Idaho Radio News Etc.

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Southern Idaho lost another radio mentor, according to KQLZ’s Bryan Gregory. Lou Burden of Mountain Home lost his battle with cancer early this month. “Lou was one of the last holdouts from the small market community radio days,” Bryan said. “He mentored several radio personalities including Dave Freeman, who is still in the Seattle market (I think) as well as myself.”

Also: Dar Dodds, former morning personality of KDSH and KBOI Radio died of natural causes at the V.A. Hospital in Boise on June 4 at the age of 89, according to Art Gregory. Quoting Art: “Dar worked for Morrison-Knudsen building an airport on Wake Island where he was among those taken prisoner by the Japanese. After spending four years as a P.O.W., he returned to Boise in 1945 where he met and married Laura Reynolds. Dar then worked as a radio announcer for KIDO, KDSH, and KBOI in Boise. He and Bruce Whitehead hosted an early morning show called “The BRU-DAR Show” on KBOI.”

Dave Koehn is the new voice of the Broncos.

That’s what Peak Broadcasting officials and Boise State honchos hoped to announce eight days ago. Unfortunately, Koehn had other plans. He won’t be packing his bags and moving from Texas to the City of Trees — instead he’s headed the other direction to take over play-by-play for the University of Virginia Cavaliers.

The guy in charge of the UVA decision said big things about Koehn: “We feel we have a real star in the making.” So who will be Boise State’s rising star?

The Idaho Daily Statesman’s Brian Murphy said the school had its list narrowed down to four finalists. A well-placed source indicates Koehn was the top pick. Now Kevin Godwin and Gene Bleymaier are trying to figure out who to throw the job to now. Godwin was clearly overly confident in telling the media that a pick would likely be named by June 20th — eight days and counting ago.

Applications were due to a talent scouting firm by April 28th – two months ago today. The season starts in two months and two days. Let’s assume that it takes three weeks for the new hire to get here – that leaves just a month to become an expert on Bronco Football and build chemistry with the also-unnamed color analyst.

There’s still a lot of people cheesed off about the way Paul J. Schneider was treated in this whole mess, especially after Idaho Radio News first reported Boise State’s interest in bumping him from the top job. Now Peak & BSU are facing an ever tougher battle to find the right person as a salve for the open wound ripped open last fall with some of the Bronco faithful.

Also: Someone might want to clue the Statesman kids in about the change in radio stations (look closely):

So I’m buying a house. Which means I’m going to start taking on more freelance web work.

DayPower Media offers a wide range of services – including web design, promotion, search engine optimization/marketing, blog setup and design, MySpace/Facebook marketing and more. Next week I’ll be launching a big new work project that will help showcase a bit of what we do (I’m going into business with my ZIdaho.com partner-in-crime… ), and a new website showcasing our work is on tap as well.

If you or someone you know is looking at a new web project or a revamp – drop me a note, I’d love to submit a quote or bid.

Shamless plug over…

KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM is picking up Premiere Radio Networks’ “On Air with Ryan Seacrest.” A three-hour version of the program went national this spring – and the Peak folks decided that a taped syndicated show was better than a voicetracked shift. On Air goes on-air Monday.

Seacrest out.

So Peak’s SVP Kevin Godwin said we’d probably have an announcement on KIDO’s pick for play-by-play of BSU basketball and football.

Friday came and went… nothing.
Monday… ditto.
Tuesday? Same deal.

It’s interesting to set a public deadline… then miss it by several business days. KBCI says there are four finalists – and the last candidate was interviewed last week. The four candidates have experience from college to NFL levels.

What we don’t know is who it will be… or when we’ll find out.

UPDATE: The folks at BroncoCountry.com are holding a “new Peak announcers contest.” The suggestions are mostly tongue in cheek. This is my favorite from “BadWillHunting”:

Bert (play by play): Football? I never get picked for that on the playground… Can this team win? Oh, it’s pointless, never mind!

Ernie (color): Rubber Ducky… heheheheheheheh…

As part of KJOT’s effort to raise awareness & cash for prostate cancer – Journal news guy and KTHI/107.1 K-Hits host Larry Doss talked about his own fight with the disease. Doss shared a powerful story about his journey a bit ago – and we’re happy to note that he’s beat it!

Update: KTVB’s coverage of the radiothon here. (KIVI’s coverage isn’t online)

It’s a morning show all day long! KJOT/J-105’s Pete and Joe are in the early hours of their 28-hour radiothon to raise awareness and money for the Main Street Mile and prostate cancer.

Sister Journal station KIVI spent 3:22 on Pete & Joe and their training for the Mile… video here.

The station is also running an auction on eBay with all sorts of items here.

Idaho Daily Statesman reporter/columnist Brian Murphy reports that Citadel will make a 5-minute presentation to the State Board of Education in Idaho Falls today in an effort to reopen the bid. Citadel’s lawyer said there were “some errors” in the selection of Peak – and hopes to re-open bidding. Citadel feels its financial compensation package wasn’t properly considered. (Peak offered more money, according to records obtained by Idaho Radio News).

State Board staff has already recommended approval of the Peak agreement.

Also – Peak GM Kevin Godwin tells Murphy that he hopes to announce the new play-by-play announcer for the games on KIDO by Friday. Godwin said there have been a high quality-level of applicants – with experience ranging from college, to NFL to network level.

UPDATE: Citadel’s efforts failed. Peak gets the contract.

Two weeks after the book started, I asked which station you thought would see the most improvement in the spring book. With one week to go – here’s the same question.

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KJOT/J-105 morning team Pete & Joe will do a 28-hour live radiothon to benefit the Main Street Mile’s campaign for prostate cancer research and prevention. It starts Monday at 6am and ends Tuesday at 10am. They’ve got a list of all-star guests including Mike Crapo, Dave Bieter, Governor Butch, a bunch of Channel 7 6 anchors, Dee Snider from Twisted Sister, and OxyClean spokesperson Billy Mays (who gets top billing on j105.com).

(Yes, the headline has bad grammar. And 28 hours is 1680 minutes. And his name isn’t Petey. And Joe usually gets top billing. But other than that… it’s totally accurate).

Update: Channel 6 anchors. Not 7. Sorry… too many donuts today.

KBOI’s long-standing rights to Boise State athletics expire this summer – with KIDO picking up the mantle and starting to broadcast the games.

Even though the seasons are over, KBOI’s contract ends mid-summer. For now they can continue to use BSU’s trademarks in promotions like the giant inflatable and the ad below. But once the deal is over, KBOI doesn’t have access anymore. If KIDO gets prickly, could ask the University to clamp down on unauthorized use of the trademarks (and if you don’t think it’ll happen see the case of Towel, Blue Turf).

KBOI seems determined to hang onto the cachet built from its association with BSU – and it will be interesting to see if Peak forces the issue. (KBOI could use the logo within news use – in a news story about the Broncos online, for instance – but a promo like this would be a no go).

- KIZN/Kissin 92.3 is doing a flyaway to Chicago to see Rascal Flatts
- KRVB/Idaho’s 94.9 The River is putting two folks on a plane to Denver to see the Mile High Music Festival with Tom Petty, DMB, Jason Mraz and a bunch of others
- KKGL/96.9 The Eagle is giving away a “Tricked Out Truck” – a 2001 Silverado with all sorts of bells and whistles
- KQFC/98 FM will send two people to see Brooks & Dunn in Seattle
- KQXR/100.3 The X has another free show lined up with Safety Suit
- KJOT/J-105 is loading up a bus with listeners for a Mötley Crüe show in SLC.
- KCIX/Mix 106 is doing a $25,000 home makeover contest. 106 people qualify for a whole list of home-related stuff. Yes, one person will actually win.

KAWO/Wow Country 104.3 is streaming the Tied to Tarzan fun here.

As we reported earlier this spring, KDJQ-AM will become KSXL-AM/Salt & Light Radio 890 AM. The station did a test for three hours on June 7th, according to the Dominican Idaho blog. The new station owners planned to start broadcasting on Sunday June 15th under an LMA – but apparently current owner Robert E. Coombs decided to put the kibosh on that until the FCC approves the license transfer. That should happen in July.

Dominican also reports that the station plans 24/7 broadcasts – but with a low nighttime power authorization, it’s unclear how that will be accomplished. The station will start with EWTN and Catholic Answers programming in English and Spanish – and will expand with local programming down the road. KSXL is a private enterprise, but has the “blessing” of Idaho’s Catholic Church leaders. The station is using the tagline “Catholic Supported Community Radio” – which KBSU Survivor theorizes will mean pledge drives and the like. A sort of KTSY model for the Catholic slice of the faith spectrum.

(Thanks to KSBU Survivor for doing much of the homework on this item)

Remember my post 22 days ago noting how KTSY had to make some cuts – and let Dave Arthur go from his mid-day voicetracker job? Yeah… well… that didn’t last. KTSY & Dave are back in business — he’ll start up again Monday from 10a-3p.

And speaking of former KZMG-ers and the mid-day shift… anyone else noticed that Melissa Dawn has returned to her old mid-day stomping grounds on Magic 93.1 again? It’s been… what — 12 years since her last stint on that station?

Tri-City Herald editor Rufus M. Friday:
“We have more readers today than ever before — for our newspaper, our website and our specialty products. That’s our most important measure of success for the future.”

Idaho Statesman editor Mi-Ai Parrish:
“We have more readers today than ever before – for our newspaper, our Web site and our niche products. That’s our most important measure of success for the future.”

Journal Communications reported results for May – with an 8.4 decline in revenue from the same month a year ago. The drop was fueled by a 14.2% drop at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, which is seeing classifieds advertising dry up. The broadcast segment (TV and radio) fell 5.9% – while the radio subset dropped 4.1%. Radio revenues in Boise, Witchita, Springfield, MO and Tucson were cited as “soft.”

The Idaho Statesman announced today that it let 16 people go – and will give severance checks to another 24 after the first of the year. The 40 job cuts are about 12% of staff – more than the 10% cuts McClatchy announced company-wide.

I’ve said it before – the Statesman employs lots of dedicated folks – and it is always hard to see job cuts. The bottom line is that the paper is losing subscribers despite the Valley’s growth – and its online operation is flat from last year. As all of our related niches change – (radio, TV, Internet and print) – the one thing we can do is band together and help each other out. So if you known of any jobs the print folks might be interested – pass them along. And if you’re a former Statesman worker, drop me a line and I’ll pass along anything I get.

Also: Since I’m already off-topic, indulge me for another 30 seconds? I’ve been thinking a lot about Tim Russert. I don’t know how we’re going to pick the right person to run this country without his questions, counsel and amazing intelect. Mike Barnicle, a friend of Russert’s and an MSNBC commentator noted this line from Russert – and it’s resonated with me, so I thought I’d reprint it here: “The best heart exercise is to bend down and lift someone up.”

The folks at KTHI/107.1 K-Hits celebrate six year of superhits last Friday with a listener concert. To introduce the fun, the “K-Hits Bunch” put together this video intro:

Bonus points to the first person who can name all eight people in the video…

From the studio that brought you Chained to Kate comes the sequel… Tied to Tarzan.

Five folks will get out the rope and stay ohsoclose to the KAWO/Wow Country 104.3 all next week to win Reba McEntire/Kelly Clarkson tickets. I could explain… but YouTube has so much more impact:

Legendary University of Idaho broadcaster Bob Curtis will take the top honor for people in his field later this year. Curtis is the 2008 co-recipient of the Chris Schenkel Award – and will recieve the award along with the 2008 College Football Hall of Fame class in December. Curtis called Vandal football and basketball games for 46 years – from 1958 until his retirement in 2004.

Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama claim KBAR-AM host Zeb Bell referred to the Illinois Senator as the “black Negroid Barack Hussein Obama.”

The Rupert radio host Bell claims he didn’t say it – but admits a guest on the show made “inappropriate remarks.”

KQXR/100.3 The X will throw open the gates on its fourth annual X Fest this August at the Idaho Center Ampitheatre on August 24th. Bands booked and announced include Seether, Shinedown, Sick Puppies, Red, Hurt, In This Moment (seethe, sick, down, red, hurt… sounds uplifting!) The X says more acts will be announced soon. Pre-sale tickets go on sale Wednesday at xrock.com for $29.

Someone at Citadel Boise must have been inspired by a game of Bunco. Not only is KZMG/Magic 93.1 doing an insurance contest with sky high odds – so is KKGL/96.9 The Eagle. The rules are basically the same. 96 folks will be qualified on the air – then asked to show up at a station event, where they will be given six dice. They roll the dice, and if they turn up “BADASS,” the listener wins a $20,000 bike and $96,000 in cash.

Like the KZMG house contest, odds for the dice rollers are estimated at 1:46,656. A sharp commenter noted that those odds are better than winning the lottery – but the actual odds are much higher. You have to qualify, which carries its own set of odds – which makes the overall chance of winning even lower. You have much better odds of becoming a pro athlete (one in about 22,000). On the other hand – the odds are worse that you’ll date a supermodel (one in 88,000). Of course, your individual chances may vary.