Idaho Radio News Etc.

Impact Radio Group GM Darrell Calton has been named one of Radio Ink magazine’s “Best Managers in Radio” for 2009.  The list managers from across the spectrum — and Calton shared a few of his big areas of focus in building the cluster. See the PDF here.

Impact Radio Group has a lot to crow about after this book.  It has joined the ranks of “the big three” radio groups in Boise — which now can only be termed “the big four.”  Two of its stations pulled solid ratings and even went to #1 in some demos.  The cluster of stations has been trying to make a go of it in this market for more than a decade – starting with splashy studios in the Boise Spectrum – through to a failed co-ownership deal with the Boise Hawks – a “relaunch” of the stations and rebranding under Dave Tester – to the latest effort.

All along, the stations could never quite make it work. That just changed with the success of KWYD/Wild 101 and KSRV/96.1 Bob FM.

But Impact is still a long way from where it likely wants to be.  For now, it only has four stations in the Boise market — and two of them are essentially invsible.

KQLZ/99.1 Idaho’s True Oldies Channel tied with KGEM in among A25-54 in both mornings and total day. But even in the older demos – like A35-64, the station is not setting the world on fire. In fact, it gets beat by the very young-skewing KSAS/103.3 (among many others) in both mornings and total-day among older adults.

Then there is KPDA/La Poderosa 100.7.  The station isn’t in the book. Anywhere.  Just like KFXD last year, the station isn’t listed on the stations page, isn’t in any of the listings — nowhere to be found. It is not alone among Spanish-language stations. Bustos Media’s KDBI/La Gran D 101.9 is also missing — though both KQTA and KWEI are listed.

If you’ve been following our comments thread – you know by now that the Boise-area community stepped up in a big way, aided by the organizational initiative of Impact Radio – as well as big media push across the Valley. The group decided to help raise money for Ryan Stockdale – and brought $84,065.70 into coffers – which should be enough for him to get a vitally needed surgery. Bravo!

You’ve likely heard the story of Ryan Stockdale — the Middleton dad of three young children who have a rare blood disorder. The family was feature on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in 2007. More recently, Ryan has developed what are called “suicide headaches” — something his wife described as “giving birth through your eye socket times ten” in an interview with KTVB.

The family has been unable to get its insurance company to pay for a procedure that would help eliminate the headaches – a fact that has garnered significant local media attention.

Impact Radio swung into action, and began a marathon radio broadcast yesterday at 2pm at a local Syringa bank branch. As of 11pm last night, Impact’s Darrell Calton tells me they had raised $6,000 – and that’s well before they hit the morning drive this morning.

KSRV/96.1 Bob FM, KWYD/Wild 101, KPDA/La Poderosa 100.7 and KQLZ/True Oldies 99.1 have been broadcasting live, helping rake in donations for the family.

Calton says he is putting $1,000 toward the cause — and hopes executives at other clusters will join him.

UPDATE: My colleague (and fellow blogger) Maggie O’Mara says she checked with Impact this morning — and the total raised through Impact’s efforts has ballooned to $35,000. WOW!

Impact Radio continues to find unique ways to use its digital billboard deal with Lamar.

This board is posted on the rotating Connector sign:

On my viewing, the data was synced up with the on-air song. Great idea.

Impact Radio continues to beef up its stations and hopes to take a tough economy and make it work to its advantage.  As we’ve chronicled here, the other three major Boise station groups have all let employees go – but Impact has continued to add programming staff, with ten hires over the past six months.

Company senior VP Elliot Klein tells Idaho Radio News that the company is changing its promotional approach to the market — with efforts to promote the stations every month, not just during Arbitron rating periods.

“Most of my experience has been in markets that were surveyed continuously anyway and that’s the way Impact is going to promote its stations in Boise,  on a 24/7/365 basis,” he said. “We can’t afford not to!”

A big piece of that promotional puzzle is a year-round contract with Lamar Outdoor Advertising for billboards.  You’ve likely seen the electronic signs that promote KSRV/96.1 Bob FM, KWYD/Wild 101, KPDA/La Poderosa 100.7 and KQLZ/99.1 Idaho’s True Oldies Channel.  The electronic nature of the boards allows Impact to be nimble with marketing messages and change up the approach quickly.

Klein says another digital approach is also paying dividends — text messaging. More than 12,000 listeners have opted into text messaging products — and he says that’s generating non-traditional revenue for the group.

“On WILD we are receiving more than 160,000 incoming texts per month from our listeners,” Klein said.

Each station is also working in social media applications like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

While the stations are emphasizing new ideas, the approach is old-school – with people who focus on broadcasting first, with the hope that the business end will pencil out by doing radio right.

“Impact is now being run by broadcasters not CFOs or CPAs,” he said.

Citadel and Peak continue to battle it out for the top spot in the market – with Citadel raking in a total of 27 share points 12+ in the book – or an average of a 4.5 share per station.

Peak notched a 24.9 share or 4.15 per station.

Journal continues to fade, with an 18.9 total – or 3.15 share per station.

Impact is still far back in the pack with a 7.6 total, which averages out to 1.9 share points per stations..

From spring, Peak, Citadel and Journal all lost ground. Impact gained – increase from a 5.2 to a 7.6.  However, they also have one more frequency in the market – but they also lifted KTMB from a 0 to KPDA’s 1.9

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.

KWYD/Wild 101.1 is up and running. Yesterday I tuned in and heard silence (can you hear silence?) – today the station is looping Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on the eve of All Hallow’s Eve.

A single bumper says “It’s coming” tomorrow morning at 10am.  So peel your ears and get ready for a rare station sign-on.

The station that once served the McCall area is now largely gone for those listeners. FM KDZY/98.3 stands alone as the only commercial FM with roots in Idaho’s heartland.

UPDATE: After the Thriller stun, the station debuted as “Virus 101″ at 10am – but changed AGAIN to Wild 101/Idaho’s Party Station at about noon today.  The music was more Alt. Rock for the first two hours, but now sounds thematically similar to KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM – and is probably as urban as Boise will ever get (but still pretty poppy).

This isn’t Impact’s first shot at pop  – after several attempts with KTPZ/Music Monster 99.1.

The station is running promos ala the “I’m a Mac & I’m a a PC” making fun of “Whose House.” VERY reminiscent of Kiss signing on and targeting KZMG with lots of promos mentioning the cross-town comp.

So the All Access note posted in comments here isn’t correct… :) (Unless they decide to change formats for a third time today…)

UPDATE 2: The station is pumping 15,000 songs in a row – which at an average of 4 minutes per song works out to about 40 days, taking us into December commercial free.

Impact Radio Group officials confirmed to Idaho Radio News that the group’s newest Boise-valley station will carry the call letters KWYD.  GM Darrell Calton confirms that they have applied for the new calls, but will say little else.

Someone told AllAccess (which used its usual coy writing style) the station will be branded “Wild” and carry a rhytmic format.  Impact currently runs the former KMCL-FM in the McCall area at 101.1, but Calton tells me it will finish its move to Boise in coming weeks.

This would give Impact 4 stations, including KPDA/La Pderosa 100.7 (Spanish language), KSRV/96.1 Bob FM (variety hits), KQLZ/Idaho’s True Oldies 99.1 (oldies) and now KWYD/Wild 101.1 (rhytmic). Impact also has two AM stations on the fringes – KMHI in Mountain Home and KSRV-AM in Ontario.

As expected, Impact Radio Group finished its frequency transition – moving KQLZ/True Oldies to the 99.1 dial position. 100.7 becomes KPDA/100.7 La Poderosa. Impact is touting the signal coverage for the new station – which stretches from Twin Falls to Boise and beyond. As we notied, Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo will fill the morning syndication slot.

As Peak Broadcasting ramps up its Bronco Sports Network, affiliate KSRV/1380 AM is increasing its sports coverage.

The Argus Observer notes KSRV will air high school football games for Fruitland and Ontario High Schools. Station manager Dave Tester will also host three local sports shows each week. A lunch-time show will broadcast from Fiesta Guadalajara from 12:15-1pm – then the Argus Observer newspaper and KSRV will team for a coaches show each Saturday morning at 9am, live from Carl’s Jr.

KSRV will also do two HS football games at once this Friday – with the assistance of the KQLZ/100.7 transmitter (which will soon have new call letters). Ontario vs. The Dalles airs at on KQLZ at 6:30 and Fruitland vs. LaGrande takes off at 7pm on KSRV.

Wonder whose job this was…
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I’m very excited about the appointment to my new management position with Impact Radio Group

Those words were credited to Darla Sturtevant in a news release issued eight days ago. But Sturtevant is no longer with Impact. Idaho Radio News has confirmed through multiple sources that Impact’s newly-appointed director of sales has left the company. She joined Peak Broadcasting’s Boise operations.

Sturtevant’s making the rounds. She started the year at Citadel – moved to Impact this spring, and now makes the drive to Park Blvd. each morning.

Factoid of the day: Sturtevant’s son Aaron Paul (nee Sturtevant) currently stars in AMC’s Breaking Bad (not Bud), and had bit parts in Mission: Impossible III, K-Pax, House MD, Medium and more. Here’s a press pic of the Sturtevants earlier this year at the Breaking Bud premiere.

The strange saga at Impact Radio Group continues.

As I totally didn’t report last week – the group hired Darrell Calton as its new GM. Calton previously held the Director of Sales position for Citadel Boise. The group also elevated another Citadel alum – Darla Sturtevant to Director of Sales… though there could be another chapter in this part of the story.

Speaking of chapters – this one’s a doozy. Former GM of the group Dave Tester is back… this time as station manager of KSRV in Ontario. Really.

“Dave brings with him a wealth of knowledge, experience and sales know how,” Calton told the Impact staff.

Dale Jeffries will continue to handle operations duties for the Ontario-based station.

Stay tuned next time for another edition of “As the Impact Turns”

Sources confirm that Imapct Radio CEO Randy Hyatt and operations manager Kris Edwards have been relieved of their positions with the company.

Hyatt was let go first, just hours after he dismissed Mitch Pruitte I’m told. Several days later, Edwards was terminated. It sounds like Locally Owned/FM Idaho/Impact SVP Elliot Klein will be calling the shots in the short-term at least, with new OM Mikey Fuentes very much in the mix as well.

This is the sixth high-profile staffing change in the market since July 9th. It also follows the transition after Dave Tester’s leaving by just more than six months – leading to a tumultuous time at Impact.

Interesting results so far on our Impact Radio polls from last week. It’s a 50/50 tie on wether KTMB/99.1 The Man should have been given more time to find his sea legs. But folks aren’t so split on the idea of another Spanish-language station, with 65% saying it won’t work.

Right now, the Treasure Valley is loaded with Spanish stations: Bustos Media has two and KWEI has two. While Hispanics are clearly a growing force – will five stations (four FM) be too much for a population base that is still relatively small?

If Spanish isn’t the right direction (for 100.7 FM), what would you do?

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Mitch Pruitte is no longer with Impact Radio Group – he was let go earlier this week.

Those big changes at Boise’s Impact Radio Group we broke earlier this week are set to start. Here come the bullet points…

• KQLZ/Idaho’s True Oldies Channel moves from 100.7 to 99.1 starting tomorrow. Impact will stick it to “The Man” and end the format
• 99.1 and 100.7 will simulcast until August 31.
• On September 1, 100.7 FM will start up a new regional Mexican format, anchored by syndicated personality Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo in morning drive.
• Mikey Fuentes is joining the cluster as director of programming. Impact VP cited the company’s hope to compete with the “big three” in the hiring of Fuentes: “To compete with top notch companies like Citadel, Peak, and Journal, we needed an experienced programmer to lead our team and Mikey fits the bill. His format experience is diverse in both English and Spanish. Mikey will not only be launching 100.7 for us, he will also be helping the continuing building process of ‘Bob’ and ‘True Oldies’”
• The group is starting to prepare for the move-in of the former KMCL (now KMXM) at 101.1 FM, and says Fuentes will help shape the new station.

The Man experiment is about to end. A well-connected tipster says the year-long tryout of KTMB/99.1 The Man will end soon – with KQLZ/Idaho’s True Oldies Channel moving to the superior 99.1 slot (from 100.7). The big question mark is the fate of the 100.7 frequency. Also, would KTIK try to find a spot for Dan Patrick, which is currently on The Man – and not part of the station’s ESPN package?

Look for the Oldies switch as July turns to August.

Former Tester Broadcasting CEO Dave Tester and current Impact Radio Group sales guy Wayne Dzuback have teamed up to broadcast the Snake River Stampede rodeo this week. The Idaho Press Tribune reports the pair are doing the call on KTMB/99.1 The Man – and a couple of AM stations.

“I secretly want to be a rodeo announcer,” Tester said, “I want to be (Stampede announcer) Bob Tallman, so I have to think up ways to do it.”

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

Two radio groups are holding direct-to-the-public sales this weekend.

Impact Radio Group’s “World’s Largest Radio Auction” will be simulcast on KQLZ/100.7 Idaho’s True Oldies and KTMB/99.1 The Man. Hundreds of items will be auctioned off – with proceeds going to Hope’s Door.

“Idaho’s Largest Garage Sale” from Peak Broadcasting will take off at the Western Idaho Fairgrounds both Saturday and Sunday. More than 100 booths will be set up, and Peak stations have been beating the drum working to get people to come down and check it out.