Idaho Radio News Etc.

KIDO’s Voice of the Broncos made a cameo in a promo for KSAS this week – with some totally out of context quotes. Very funny. Listen here.

Behler appeared on the KTVB.COM Fiesta Live Webshow last week, and was asked by Mark Johnson about his future plans. He said conversations have not begun with KBOI and won’t until his contract expires, but he hopes to continue in his role as “Voice.”  He also made an interesting observation — during his time with Peak/BSU, he’s only called one losing game – the Pointsettia Bowl against TCU last year.

I was looking through an issue of The Blue magazine tonight – the publication dedicated to Boise State sports. KBOI had a full page ad with a large football – and three simple copy points: “Live. Local. Legendary.”

It occurred to me that the station never stopped being the Broncos station. Two years ago, Peak Broadcasting got organized — and paid big — to swipe the rights to broadcast games from KBOI, moving them to KIDO.

But after KBOI accepted defeat – it set its sights on two things: keeping the Broncos as part of its brand, and getting the team back on its airwaves.

KBOI set up shop before each football game at a less-than-glamorous location: Baja Fresh. But they continued to crank out pre and post game shows, and had a big advantage: Paul J. Schneider. The long-time announcer of football and basketball was swept aside as part of the transition, but still was a very strong presence in the mind of fans. He continued to anchor the station’s morning show – and is arguably the best-known personality in Boise radio.

Meanwhile, the station kept its rather large news staff, and as Peak cut KIDO to the bone – KBOI grew. It picked up Rush Limbaugh, strengthened its news team, and kept hammering away on Broncos news. The games might not have aired on the station, but it was very much part of the scene.

Now KBOI gets the games back – and will likely bring Bob Behler on board as well. While Paul J. won’t be behind the play-by-play mic, he’ll continue to be part of the news coverage, and Citadel will likely find creative ways to wrap itself around the Broncos brand even better than it had before.

KIZN/Kissin’ 92 is holding its annual Keep Kids Warm auction on-air this week. They are also selling $10 Kissin’ frogs to help the cause.  The program started with Rivers & Valley way back in 1996 when a kid called in trying to win a contest. That one call has led to more than $650,000 in donations over the years. See the auction items and get more details here.

KBOI/News Talk 670 is featuring a Make-a-Wish child each week throughout the month, and helping raise money to make those wishes come true. It’s a really neat, personal way to do it – and you can read the stories and see the pictures of the kids here.

Peak Broadcasting GM Kevin Godwin issued a statement today on the loss of the rights to Boise State sports to Citadel and KBOI/KKGL.  Godwin says – in a nutshell – that there was no way to make money, and that picking up the rights would have cost jobs and more. He also says current play-by-play man Bob Behler is under contract to Peak until July – and “any mention of his future employment outside of Peak Broadcasting is premature.”

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Here’s the release on the story you read here first:

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This is about a month old (you know, back when it was summer, instead of winter) – but interesting to see the Shelman (KBOI) to Miller (KIDO) handoff here:

KIDO/580 AM is adding a new afternoon drive talk show. Starting Thursday, Austin Hill will join the station for a 3pm-6pm local talk show — and is doubling down on syndicated personality Glenn Beck.

More on Hill in a second — but first, KIDO said in a news release today that it plans to revamp its daytime lineup, and will move Glenn Beck to the 9am-noon timeslot. That change will put Beck’s popular show up against Rush Limbaugh on KBOI from 10am-noon.

Dennis Miller, which is currently heard from 9am-noon on KIDO/580 will move the KFXD/63 KIDO. “First Team with Steve Czaban” finds itself without a Boise home in the moves.

Hill has worked in DC, Chicago, LA — and comes to Boise from Phoenix where he was last heard in the afternoon on KTAR-FM.

“KIDO will continue to lead in the acquisition and development of premium LOCAL programming to our area,” Peak SVP Kevin Godwin said in a prepared statement (which you can red in full after the jump).

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Longtime former KIDO/580 AM producer Ray Amaya pulled a “Tom Collins.”

Tom Collins (to’m kol’enz)
1) adjective – To be unceremoniously dumped by Peak Broadcasting for reasons only clear to management – only to quickly snag a job with rival Citadel Communications days later
2) noun – A tall iced drink made with liquor, such as gin, and lemon or lime juice

No, he didn’t morph into a nice summer drink — he quickly transitioned to KBOI after KIDO let him go just a few weeks ago. Amaya is being heard all over the airwaves doing news and more for Boise’s only remaining news radio station.

And, in a modified-reverse Collins, Melissa Dawn is back at Peak. “Modified,” because she left Citadel on her own accord, and “reverse” because she went from Citadel to Peak. Dawn took over Claire Day’s morning traffic duties for the cluster more than a month ago.

One other side-note – am I the only that finds LiteOnline.com’s blank staff lineup page ironic — or maybe just appropriate?

KBOI had an exceptionally strong book – and broke what had long been a pattern for the station: up in the fall, down in the spring.

The station lost Bronco Football last fall – and it looked like KIDO was poised to become the dominant news station in the mall. Then Citadel struck back and was able to snag Rush Limbaugh. That paired with its existing strong local lineup seems to have done wonders.

KBOI notched a 6.9 12+ number. In the 10am-3pm daypart where Limbaugh resides, the numbers also saw a strong increase. KIDO picks up steam in the afternoon with Glenn Beck, but in this book that was 580’s only bright spot.

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.

KBOI/News-Talk 670 afternoon host Nate Shelman is huge these days.  Like, towering over Boise huge.  No, he hasn’t gained a ton of weight – in fact, it’s the opposite.  No, Nate has his likeness plastered on a billboard on the I-184 Connector as part of an ad for a weight loss program. I won’t turn this into an ad for that company (they’re already all over radio TV and outdoor media) – but check out Nate’s before and after shots:

Fellow Citadel citizen Steve Shannon has also lost a ton on the same program (or therabouts):

(Minor disclosure – my firm, DayPower Media did some freelance web work for Steve earlier this year)

Just about everyone is jumping on the Twitter bandwagon. Some of my favorite “tweets” (aka Twitter posts) from the past few days:

@1071KHits: quote of the AM “The young naked man approached her with this poodle, and she immediately realized something peculiar.” http://bit.ly/yofWp

@kekeluv: Just woke up! Now, I can’t sleep! Welcome to my world ever since last april! Eating cereal, working on Taylor Swift promo, headed 2 work!

@580KIDO: Who is the sexiest cartoon character of all time? Dave and Brian will let you know what America decided just after 8am.

@donjarrett: has exceeded the maximum attention span of a 6 year old….and the drama begins in 5…4…3…2…1….duck & cover!

@kissin92: Billy Currington joins Cody Alan on CMT Radio Live 7pm – 12m on Kissin’ 92. Catch him tonight! www.kizn.com for everything Kissin92!

@miggy05: Ordering Twilight on PPV Iam Scured !!! hahahah

@DJDickman: @luckythadj get off the railing. Safety first!

@LuckyThaDJ: @miggy05 your down for shots ? Lol no friggin way ! Have a good night man

@Wild101: Thank You Everyone For The Love And Thank You For Keeping It Locked On Wild 101 Idaho’s Party Station!!!

@frosticles: The president giggling on 60 Minutes didn’t bother me. I figured the laugh meant, “Look how much work I have to do.”

Boise’s three talk stations host robust local lineups – including the newest station.

KFXD/63 KIDO beefed up its Saturday morning lineup with local programming – much of it from time brokerage agreements.

Piece of Mind with life coach Brenda Harper starts the morning at 8am. The show’s “goal is to offer our listeners life tools, presented in a fun, common sense way.”

Former Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez hosts The Patriot Radio Network (this week they discussed “B. Hussein Obama’s Socialist Stimulus Package.”) It airs from 9-10am.

Ralph Smith hosts NW Live! at 10am – with a second hour called “Counseling Connection” at 11am. You can hear the show on demand here.

Sunday the station hosts Idaho Insights at 8am.

KIDO/580 AM also has a variety of local weekend shows – including AM Idaho Saturday with Doug McConaughey, Home Fix with Joe Prin, D&B Gardening Show, and Money Matters with Dave Petso.

KBOI also has several weekend shows – including the Zamzow’s Garden Show, Dining Out Idaho, Property Line Today

EXCLUSIVE

Peak Broadcasting was not given the opportunity to renew its contract to carry the Rush Limbaugh Program on KIDO, according to Peak SVP Kevin Godwin. Peak acquired KIDO in 2007 after Clear Channel Communications decided to exit the Boise market.

In the end, another Clear Channel subsidiary – Premiere Radio Networks – gave its former corporate sister the short end of the stick when it comes to Rush.

With KIDO’s Limbaugh contract expiring at the end of 2008, Premiere informed Peak Broadcasting that the program was moving to Citadel-owned KBOI – end of story.

“The decision was made by two very big radio companies to pull the program from 580 KIDO and give it to a giant national radio company,” Godwin said. “We didn’t… get a chance to bid on the program contract and were told that even though we did an excellent job of promoting and broadcasting/streaming the program, that no amount of money could be spent by us to keep his show.”

Idaho Radio News attempted to contact Premiere Radio Networks on this topic – but a spokesperson for the syndicator didn’t answer direct questions on the matter.

Peak has a number of Premiere programs on its Boise stations – including Glenn Beck, Delilah and After Midnite with Blair Garner. Another Peak station – KMJ in Fresno – still carries Rush. Godwin says he isn’t worried about the other shows – for now.

“We have extended contracts on all of our other programs, and I believe they will be loyal,” he said. “However, the only way you can be 100% sure on keeping a product is if your company owns the program.

Limbaugh’s program has moved stations in a few other markets over the years – most recently in New Orleans, LA – but generally the switch is to a Clear Channel outlet. I couldn’t find another example of the show moving to a Citadel-owned outlet – though the two groups teamed last summer to co-syndicate Sean Hannity, another conservative talker.

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.

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.

As we reported last week, Dan Tooker isn’t alone after being cut from KZMG/Magic 93.1.

KTIK’s J Bates tells Idaho Radio News he will no longer handle anchoring duties for the station, but he’ll continue to be part of Bronco game day coverage on KBOI.

KZMG morning producer Casey Acevedo left the station – but was not let go.  She’s tells me she has moved to a producer job with Entercomm in Austin, TX.  She’ll work for the evening “Your Time with Kim Iverson” show.

PJ Stover tells Idaho Radio News that she’s also looking for a gig, after being let go from KQFC.

Rattlesnake Jake moves from KIZN nights to KQFC mid-days as “Jake Austin.”

KBOI/670 AM is excited about its new acquisition: Rush Limbaugh.

As we noted first here Monday, KBOI will pick up the show from KIDO starting January 1, 2009.  The station is already promoting the move and doing a twice-daily cash giveaway tied to the upcoming debut.

You win some. You lose some.

KIDO/580 AM picked up Bronco Sports from long-time home KBOI this summer, and subsequently launched an ad campaign touting how “it’s all here.” News. Broncos. Rush.

Sources tell Idaho Radio News that Rush Limbaugh will not be heard on KIDO after the first of the year – moving instead to rival KBOI. Such a move would blow a hole in KIDO’s mid-day lineup and boost the fortunes of KBOI.

An e-mail to Peak Boise SVP Kevin Godwin for comment went unanswered. I’m told KBOI is not yet able to promote the move and that it will happen after the first of the year.

Limbaugh is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks and just signed a new $600 million deal. His show is heard on roughly 600 stations nationwide.

KIDO lost some bargaining power when it was sold from Clear Channel to Peak Broadcasting in 2007. Premiere is a Clear Channel subsidiary – which generally gives CC stations a leg up in negotiations.

Friend, colleague and KJOT/J-105 night guy Cale led me to a funny discovery a few weeks ago: a KTVB trash can covered with stickers out back by the satellite dishes.  It featured a trio of stickers from Citadel stations that throw back to the old days:

KIDO and KBOI keep battling it out as the BSU season busts past its first road game of the season (and what a road game it was). Here’s a few radio notes from today’s coverage

- That “five eight oh. five eight oh. five eight oh. five eight oh.” promo that KIDO is running is kinda… annoying. It might be effective – I guess we’ll see, but it just serves to irritate right now. Also, I know it’s a pretty simple rhyme – but is there anything better than “Bronco Nation’s new station?” It sounds awfully similar to “the official station for Bronco Nation.”
- Jeff Caves on KBOI was revving up the call-in show, and pitched to the first caller, saying “you’re on the 50-thousand watt northwest, voice of the – um – uh – Boise State.” Yeah… not the Voice of the Broncos so much anymore.
- A weight-loss company is running spots featuring Dave Burnett and Michelle Mahoney – and the identify themselves as being from 5-eighty KIDO. Of course, Mahoney left KIDO earlier this summer.
- The KIDO call-in show had its own issue – with one of the analysts repeatedly saying that the win over “Oregon State” was big.
- KIDO’s text message score alerts were so fast that they beat the station’s audio stream – which was as much as three minutes behind by my watch. Burnett tried to explain it to the audience – but it probably just left some confused.
- Jadon Daley and Bob Behler have a nice chemistry developing – and overall the game call has been impressive. Having Brian Holmes travel with the pair as a sports reporter has been key as well.

Halftime of the BSU-ISU tilt had a little Boise radio free-for-all, with Journal Boise General Manager Bob Rosenthal doing a wonderful tribute to Citadel morning show veteran Paul J. Schneider, with Peak Broadcasting’s KIDO-AM doing…. something else.

Schneider and his family appeared at the 50-yard-line to accept a tribute from the school. Since Rosenthal is still the stadium announcer for the games, he got the honor of toasting the Citadel employee. KIDO was doing the usual half-time fare, and passed on the opportunity to have one competitor talk about another competitor on its air.

I spent a bit of time listening to both pre-game shows, but it appears Peak’s got the advantage – if nothing else it has access to coaches and players, and has a location just a few feet from the west-side gates, whereas KBOI is across the street at Baja Fresh – and only has access to Statesman reporters. Having Paul J. is a big asset, but is it enough?

KBOI’s fingernails are still hanging on the edge of Bronco Football – with a pre-game show broadcasting live from Baja Fresh. The station is touting the new venture on its website. (Since when does the “J” in Paul J. stand for J-A-Y?) The KBOI radio experts have teamed up with the Statesman for a blow-out show For Bronco Game Day and Bronco GameNight.

Football is back, and for it’s 36th season, so is KBOI! Bigger and better than ever.Introducing KBOI’s Game Day “Dream Team”…

Legendary Voice of the Broncos Paul Jay Schneider,Jeff Caves,Boise State Hall of Famer Bart Hendricks,
The Idaho Statesman’s Mike Prater, Chad Cripe, and Brian Murphy, former Bronco Tony Altieri, plus Tom Scott, Chris Walton, Brett Reckamp, Nate Shelman, Andrew Paul and more!

Join us for Bronco GameDay all season long before every home game at Baja Fresh on Broadway and University. Our live pre-game show will start 3 hours before kickoff and will include great food and drinks, prizes, live music, and a big screen TV. Presented by Syringa Bank, exclusively on 670 KBOI.

Then after each game it’s Bronco GameNight… as Jeff Caves and former Bronco quarterback Bart Hendricks break down the game, and take your calls.

Now in our 36th year covering the Broncos, Nobody does it better!

The usual “Up in the fall, down in the spring” trend continues to hold true for KBOI, with a 4.7, on par with the last several spring books.

KIDO also generally sees a stronger fall book, but the swings aren’t as great – and the station almost always beats KBOI in the spring, with KBOI taking the fall race. But this next book could be key. Though the station will still produce pre and post game shows for Boise State University football with Paul J. Schneider, it is losing the actual game telecasts and the prestige that goes along with them.

The Idaho State Broadcasters’ Association honored the best of the best in radio and TV recently. The awards are open to entrants statewide, but only Treasure Valley stations took home awards at the annual Sun Valley ceremony.

NEWS

• Best Public Affairs – KBOI “Return of the Salmon,” Ken Weaver
• Best Agricultural Program – KIDO “Coyotes,” Sean Chaney
• Best Local Newscast – KIDO “KIDO News Team”
• Best News Story – KBOI “Democrats Caucus,” Melissa Dawn, Ken Weaver
• Best Sports Program – KTIK “Sports Talk with Caves and Prater”
• Best Sports Play-by-play – KBOI “3OT WAC Championship,” Paul J. Schneider & Todd Miles
• Best Investigative Report – KBOI “Shopping Quest Scam,” Brett Reckamp
• Best Spot News – KBOI “Super Tuesday,” Melissa Dawn, Jay Howell
• Best Feature News Story – KIDO “Pearl Harbor 66 Years Later”

COMMERCIALS

• Best Commercial Single – KSAS, “Ideal Image Code 7 Yetti,” Jodi Sali, Chris Adams, Robin Scott
• Best Commercial Series – KCIX “Escape the Crate Doggie Daycare,” Jodi Sali
• Best Commercial Copy – KXLT “Ideal Image You’re Right,” Jodi Sali
• Best Public Service of Public Affairs Announcement – KJOT “Idaho Transportation Department DUI Awarness,” Dave Sparks

ENTERTAINMENT

• Best Personality – KIZN Steve Shannon
• Best Morning Show – KJOT “Pete & Joe Show,” Pete Stauffer, Joe Weber

PROMOTION

• Best Audience Promotion, TV Using Radio – KIZN “Steve Shannon CMT,” Steve Shannon
• Best Audience Promotion, Radio Using Radio – KIZN “Kissin’ Gave ‘Em Away,” Rich Summers
• Special Projects – KSAS “Live for 175″