Comments on: 99.1: A history

By: Tony

Tony — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:38:15 +0000

I don’t understand how people say The X doesn’t reach Mountain Home, because whenever I drive my Neon out there I can pick it up pretty well. Hell, I can still pick up the station somewhat in Twin Falls, and I can pick up stations like J105, The Eagle, and K-Hits really well out there in Twin. I was out there about a month ago driving through the construction on Blue Lakes Blvd. switching between J105 and Twin’s I-Rock.

I guess maybe the difference is that I’m using my car radio, if I used a radio inside a house I probably wouldn’t be able to pick up the Boise stations out there.

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:14:12 +0000

As a former resident of Mountain Home, I am quite glad the X doesn’t reach out there. Since the town doesn’t get signal, I don’t have to constantly hear from my mom as to how I should quit radio and stop corrupting the youth of the Treasure Valley.

By: Peabody

Peabody — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:51:09 +0000

The problem with 99.1 was, is, and will be, signal quality. Boise residents have long been spoiled by the big cluster of blowtorches beaming down pristine signals from their lofty Deer Point transmitter site. When driving I84 from Ontario to Mountain Home, you can listen to these stations without so much as a little puff of static. The Deer Point signals will penetrate buildings very well and even sound great on cheap radios. When a station like 99.1 shows up on the dial in Boise, many people will likely never know it’s there. They have never had a reason to connect that FM dipole antenna to their receiver, or pull up that telescoping whip. This means that a station like 99.1 will be very slow to build numbers, and will be difficult to maintain them. Annual format changes are not the answer. Find a strong position and HOLD IT.

That is why a station like KQXR (The X) has done so well. Their signal is not perfect, but they found their niche and stuck to their guns. They have built themselve a loyal, long term base of listeners that are willing to wrap tinfoil around their antennas, if need be.

The Virus’s alternative format will also likely develop a small, yet loyal group of listeners. If Impact is expecting a 4+ share out of this station in the next year, they will be disappointed. This signal will likely never see those kinds of numbers. However, they still can utilize the capability if this station’s signal coverage to their advantage. The Virus covers from Caldwell to Twin Falls quite well. That opens the door to other possibilities, such tapping into a little revenue from the Twin Falls market. Also, The Virus will offer coverage to Mountain Home, where The X does not.

In Boise, all I can say is good luck, Virus. The X is not likely to be de-throned by anyone in the next little while.

By: Doc Brown

Doc Brown — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:12:42 +0000

Don’t for get the one month stint as the precursor to KPDA between “The Man” and “Idaho’s True Oldies Station”…

Editor’s note: If my memory (and posts at the time) are right – it went the other way. 99.1 and 100.7 simulcast Oldies before KPDA launched on 100.7.