staff up.

Here’s a look at how the current Clear Channel stations staff up:

KCIX
Mornings – Live/Local
Mid-day – VT/Local
Afternoon – VT/Out-of-market
Evenings – VT/OOM

KSAS
Mornings – Live/Local
Mid-day – VT/OOM
Afternoon – Live/Local
Evenings – VT/OOM

KTMY
Mornings – Live/OOM (Syndicated)
Mid-day – VT/OOM
Afternoon – Live/Local
Evenings – VT/OOM

KXLT
Mornings – Live/Local
Mid-day – VT/Local
Afternoon – Live/Local
Evenings – VT/OOM (Syndicated)

KFXD
Mornings – VT/OOM
Mid-day – VT/OOM
Afternoon – VT/OOM
Evenings – VT/OOM

KIDO
Mornings – Live/Local
All other programming syndicated

That’s 7 Live/Local shifts and two local/VT shifts – for a total of 9 shifts (with a total of 13 staffers – two each for KCIX, KXLT and KSAS mornings, and three for KIDO mornings, though one spot is open there).

CC currently has 11 non-local voicetracked shifts. It is doubtful Delilah will leave KXLT, and it stands to reason KFXD will be left “as is” for now. That cracks open six shifts (with KTMY mornings possibly needing two people) that need to be filled. Seven new programming jobs?

Boise radio listeners who enjoy “hit” music currently have four core choices: KZMG/Magic 93.1, KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM, KTPZ/Music Monster 99.1 and KCIX/Mix 106. With the likely prospect of KSAS going away and the flip of KTPZ on the horizon, that cuts the choices to two. Without knowing what formats will enter the market, the news tends to bode well for KZMG and KCIX. Magic would be left standing as the only true CHR, and KCIX would likely pick up a bit on the TSL side.

It’s hard to say if Magic’s 4/2 stunt is designed to take advantage of the turmoil, or if they are refocusing the station. A name change seems possible… though I personally (and it’s only my opinion) think the “Wild” moniker is unlikely. KZMG has tried to lean more mainstream CHR over the past year – and though they’ll probably have to increase rotation of the urban cuts slightly – the station doesn’t want to stray too far. And yes, I’m ready to be proven wrong if Wild 93.1 launches next week.

Advertisers, listeners and employees in the Boise radio realm are gearing up for an era of change. We could see one of the biggest changes in Boise radio in decades.

Peak Broadcasting takes over ownership of six Boise radio stations on April 1st. Information indicates that one station will change format, and one (possibly two) stations will get new names. All stations will staff up – adding talent to fill shifts currently handled by out-of-market talent.

FM Idaho has indicated that it will move the Music Monster format and call letters to a new frequency in the Magic Valley, and turn the 991. FM slot in to a Boise market station under the Tester Broadcasting umbrella. Logic also shows that KSRV-FM is poised for a different direction as well – with a strong new transmitter at Deer Point.

Citadel Broadcasting is making noise with KZMG/Magic 93.1 FM, playing that teaser promo I mentioned late last week several times per hour. Something is slated for 7:20am on 4/2. No one on Bannock is spilling the beans on that front.

Also, KBOI/News Talk 670 will debut a new midday show, with Dennis Miller – starting tomorrow.

Someone registered wild931.com today. The purchase was made through a private domain proxy company. There’s always this of course.

Well, so much for me trying to keep a lid on all the rumors. This from Michael Deeds:

In other radio news, er, unsubstantiated gossip, rumors are circulating that “103.3 Kiss FM” is going to flip formats. That station is one of six in the Treasure Valley recently purchased by Peak Broadcasting.

More: Clear Channel employees were told during meetings this week that Peak CEO Todd Lawley could not comment on the matter. Which clearly isn’t “no, we’re not changing it.” Lawley made several allusions to that format flip flopping. All the chatter points to Jack FM – but that’s “unsubstantiated gossip” as Deeds would say.

Also: Expect to see My Country staty country — but just about everything else will change for the station. It will get a local morning show, and live talent in other day parts.

KXLT will likely step off and give Mix a little bit more breathing room — rearranging the playlists so they aren’t so similar.

Plus — will a battle for the radio rights to BSU athletics break out? Bank on it. And as Clear Channel employees know… I’ve asked for official comment.

Again, Peak Broadcasting takes over Sunday April 1.

KZMG/Magic 93.1 is running promos noting that “On Monday April 2nd at 7:20am, Magic 93.1 will be dead.”

Who knows what the deal is… but is this really the time to make big changes at a CHR station? Just saying… that’s all.

…How about unblocking a certain website?

:)

This just appeared on the AllAcces job board (emphasis is mine):

Peak Broadcast is putting together an “A” team in Boise, ID. Only the best of the best apply. Program Directors, Morning Shows, Mid-days, Afternoon and night entertainers for all formats. If you are truly a performer please email your mp3 with your air-show & production along with a resume and references to Rick Stewart / Director Of Peak Broadcasting Programming rick.stewart@peakbroadcasting. E.O.E.

Confirmed: It’s the worst kept secert in Boise radio… Kevin Godwin will grab the reigns of Peak Broadcasting’s Boise cluster.

Citadel will pony up for 24 stations currently owned by Disney – under the ABC Radio banner. The FCC OKed the deal today – but is requring the company to unload 11 stations (almost half) to limbo under the ownership cap.

David Levi tells Idaho Radio News that he and general manager Terry Tario will remain with the company through March 30th – the day before Peak takes over via an LMA. The information posted on AllAccess is INCORRECT – the two have not been made an offer to stick with Clear Channel and move to another market. David notes that anything is possible, but nothing has been offered or is in the works.

- Reno Citadel execs were in Boise today
- Peak CEO Todd Lawley was checking over his new property on Park Blvd. today
- It’s safe to say we’re going to see at least one station in the Boise market flip soon. At least one.
- AllAccess is rolling around the rumor that Tario and Levi will stay with Clear Channel in another market. I’ll let them sink or swim on that one.
- KIOV is back on the air… more on this soon.

KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM Program Director/driving force Aaron Traylor is leaving the station — he gave two weeks notice today.

You can reach Aaron at tallestdjinamerica@hotmail.com.