Idaho Radio News Etc.

Peak Broadcasting won’t allow employees to look at this website inside its building. I think it’s pretty silly – but at the end of the day folks just go home and read it, so whatever.

But when I saw that someone at Peak copied an entire story from IdahoRadioNews.com and pasted it onto their corporate home page… all I could do was shake my head and laugh.

Syndicated radio personality and Fox News host Glenn Beck will once again bring his comedy tour to the Gem State — this time as a benefit for the Tri-County Sheriff’s Association – a group of 17 sheriff’s offices across Eastern Idaho. Beck will perform at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium, according to the Standard-Journal. The show is set for this Saturday at 2pm.

KZMG/Magic 93.1 is looking for a full-time Kidd Kraddick producer/mid-day host. If you apply, make sure to say you saw the posting here! (Full listing after the jump)
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While it is hard to get a full fix on the state of Peak Broadcasting — we have little ways to judge the health of the company. Things like employee morale, programming — and usually the most telling aspect: staffing.

In March, 2005 – just before Peak took over the operations of six Boise Clear Channel stations, I noted here how many on-air staffers each station in the group. CC had been derided for its staffing practices in markets like Boise. Stations that used to be live 24/7 had been cut, cut and cut again. Across the group, just nine shifts had live and local talent.

Here’s how it broke down:

KCIX: Two shifts, three personalities
KSAS: Two shifts, three personalities
KTMY (now KAWO): One shift, one personality
KXLT: Three shifts, four personalities
KFXD: One shift, one personality *
KIDO: One shift, three personalities

That’s fourteen staffers total (KFXD laid off Mitch Pruitte just before Peak took over and switched the shift to a VTer).

The picture now?

KCIX: One shift, two personalities (-1)
KSAS: Three shifts, four personalities (+1)
KAWO: Four shifts, four personalities (+3)
KXLT: One shift, one personality (-3)
KFXD: None. (-1)
KIDO: One shift, two personalities (-1)

Old total – 14. New total – 13. Neither total includes part-timers, news anchors or production personnel who don’t hold air shifts.

File this in very bad ideas. Local hair removal shop (and heavy radio advertiser) Ideal Image is running spots during On Air with Ryan Seacrest on KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM featuring sidekick Ellen K. Ellen – one-time Playboy pinup and best friend of one of those Kardashian-show people lives in Los Angeles. But she is telling people here in Boise she got hair removal done at Ideal Image and she “loves it.” She blathers on for just shy of 60 seconds before telling folks to call Ideal Image and “tell ‘em Ellen K from On Air with Ryan Seacrest sent ya.”

It isn’t uncommon for nationally syndicated talent to voice local spots – everyone from Glenn Beck to Delilah offers the service. But by having that national talent claim he or she personally uses the service when chances are they have never been anywhere near Boise, you’re treading on really thin ice. Beyond it being a silly fabrication — I think most people in the audience will see right through it.

This weekend, Peak Broadcasting has been using its airwaves to promote a member of a competing group’s on air staff. Big KCIX/Mix 106 advertiser Bull’s Head Pub featured Ryan Wingfield as its main act on the comedy stage. Wingfield of course is the afternoon news anchor for KBOI/News Talk 670. So if you’ve tuned into Mix, you’ve heard a promo for the comedy stylings of Ryan Wingfield.

Peak Broadcasting continues to drop people from its roster – this time letting go of long-time employee Tom Collins. Tommy is one of the nicest guys in the business — and this news frankly comes as a surprise. He worked in production for the group, made appearances with Mike & Kate on KCIX/Mix 106 and held down the mid-day fort with the station.

A note to employees says his layoff “was not a performance issue, but a necessity as we continue to work our way thru the changes that 2009 keeps hitting us with.” I guess that means the economy – but it could mean something else. More on that in a moment.

He has been part of the KCIX fabric for more than a decade – he’s been paired in the mornings with Russ Novacs, Steve & Steph and Mike & Kate. He gained the nickname “Tommy the Stunt Boy,” but his always genial attitude and positive outlook made him a fast friend to many. He even anchored weekend morning weather at KTVB for several years.

Just six months ago, KCIX was a fully staffed station – with live talent in the morning, Tommy mid-day, and live jocks in the afternoon and evening – six on-air employees. Now? Now the station is left with its live morning show and voicetrackers.

There’s more to this story. Just this week, Peak hired Miggy Santos from Citadel and KZMG/Magic 93.1. Rumors continue to swirl – and the official line is he is headed for the group’s Fresno stations. However, Santos was seen in the Peak Boise building yesterday, leaving lots of people to speculate. Peak does not own a CHR or urban station in the Fresno market — instead it has news/talk, oldies, country and a hot AC station. That station – Y101 – is currently well staffed… making you wonder…