BOB’s about to hit the airwaves
Don Day | March 29, 2007EXCLUSIVE
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.
All Shall fall now Hit’s will dump, what little Eagle listners will bail….Now kick ass Journal!!!!! You got some Skynard left…..GO BURN!!!!
No, no, no. They got it all wrong. Of course there should be jocks. “Bad Bob” Lee – mornings, Bob Richards Movie Reviews – Mid Days, Bob Lilly – Afternoons, Bob Anthony – Evenings (kids/phones/etc.), Overnight Live Lines with Lorena Bobbit.
GEE, LET ME SAY IT AGAIN…. T TOLD YOU SO ….
BUT DOES THIS MEAN KSRV FM HAS ABANDONED ONTARIO AND SURROUNDING LOCAL WESTERN TREASURE VALLEY COVERAGE…. MORE THAN LIKELY… JUST HAVE TO SEE…. WONT WE.
961bobfm.com was registered by Dave Tester on 3/22/07 – it’s hosted locally by FiberPipe but shows just a simple Under Construction page right now…
Tester was smart, and beat Peak to the punch! With “Bob FM” on 96.1, “Jack FM” won’t fly on 103.3. Now, what will Peak do with 103.3?
AJ – good catch. Earlier this week, that site featured the Bob logo seen on the post.
Curt – You wouldn’t want Lorena to take phone calls. She might cut you off.
Not so fast, Radioxpert.
If I were Peak that would not stop me. Are we forgetting competition takes two similar business models. I think Peak can score big on this. With their money and brains behind them (assuming they have any) they will be more live and local and cater to what KSRV FM does not offer.
I would hope that Peak does not back down. I want to see a fair fight here on the airwaves between two possible choices in somewhat similar formats.
We have two Rock stations, at least two Newstalk stations, more than a few Christian stations etc, and we even have KIOV 1450 AM now…(whatever the hell that format is supposed to be)
So I think it could shape up to be a very interesting battle of formats… If Peak or someone else embraces the challenge.
“Bob” this and “Jack” that…
ALL I WANT TO DO IS…ROCK!!
It’s too bad, everyone else just wants to sway to the music…
FYI…I predicted this format change when the transmitter moved also, I just didn’t think a satellite service would do the job.
Here’s to another great 2.0 in the ratings, dragging down everyone else.
Good Job Everyone! WAIT! BooooOOooOooO!
Wake me up when this chapter is OVER!!
Hide the children and LOCK THE DOORS!
BOB IS HERE!
All I can hope for is that they get the flat audio issues fixed on KSRV-FM before the launch of Bob-FM… Flat audio works ok for classic country and talk, but this new format needs to be punchy, somewhat bright and definitely at the 100% modulation level which the current station is clearly not at… I know they were having some issues initially after changing boards and setting up the T1/microwave link up to Deer Point… The last thing we need is another FM station with 96k webcast-sounding audio…
“The new station will be supported by an outside media campaign – including billboards, bus benches and TV.”
This is definitely a good start, but I still believe a street team is absolutely necessary in order for this station to succeed. With no jocks to relate to or associate with the station, your street team is extremely important so the public sees people that are part of the station.
I’m currently listenin to it…actually a good station so far…like the jingles and the music aint bad either
“Bob 96-One” sounds a little like KJAQ/Seattle’s Jack-FM effort. It sounds great to everybody for about 9 months and then it goes FLAT!
They have to add some type of personality to the station besides “some dudes Ipod” and “Bob locked himself inside the control room.”
Over a certain period of time, “The Ipod” image looses it’s effect on the audience.
In my opinion, a minor mistake was made with the flip of this station.
I heard commercials on this station within the first 6 hours of the flip, why not stunt and hold off on the spots for a little while??
Let the listeners get a real, extended listen to the station’s new sound.