Idaho Radio News Etc.

Yesterday I couldn’t track down the FCC application for Journal’s purchase of KNIN, so the post I wrote was an educated guess. Now that I have that application in hand – we have a better idea of what exactly JBG is pitching to the FCC.

Why KNIN is failing:

• KNIN had a 3.6% audience share in 2005, 3.675% in 2006 and 3.65% in 2007 (Nielsen ratings, average Feb/May/July/Nov books)
• KNIN is losing money. 2004: $469,278 – 2005: $396,950 – 2006: $5,341,435 – 2007: $63,455.
• The station doesn’t have the money to upgrade its master control to digital
• KNIN has no translator stations (unlike KTVB, KBCI, KIVI and KTRV) to help cover rural areas

JBG/Banks also has to prove there is no other acceptable buyer:

• An agent solicited offers for out-of-market bids for the station, and only got one offer – 56% lower than the station’s appraised value
• Banks turned to local buyers, which would presumably be Belo (KTVB), Journal (KIVI), Block (KTRV) and Fisher (KBCI). They received two offers – though it isn’t clear which organization tendered the other offer.
• The $8 million purchase price is less than investments put toward KNIN, which Banks says is more than $15 million

The deal must serve the local interest:

• KNIN will start a 30 minute daily newscast Monday-Friday
• KIVI is a “community leader,” involved in many events – which KNIN would become part of as well
• JBG is upgrading KIVI’s master control to digital, and KNIN would be combined into that facility
• KNIN would provide weather and traffic alerts
• JBG will revamp KNIN’s website to “improve communications between the station and local Boise residents”
• JBG will keep KIVI as an ABC station, and KNIN as an affiliate of The CW

And a few more details:

• JBG agrees to comply with the WARN Act. WARN requires employers to notify employees of sizable layoffs in advance under certain circumstances
• KNIN doesn’t own any property, and leases its downtown facility and its Deer Point site

Citadel Boise market manager Sandy Gamblin has been let go multiple sources confirm to Idaho Radio News. The “why” is unknown, but sources say this is not an amicable parting of ways.

Gamblin came to Citadel Boise from the company’s Reno operation after “the Mikes” (Owens and Sutton) left for Peak last year. No word on a replacement or any of the particulars.

BOISE – A former Boise State football player is moving from the field to the broadcast booth.
Jadon Dailey will serve as color analyst for Peak Broadcasting’s broadcasts of Bronco football starting this fall.
The former Bronco center will move back to Boise from Phoenix, where he’s been working in marketing for a radio station in Arizona. Dailey is well known for his passionate contributions to the Out of the Blue documentary that followed his performance in the Fiesta Bowl in 2007.
“The addition of Jadon to our broadcast team will add an insight unique to the Broncos,” Peak Broadcasting’s SVP Kevin Godwin said in a prepared statement. “His recent experience with this team will provide listeners with a vivid description of all the action from start to finish.”
Dailey joins Bob Behler who will provide play-by-play for the radio broadcasts.
The BSU games will be heard on a network of stations, including 580 KIDO in Boise.

UPDATE: More on this story here.

The question on many of the media-involved folks around town lately is this:

How is Journal going to get FCC approval to buy KNIN?

JBG currently owns the highest concentration of media assets in the market (although not by revenue or audience measurements – only based on sheer number of signals). It owns KJOT/J-105, KQXR/100.3 The X, KTHI/107.1 K-Hits, KRVB/94.9 The River, KGEM/1140 AM and KCID/1490 AM on the radio dial, as well as KIVI/Today’s Channel 6 on TV. The company also owns KSAW in Twin Falls – although the TF market is separate.

Adding KNIN/Channel 9 would increase that concentration even more. In fact, it would be in violation of the Federal Communications Commission’s “Eight Voices” rule. This applies to TV broadcasters, both commercial and non-commercial – but only includes full power signals.

The current voices are:
KBCI-2/Fisher Communications, KAID-4/Idaho State Board of Education, KIVI-6/Journal Broadcast Group, KTVB-7/Belo Corp., KNIN-9/Banks Broadcasting, KTRV-12/Block Communications.

Currently the market has six voices. The FCC says a market must have eight remaining after a merger. So how’s this plane going to fly? Journal is likely seeking a waiver under the “failing station” clause of the FCC’s current rules. JBG would have to prove several things for KNIN:

- It has an audience share of 4% or lower
- The station has had negative cash flow for the past three years
- The merger will produce “public interest benefits… where the applicant demonstrates that the tangible and verifiable public interest benefits of the merger outweigh any harm to competition and diversity”
- That JBG is “the only reasonably available candidate willing and able to acquire and operate the station; selling the station to an out-of-market buyer would result in an artificially depressed price”

So JBG’s buying a failing station? $8 million for a station that doesn’t make money??

Synergy. And for the employees of KNIN, the synergy won’t likely seem like a good thing. The station will probably unload most of its staff and combine job functions with KIVI.

Journal just did this exact same thing with CW station KWBA in Tucson, AZ, combining it with ABC affiliate KGUN.

“We are persuaded that KWBA is failing to such an extent that its ability to be a viable voice in the Tucson market is severely hampered,” the FCC concluded, “placing it at a competitive disadvantage.”

JBG told the FCC that it would add a 30-minute newscast on KWBA – which would not be at all surprising for KNIN as well.

(Editor’s note: If KTRV or KBCI were buying KNIN I probably wouldn’t be writing this – but since JBG owns radio stations, and this issue directly applies to those stations in this market, I’m liberally bending the no-TV rule.)

The Idaho Daily Statesman has a Q&A with new Peak Broadcasting/Boise State play-by-play announcer Bob Behler. Here’s hoping he talks in the booth more than he did to the paper.

An exclusive in-depth Idaho Radio News investigation and data analysis reveals that Behler… didn’t say much. The questions asked by reporter Chris Langrill amounted to 271 words (counting explainer copy, but NOT the story’s intro) – while Behler’s answers amounted to 221 words.

What we know: He drives a Pontiac, saw the Fiesta Bowl, doesn’t like going upside down on a roller coaster, and roots for the San Francisco Giants (which the Statesman spelled San Fransisco… yeah.)

Journal Communications, which owns six Boise radio stations, one TV station (and has a deal for another) is cutting 10% of its staff from the Journal-Sentinel in Milwaukee. The cuts will be complete by the end of the year.

Journal Broadcast Group is adding to its Boise portfolio. The owner of KIVI Channel 6 is buying KNIN Channel 9 for $8 million. Story here

UPDATE: Fun with Photoshop!

KIDO/580 AM has revamped its logo and brand – and is even slightly changing its on-air moniker.

The station now goes by “five-eight-oh K-I-D-O” instead of the old “five-eighty.” The tag line “Bronco Nation’s New Station” is also in use. Then there’s the logo, which looks… familiar.

News release after the jump
Read the rest of this entry »