Idaho Radio News Etc.

KJOT/J-105 is planning to turn the weekend over to listeners – and is asking folks to put together custom playlists. Folks can dial up j105.com and submit their list of eight songs – which the J-105 folks will turn into a list of five songs that it will throw on the air during those weekend mornings and afternoons.

‘Tis the season for free station-supported concerts. KTHI’s 6th birthday bash last night is in the books – and KIZN/Kissin’ 92 and KQFC/97.9 FM will present a late-summer show with Sara Evans and James Otto later this summer. Folks who want in can listen, sign up online, or join the station’s text message club.

Citadel’s Boise stations are hoping for a shot of non traditional revenue with a new “buy it for half” promotion. It works like this: Clients fork over gift certificates in exchange for radio exposure. The station sells the certificates for half price on its website, gives a cut to the vendor (in this case, IncentRev) and keeps the rest. The station gets some cash, the client gets exposure and the listener can save some money.

Here’s an example from KIZN.

(Others have done this as well – including KRVB, etc.)

Ever type in a comment – notice a mistake and wish you could fix it? Now you can. You’ll be given four minutes from the time you hit submit to make any adjustments – with a timer ticking down so you know where you stand.

This also seems like a good time for a refresher on the commenting rules of the road – which the vast majority of you are great about. There is a local news site in this town that has created a very negative user community, filled with nasty attacks, lies, distortions and profanity in a bid to try and climb back to the #1 spot. I’m quite proud to say that the users on this site are far more civil – thank you.

• You cannot defame, libel or mischaracterize another person. Keep it civil
• Please avoid profanity. This is one of those rules that bends a bit – because there are times when coarse language has a place
• If at all possible, use your real name. If you can’t or won’t – that’s fine – but rules are generally going to be more strictly enforced for people who use a pseudonym
• Do not change your nickname
• As a spam and troll prevention measure – each user’s first comment must be approved, and that right can be revoked at any time.
• If your comment gets held in moderation for whatever reason, I usually will approve it within 24 hours.

Don’t watch this while eating…

Hooo boy. Here we go again.

KZMG/Magic 93.1 is running a contest it calls “Listen, win, move in.” 300 folks will get a chance to roll a set of dice. Contestants will have to roll all six of the dice at once – and to win, the dice must spell “H-U-B-B-L-E.”

If someone rolls that lucky combo, they get a $200k home, a Dodge truck and $25,000 in cash.

Odds? 1 in 46,656, according to the rules. I haven’t done the math myself… any math majors out there want to check the figures?

We’ll take our annual look at the contents of local EEO files later this week – but it is always interesting to see which stations are in compliance of the requirements. The EEO files must be posted on station website by June 1.

KIZN – Posted
KZMG – Posted
KRVB – Posted
KSRV – Not posted, out of compliance
KKGL – Posted
KQFC – Posted
KWEI – Not posted, out of compliance
KTMB – Posted
KQXR – Posted
KQLZ – No website, exempt
KDBI – No website (?)
KSAS – Posted
KAWO – Not posted, out of compliance
KJOT – Broken link, out of compliance
KCIX – Posted
KQTA – No website (?)
KTHI – Broken link, out of compliance
KXLT – Posted
KIDO – Posted
KFXD – Posted
KBOI – Posted
KTIK – Posted
KCID – Not posted, out of compliance
KGEM – No website, exempt

KAWO/Wow Country 104.3 has made some updates to its website – check it out here.

KLIX/News Radio 1310 news director made his status as a gay man known on the radio last week – in the wake of the controversy over a parade float. Organizers of the Western Days event barred a float from a local gay & lesbian group last year – then put a set of very strict restrictions on the group this year (they could not use symbols like rainbows, etc.) KLIX news director James Tidmarsh told the station’s listeners about his sexual orientation – and stance on the story.

“For several years the Magic Valley has trusted me to inform them of the important issues. As a gay man, the issue of the Western Days parade is one not only important to those the western days committee is trying to blatantly silence, but to the perception of our great community as a whole,” he said.

Gap West management issued a news release in reaction to Tidmarsh’s statement:

Some of our listeners may have been shocked initially by the revelation that James is gay. However we trust his sexuality is not, nor has ever been an issue. The management of GAPWEST – Twin Falls will expect the same quality of fair reporting and news gathering from James that we always have. We also recognize his right to have an opinion, and in this case some may view it as a controversial one. While not necessarily reflective of the management or ownership of News Radio 1310 KLIX, we stand behind that right, as we do for any of our on air staff, and more importantly the listeners we serve.

Tidmarsh has been with KLIX for five years — and before that worked at KIDO/NewsRadio 580 in Boise.

Editor’s note: I don’t generally post about the people’s personal lives in this way… but a new release was issued. Keep the comments clean, please.

The economy continues to pinch broadcasters across the nation – including Journal Broadcast Group. The latest report has the JBG TV outlet in Green Bay, Wisc. cutting its sportscasts. It will instead produce them out of WTMJ/Milwaukee.