Idaho Radio News Etc.

The Idaho radio industry lost several of its brightest lights this year.

- Dar Dodds. One of the first on-air talent at KDSH/KBOI – Dar was a legend in the formative days of Boise radio. Beyond his many radio accomplishments – Dar was known for something else: being a civilian prisoner of war during WWII. Dar served for MK on Wake Island and was taken hostage by the Japaneses. Dodds was profiled on Fox News in 2005. Dodds was 89.

- Lou Burden. Burden was a major part of Mountain Home life – including the local radio station and as owner of Flicks Unlimited. He was born in Nebraska and moved to Mountain Home in 1972 after his service in the Army. Burden was 67.

- Gordon Capps. Another small town pioneer, Capps founded KSRV-AM in Ontario in 1946, and eventually owned stations in Baker, LaGrande and Twin Falls. He was also the co-owner of the nation’s second-ever cable system in LaGrande and Baker. Capps was 95.

- Lee Schafer. One of the last local owners in the state, Schafer ran KBXL and KSPD in Boise and KDZY in McCall right up until his September death. His memorial service was a who’s who of Boise radio – and the outpouring of support on this site was unprecedented. Schafer was 62.

- Wayne Richards. The popular KLCE/Classy 97 host died in a snorkeling in September while vacationing in Hawai’i. Richards was a fixture in Eastern Idaho, and had been on the air for decades – and also hosted the popular “sounds of Sunday” program on the station. He was 54.

This poll wasn’t nearly as fun to put together this year – with a bleak outlook in 2009. The questions aren’t as positive as I’d like – but I don’t think this year will be as positive as I’d like either.

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Last year, for the first time, we polled you on ten items related to the year ahead. The wisdom of the IRN audience turned out to be pretty good.

Which country station will finish the fall 07 book #1?
You voted: KIZN
Actual result: KIZN

Which station is most likely to change formats in 2008?
You voted: KTMB
Actual result: KTMB (none of the other choices flipped)

Which group will end up with the BSU Football contract?
You voted: CItadel
Actual result: Peak

Will KSRV/Bob FM be a breakout hit?
You voted: No
Actual result: No

Who will win the Citadel v. Peak lawsuit?
You voted: out of court settlement
Actual result: out of court settlement

What will be the 2008 fate of Spanish radio?
You voted: Growth
Actual result: Flat

Tooker in the Morning will…
You voted: Fall flat
Actual result: Fall flat… and worse

Which of these ownership groups will exit the market in ‘08?
You voted: Citadel in a close vote
Actual result: They’re all still here, though Tester changed names

Will BCRP move closer toward a license?
You voted: No
Actual result: Yes

Annnd my favorite…
What will happen to the KDJQ frequency?
You voted: Tie – Remain off-air/Become property of the bank
Actual result: All of the above. It stayed off the air, was sold, became property of the bank, and did DJ Radio for an eyeblink or two.

Top Journal executives snagged a series of stock bonuses last week – valued at $400,00. CEO Steven Smith (right), president Douglas Kiel, EVP Elizabeth Brenner, VP Kenneth Kozminski and CFO Andre Fernandez will divvy up 180,000 shares of JRN stock according to Milwaukee Business Journal.

The options will vest in two years, as long as the execs are still with the company.

The company’s stock is currently worth $2.32 – but started 2008 at $8.94. If the managers can fight their way back to the $8.94 level – the stock options would be worth $1.6 million.

A Journal rep told Inside Radio the bonuses were needed to keep the execs through “current media industry and macro-economic challenges, as well as the longer-term evolution of the media industry.”

Journal has been steadily laying off workers – with cuts from the newspaper and a company-wide reduction in force last summer.

Starting January 1, 2009 – KBOI will add Rush Limbaugh and rework its program lineup.

5-10am – Idaho’s First Morning News with Paul J. & Chris
10am-1pm – Rush Limbaugh
1pm-4pm – Sean Hannity
4pm-7pm – Nate Shelman
7pm-10pm – Michael Savage
10pm-Mid – Mark Levin

The only real change here is the loss of Dennis MIller in favor of el Rushbo. Limbaugh will launch with a New Year’s Day Rush-a-thon… Gem State Dittoheads rejoice.

Miller will move to KFXD/63 KIDO on Jan. 4. The rest of Peak’s plans for the two news stations haven’t been revealed – though KTVB is airing spots promoting a simulcast of the News at Five on KIDO… though the ads don’t specify which station (and I haven’t asked). I’m checking with Peak to see what the new schedule for the stations will look like.

If you wander up Main St. between 10th and 11th, you might think you hear the sound of a ticking clock. What is it? Well, it’s probably a figment of your imagination – but a figurative clock is ticking in the Alaska Center, home of the Boise Community Radio project (little p these days).

The group was given 36 months by the Federal Communications Commission to raise enough money to start broadcasting from a tower site over the border in Oregon.

That clock started in April – meaning we have roughly 27 months left for the group to raise roughly $250,000 to put the station on the air. There’s still much debate over whether the station – to be located at 89.9 FM – would even reach Boise. The consensus seems to land on the need for a translator to serve Boise (BCR’s station would have a Caldwell city of license) – on 93.5 FM.

With a terrible economy, I can’t imagine many dollars are flowing to BCR – and as I’ve said a number of times, those dollars are probably better in the coffers of Boise State Radio, IPTV, KTSY or a charity that meets a basic human need – like the Boise Rescue Mission, Salvation Army or others. The hill for BCR to climb continues to be steep – and Jeff Abrams is putting everything he’s got on the line to get the pet project on the air.

(This story reprinted from LostRemote.com… it could also be called “what I did with my pre-Christmas vacation).

Read the rest of this entry »

KWYD/Wild 101 is no longer bumping through 15,000 songs in a row – now commercial breaks are in place, as well as a smattering of on-air talent.  Mornings on the new rhythmic CHR station are hosted by “C-K” (just don’t get in an argument with him and yell “F-U”), while a mid-day mix show is hemmed by DJ Complex, and nights are hosted by DJ Class1c.

The new talent floated into place several weeks ago and are still getting their collecitve feet wet.

The small, privately funded Peak Broadcasting is not immune to the economic storm. The company, which owns radio stations in Boise and Fresno has steadily cut back in 2008, after staffing up in 2007.

Idaho Radio News has learned that plans for a new, local afternoon show on KIDO have been scrapped. Jon & Chris Show producer Jim Kimball – who was to be involved in the effort – has been let go.

Also, KAWO/Wow Country 104.3 morning host Amber Lee has been let go – leaving a solo morning show. Of Peak’s six Boise stations, one has no local morning show of its own, and two are hosted by solo acts (KXLT and KAWO). The group has also cut several other staff positions – and is now at about the same staffing level on the talent side as when it took over for Clear Channel.

KBOI/News-Talk 670 host Nate Shelman has the week off. So KBOI rounded up a couple of dudes off the streets of Boise to fill in:

• Monday – Butch Otter
• Tuesday – Mike Simpson
• Wednesday – Walt Minnick
• Thursday – Bill Sali
• Friday – Jim Risch

Channel 2 has a video story on Otter’s appearance – which even got heated with one caller.

A couple of stations have launched their Christmas efforts since our update last week.

• KZMG/Magic 93.1 is in the middle of its “Christmas Crusade” – connecting families in need with people who have items and money to give.
• KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM is doing something similar with the “Kissmas Tree of Sharing.”

E.Idaho and Magic Valley folks – send me what you are doing for your community and I’ll round up the items later this wek.

And we thought Idaho Radio News got into unimportant minutiae. This from a local gossip blog:

[a website] accidentally let it slip last week that Miggy Santos of magic [sic] 93.1 and his girlfriend Bethany were rumored to be getting hitched in Vegas this weekend. We got a lot of flack (what’s new) for the breaking news as Miggy issued a myspace [sic] bulletin statement saying:

Well… it said they weren’t…. but then the website said they were… but then it said they weren’t and then she said that he said that her brother said that…

Oh wait… sorry… most of us aren’t in high school anymore.  Most of us.

KCHQ/Q-102’s morning show raised $5,000 for E. Idaho children in a few short hours last week.  The station’s “Q Morning Crew” helped raise the money for Sub for Santa – which will help give toys to children in need this Christmas throughout the area.  Station PD Charlie Michaels helped organize the event after the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program ran out of toys – and aimed to give toys to about 450 kids

Former KZMG/Magic 93.1 DJ “Big Boy” Evan Rose is in his third year of the night shift in Detroit – and now he may have a hit single on his hands.  Big Boy and Detroit rapper Brilliance teamed up for “Dooshbag” – which is an (apparently) intentional misspelling of “Douche bag.” The term – in this context -  is a pejorative that I’ll let Urban Dictionary define:

2. A person that is a total moron and doesn’t think before he/she speaks or acts.
3. One with an undescribeable idiocy, hence stupidity, poor idea of what’s cool, possibly an arrogance about them.
4. One with an intolerable personality.

The song is getting spins on a number of stations across the country – including Boise’s KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM.  It has a few rap verses that I won’t repeat here – and a repeating chorus of “Your boyfriend is a douchebag. Yep. He’s a douchebag. Yep. Your boyfriend is a douchebag.”  Listen for yourself here.

Big Boy told AllAccess that the song came about after his endless nights in Detroit’s clubs – and observation of the guys who frequent the clubs.

Maybe this will the the modern version of Rick Dees’ Disco Duck.

I could make it an arbitrary rule that forces users to use their real name in comments here. Decline to provide your God-given name and I’d delete your comment.  I’m not going to do that – but one Idaho lawmaker would like to make it more than just a silly rule — he wants to make it the law of the land.  No really.

Steve Hartgen, a Republican from Twin Falls says he is thinking about introducing legislation that would require “people to use their real names when they post material online.”  People… as in bloggers… commentors.. maybe even Craigslisters or ZIdaho users.

There are two issues here – one practical and one philosophical.

From the practical standpoint — goooood luck enforcing any such silly law.  We might as well require people staple spaghetti to the wall – because this would be just as effective.  Who is going to police this? How are they going to track people down? Will there be continuous subpoenas to Internet Service Providers or sites like this one to get personally identifying information? Will Idaho State Police Troopers start storming into dark basements around the state and start rounding up guys in their underwear with Cheeto stains on their shirts?

Then there’s philosophy.  Over at Lost Remote, I ranted about anonymous comments on news sites. In the Boise market, all but one site has story comments – and I don’t think it serves much of a purpose… in part because the newspaper in this market does an abysmal job of managing its community. I think the anonymity is actually quite destructive – and agree with the sentiments of this outstanding Time Magazine piece.

In theory, (comments are) a great thing. We’re giving the people a voice! But the reality is that commenting either attracts loathsome people or somehow causes ordinary people to express themselves in a way that is loathsome.

But the choice should be up to each individual — whether it’s the blogger, or someone who comments.  Do I wish each of the people who post comments here would use their real name? Sure.  But for every “tim johnstone” or “jac,” there’s a “The” or Busted If Writing From Work.”  Do I give more weight to the comments from people who have the guts to use their real name? Yes… and I think most readers do as well.  But that doesn’t mean the value of the anonymous comments is zero.

I started this blog anonymously – and ran it that way for more than a year.  I revealed my identity partly because it was time, and partly because it was a more credible approach.  Being in public view has cost me frankly – and many bloggers are in the same boat.

Hartgen, who is a former newspaper editor (shocked, shocked I am) doesn’t get it.  Are we going to have a legion of people going to jail for not using their real name? Of course not.  Perhaps Hartgen is trying to – ironically – stir up debate, but whatever the aim – he just makes himself look backwards and lacking a sense of how the world works. This isn’t something that can be legislated – and do we really want to live in a state (or country) where you are controlled like that?

Kevin Richert over at the Idaho Daily Statesman makes a good point about the role of comments – at least as they apply on traditional news sites.

[S]ome of my Statesman colleagues are deeply troubled by anonymous commenters. They believe that in the chase for immediate feedback and site hits, we’ve traded away more than we’ve received. Again, that’s a business decision.

Those colleagues are probably right.  I’ve alluded to this, but in the past year the Statesman has seen its traffic level go down – while KTVB.COM traffic has gone up and eclipsed the newspaper – and the trend coincides with the introduction of comments at IS. Coincidence? Perhaps – but the one thing the newspaper has is credibility – and it loses that when a crowd of half-wits chimes in on every little news item with a stream of useless babble.  I try to “manage the community” here.  I participate in the discussion, and don’t approve comments that are libelous.  It helps – but even then the discussion can get off course.

I’d like to hear what you think.

Again this year, KIZN/Kissin 92.3 brings listeners an “all holiday” channel online – here.  KRVB/Idaho’s 94.9 The River did this in years past – but I can’t find it this year!

If you’re thinking of upgrading your current website with a more contemporary look – or you need something new, DayPower Media is continuing to pick up new clients.  We’ve done a couple of nice sites lately…

• BodyShopFitnessCenters.com
• VistaVillageBoise.com
• IdahoFireLine.org
• TashaStout.com

…with more on the way!  Find more about us, including contact details at DayPowerMedia.com

It’s been listed on Craigslist.

It’s been sold to a Catholic radio group.

It’s been sold to Churchill Media.

All those efforts failed or fell through – and now KDJQ is in the hands of a reciever and is out of former owner Rob Coombs’ hands by court order.  That reciver is working to sell the station:

Court-Ordered Sale in Boise, Idaho

Contact:
Greg Merrill, Receiver
435-753-8090
merrill.greg@comcast.net

State of Idaho
County of Ada
District Court of 4th Judicial District
CV-OC-07-19645

Just about two months ago, I wrote on Lost Remote that NBC should give Jay Leno the 10/9c timeslot after he is shuffled off the Tonight Show in May.  Well guess what…

KWYD/Wild 101 is looking for a morning show (via AllAccess)

Morning Show Host In Boise
While the industry is shrinking Impact Radio Group is growing. Experienced morning show host needed for a new rythmic [sic] CHR in Boise, Idaho. If you’re doing nights or afternoons in a large market and want to make the jump to mornings this is a great place to develop a new show. Send resume and aircheck to mikey@impactradiogroup.com

Also of note, the station now has a website – wild101fm.com

More big changes are coming to Curtis Rd. – with the transition to a press-less world for the paper. Starting early next year, the Idaho Statesman – which has printed its own paper since the beginning – will put its fortune in the excellent hands of the Idaho Press-Tribune and its world-class printing plant in Nampa.  The plant already prints the Press-Tribune, Boise Weekly, many high school newspapers and community weeklies throughout the region.

• The paper will again be smaller – this would be the fourth shrinkage in my memory.
• There will be fewer sections
• The features pages may be created as part of a regional syndicate producing this type of content for papers around the region. There will likely be less local feature content
• The Statesman will have an earlier press deadline, and will be printed before rival Idaho Press-Tribune

Also, you may have noticed the paper is now occasionally putting ads above the fold on the front page.

UPDATE: The New York Times says McClatchy is looking to sell one of its largest papers.

This from Elliot over at Impact:

Impact Radio Group as several openings. We view people as an asset not as liabilities. The time to gain market share in an economic down turn is better now than in the last 10 years. Any recently let go professional radio people in the market, please contact us for openings in sales, programming and promotions. 208-465-9966 Impact Radio Group is an EOE.

Here’s our annual roundup of some of the great things stations are doing for the community.

• KTSY’s Christmas Wish program is underway. From home repair to a new pair of glasses, the station is looking to find people who need a hand – and will connect as many of them as possible to help.
• KIZN/Kissin 92.3 rolls into another year of the outstanding Keep Kids Warm.  The program started 12 years ago with a call to “Rivers and Valley” – the station’s morning show at the time. A young girl called and asked if there was any way her family could get some heating oil for the holiday – because the wanted to be warm for Christmas.  That year, listeners chipped in $17,000 for that girl and many others – and overall the program has racked up a stunning $650,000. This year’s on-air auction will be held December 15-19.
• KRVB/94.9 The River will hold its previously mentioned Concert for Cause later this month, and is also helping collect items for Toys for Tots.
• KSRV/96.1 Bob FM is directing people to the Boise Rescue Mission to make donations for the season.
• KKGL/96.9 The Eagle is also running a Christmas Wish program, this time in connection with the Idaho Youth Ranch. The station is helping collect a wide range of items for teens who are staying at the ranch – everything from cowboy boots to the Twilight book series.
• Starting Monday, the KQFC/Idaho Country 98 will travel the Treasure Valley stopping at five different Walmart locations – each day focusing on a different family that listeners can adopt. Each family has a different story and a different set of needs – and morning hosts Cory and Debi will introduce listeners to the family in need, and provide them with ways to help.
• KQLZ/99.1 Idaho’s True Oldies Channel just wrapped up a turkey drive – and raised $1380 in cash, plus 118 turkeys for the Idaho Food Bank. They are also pointing people to the Boise Rescue Mission.
• KQXR/100.3 The X is collecting toys for Toys for Tots.
• KAWO/Wow Country 104.3 is collecting toys for Toys for Tots.
• KJOT/J-105 is collecting toys for Toys for Tots.
• KCIX/Mix 106 is stuffing the semi for the Idaho Foodbank
• KTHI/107.1 K-Hits is collecting toys for Toys for Tots.
• KXLT/107.9 Lite FM continues its long Christmas Wish program with Home Federal – which has granted hundreds of wishes over the years and continues to find creative ways to help pepole out. You can nominate someone deserving at liteonline.com.
• KBOI/News Talk 670 is giving a boost to the Make a Wish Stories of Light campaign – helping fund wishes for several local kids with severe medical conditions.

Another round of cutbacks in the Boise media world – this time at Journal.  The group cut several, including sales staff, a web producer and KJOT/J-105 program director Dave Sparks.

UPDATE: Not a fun few weeks folks. In the last two months, Journal, Citadel, Peak, Idaho Business Review and the Idaho Statesman have all made cuts. As far as I’m aware, KBCI, KTVB and the Idaho Press-Tribune have not – but who knows what the future holds.

If any of the laid off folks wants to get a message out – whether it be a goodbye or pitch for future employment, e-mail me at idahoradio@gmail.com and I’ll post it on the home page.

Someone needs to teach this search engine some respect.