Idaho Radio News Etc.

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.

Boise radio stations are taking to the TV machine in droves during this book. Spots from KIDO/580, KIZN/Kissin’ 92, KQFC/97.9, KSRV/96.1 Bob FM, KQLZ/99.1 The Virus and more are in the mix.

KIZN/Kissin’ 92.3 host Spencer Burke is up for a big honor: induction into the Country Radio Broadcaster’s Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in Nashville.

A panel will now evaluate his work and make a final decision on induction. If he makes it through the process, he’ll be a part of the DJ section of the overall Country Music Hall of Fame.

The honor is only open to radio talent that have been working in the industry for 20 years – with at least 15 of those spent at a country-format station.

Congrats!

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)

KIZN/Kissin’ 92 will bring the band to Boise for a show this Friday – and the trio cut a video spot for the station to promote the event:

(The station took the promo offline after the original post)

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.”

In my new outreach effort to spend more time listening to stations that don’t get enough coverage here, I’ve been listening to KIZN/Kissin’ 92. The station goes out of its way to engage listeners and have fun. Each hour is packed with different contests – whether it be the online prize club, fly-aways, text message contests or other ideas – Kissin’ seems to be working very hard to ply its audience with free stuff. The talent always seems happy and upbeat, and the on-the-street remotes I’ve heard have been well-targeted to the audience.

The imaging of the station is tight and well-thought-out. The station uses a similar-sounding imaging package to sister station KZMG/Magic 93.1, but Kissin’s package fits the station better and is produced in a way that works for the format.

Overall you can tell from listening to the station that a lot of work is being put into holding on the number one spot in the market.

1T – KIDO (up more than 2 points from fall 07)
1T – KIZN (down from fall 07)
1T – KSAS (up from fall 07)
2T – KQXR
2T – KTIK

A couple of interesting notes here – there’s a three way tie at the top, with KIDO seeing a big number, likely partially fueled by BSU football – though the station’s last book with Rush Limbaugh drew a very large share.  Some salce for KIDO: Glenn Beck outrated even Rush.  KSAS shows continued strong results – though the station was down a bit from spring. Lucky has a double-digit share at night, and Keke Luv’s afternoon show grew as well  KIZN is still strong despite falling from last year and last spring.

KQXR saw an improvement though it’s still well of the spring 2007 numbers.  The big surprise is KTIK – which saw very very strong numbers – especially in the afternoon, home to Idaho Sports Talk with Caves and Prater.

KIZN/Kissin 92.3 and KZMG/Magic 93.1 are asking listeners to use a little TLC and make valentines for Idaho troops serving overseas.  The stations are asking listeners to make valentines and send them to the station by the end of this week.  The packages will be shipper overseas in time for Cupid’s favorite day.  KIZN’s done this before and is hoping to expand the effort this year.

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!

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.”

Over the past two decades or so, there are several instances where an upstart station bested the heritage player in the category. KZMG/Magic 93.1 destroyed KFXD/KF-95… KTHI/107.1 K-Hits beat out KLTB/Kool Oldies 104.3 and a few other scattered instances.

KAWO/WOW Country 104.3 hopes it is on that kind of meteoric rise. But for every Magic beating KF-95 there’s a mis-fire (K-106 taking on KZMG anyone?). When Clear Channel launched KTMY/My Country 104.3, it didn’t offer anything better than KIZN. Sure it played country music, but just spinning similar tunes to KIZN or KQFC isn’t enough. When Peak came in, they dumped the lame My Country presentation and started over by putting together a team of people hell-bent on winning, and dropped the money they needed to do it. The station is well-packaged and put together – and frankly makes KIZN and KQFC work harder to earn their place in the market.

Who wins? The listener. Country listeners have three solid options, with three different approaches to the market and different sets of talent. You’ll have your Mee in the Morning die-hards, KQFC loyalists and WOW fanbase.

This fight isn’t likely to be the type that leaves a station on the chopping block like what Mike Kasper and the Magic team did to KF-95 15 years ago, but KIZN and KQFC have a real enemy to battle (other than each other… which we all know has been the weirdest competition in his market) – and they are both sharper and stronger for it.

KKGL/96.9 The Eagle is Boise’s #1 radio station. Anchored by Bob & Tom in the morning and local jocks in the midday and afternoon, the station jumped to its best number since spring 1998 with a whopping 7.4. That mark is also the best rating for a commercial FM since KIZN/Kissin’ 92.3 scored a 7.5 in 2005. The Eagle also leads its nearest competitor (again KIZN) by 7/10s of a point and dominated direct competitor KJOT/J-105 by a 4.1 rating. Wow.

KAWO/Wow Country 104.3 is one of Boise’s top five radio stations – and beat long-time heritage station KQFC to take the silver medal in the country race. Despite all the good news, the station is still behind KIZN/Kissin’ 92.3 The station jumped 170% year-to-year – nearly tripling its audience from the final book as My Country 104.3.

The 5.4 number is also better than KLTB/Kool Oldies 104.3’s best number since 2003. There’s a funny paradox here: this validates Clear Channel’s decision to switch out oldies for country – but the formula the company and its manager came up with didn’t work… but Peak’s attempt certainly is.

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″

Blogs blogs everywhere. Check out all the (mostly active) blogs from local radio folks:

• KRVB’s Morning blog
• KJOT’s Aftershow blog
• KCIX’s Mike & Kate blog
• Casey Acevedo’s “Master Cleanse” blog at DanTooker.com… proceed with caution.
• Brenda Mee’s Mrs. Idaho International blog
• KTHI’s Road to Recovery blog by Margo Vaughn on her fight against breast cancer
• Jerry & Michelle Radio Show blog from KTSY
• KAWO’s Tarzan Dan blog

- KIZN/Kissin 92.3 is doing a flyaway to Chicago to see Rascal Flatts
- KRVB/Idaho’s 94.9 The River is putting two folks on a plane to Denver to see the Mile High Music Festival with Tom Petty, DMB, Jason Mraz and a bunch of others
- KKGL/96.9 The Eagle is giving away a “Tricked Out Truck” – a 2001 Silverado with all sorts of bells and whistles
- KQFC/98 FM will send two people to see Brooks & Dunn in Seattle
- KQXR/100.3 The X has another free show lined up with Safety Suit
- KJOT/J-105 is loading up a bus with listeners for a Mötley Crüe show in SLC.
- KCIX/Mix 106 is doing a $25,000 home makeover contest. 106 people qualify for a whole list of home-related stuff. Yes, one person will actually win.

‘Tis the season for free station-supported concerts. KTHI’s 6th birthday bash last night is in the books – and KIZN/Kissin’ 92 and KQFC/97.9 FM will present a late-summer show with Sara Evans and James Otto later this summer. Folks who want in can listen, sign up online, or join the station’s text message club.

Citadel’s Boise stations are hoping for a shot of non traditional revenue with a new “buy it for half” promotion. It works like this: Clients fork over gift certificates in exchange for radio exposure. The station sells the certificates for half price on its website, gives a cut to the vendor (in this case, IncentRev) and keeps the rest. The station gets some cash, the client gets exposure and the listener can save some money.

Here’s an example from KIZN.

(Others have done this as well – including KRVB, etc.)

So when KIZN/Kissin’ 92.3 host Steve Shannon was on CMT Insider a few weeks ago – did KAWO/WOW Country 104.3 go ahead and run its radio simulcast on Sunday morning at 6am?

The spring ratings period is underway, and the usual array of promotions has started to unroll. A sampling:

- KQXR is giving away tickets/air/hotel to a music festival in Columbus in May.
- KTHI/107.1 K-Hits is helping the Warm Springs Counseling Center bring Tony Bennett to town – and is giving away tickets to the show next month.
- KZMG/Magic 93.1 is doing a flyaway to see Jordin Sparks and Alicia Keys in Las Vegas.
- KIZN/Kissin’ 92.3 has several irons in the fire. The station is giving away a trip to see Niagra Falls to see James Otto. It is also doing a “word of the day” contest that ties into its new online rewards program – giving away a share of more than $20k in prizes.
- KQFC/97.9 FM is giving away tickets and backstage passes to see Carrie Underwood when she hits town in May.
- KAWO/WOW Country 104.3 is also giving away tickets to see the hot Ms. Underwood – saying it is “giving away the most tickets.”
- KJOT/J-105 is blowing out tickets to this month’s Def Leppard show at the Idaho Center. It is also doing it’s annual Extreme Garage Makeover.

KIZN/Kissin’ 92.3’s Steve Shannon was on CMT a few weeks ago — here’s that YouTube clip..

This week’s Hit List on CMT again features a Boise-area personality — this time KIZN’s Steve Shannon. The program aired twice on Saturday, as well as Sunday at 9am and Monday at 8:30am. We’ll try and dig it up on YouTube shortly.