Idaho Radio News Etc.

I’ve spent the last few days in Hailey, Idaho covering the story of Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl – and have had a chance to listen to a few of the south-central stations I don’t get to hear from home.

KZDX/99.9 The Buzz has a provocative promo on the air that features a robotic DJ voice (which sounds intentionally awful) – then tags with the KZDX voice guy saying “don’t expect our DJs to get pink slips and be replaced by robots. 99.9 The Buzz — live and local radio the way it’s supposed to be.”

KTPZ/94.3 KTPZ now features a healthy diet of syndicated programming – with Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, Ryan Seacrest from 3-7pm and “Party Playhouse with Jackson Blue” each evening from 7pm-midnight.

KZMG/Magic 93.1 is giving up on a live and local show for its morning drive slot.

Kidd Kraddick in the morning will join the station starting Monday, with current host MJ handling weather and traffic, etc.

Kraddick last aired in the market on KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM from 2004 to 2006.

It’s been a good month for the syndicated show — it is also picking up KTPZ/94.3 Music Monster.

Speaking of KTPZ – the station has turned into a giant jukebox — with the syndicated Kraddick in the morning, Ryan Seacrest in afternoon drive and the syndicated Party Playouse show at night. The station is jockless overnight.

Massive cuts in the Twin Falls market – hitting all three major groups.

KZDX/99.9 The Buzz – Liz leaves the AM shift

KYUN/106.7 The Canyon’s Ken Simmons leaves mornings

KTFI – News anchor Dale Metzger exits

KTPZ/Music Monster 99.1’s Howard Mayhem is out.

KLIX/Kool Superhits 96.5 – Doc Holiday, mornings is out – Brad from sister KEZJ is doing double-duty.

PS: Radio-Info’s column says these are all GAP stations – however  KZDX is a Lee Family station, KYUN, KTFI and KTPZ are Locally Owned stations and KLIX is GAP-owned.

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.

We’ve been following the potential move of a rash of Idahos stations for several years now – and the deal is done, and stations have been ordered by the FCC to starting movin’.

The rundown:

- KQFC/97.9 FM will move to 102.7 FM
- KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM will move up just one tick to 103.5 FM.
- KTPZ/Music Monster 94.3 will move yet again – this time to 97.7 (it used to be at 99.1 )
- KSKI/103.7 FM will slide down the FM slope to 94.5 FM
- KMVX/Mix 103 will move from 102.9 FM to 103.1 FM
- KSRA/92.7 FM moves to 92.9 and gets a signal upgrade to 100kw
- KEZQ/92.9 The Big EZ flips to 92.7 FM and will change from a West Yellowstone, MT station to an Iona, ID station, further pulling it into the Idaho Falls market

More fallout:
- Construction Permit KPHD changes its city of license from Elko, NV to a full class C in Melba. The new station will slot in at 97.7 FM
- A vacant channel allotted to McCall is reassigned to 103.1 but remains a class C3 so as to not interfere with KMVX at Jerome. No auction date has been set for this channel.
- KXML, a construction permit licensed to Salmon UPGRADES to 100kw at 99.9

Previously, three other stations were ordered to move – including KZDX, KAOX, and KQEO – details here.

All this fun was triggered by College Creek Media. College Creek will pay reasonable costs for all these moves, and the affected stations have until October to file for construction permits for the changes.

ALSO: Some of these stations are going to have a tough time on the web. 1035kissfm.com is Clear Channel’s Chicago station… KissFMBoise.com, KissFMIdaho.com, KissBoise.com and KissIdaho.com haven’t been registered… yet…

Several folks wrote to let me know of some of the other great things going on in honor of the Christmas season.

- KQTA & KDBI have been collecting toys for an in-house toy drive for families around the area.
- The Locally Owned stations in the Magic Valley held a Stuff the Bus event earlier this season, collecting toys, food and clothing for beneficaries of the Magic Valley Salvation Army. KIKX, KIRQ, KYUN and KTPZ participated.

It is of note that the Locally Owned staffer that let me know of his group’s activities also wrote to say that the competing Lee Family Group of stations had a “very successful toy/food/clothing drive.”