Idaho Radio News Etc.

Here are my quick picks for the top seven stories of 2007. In past years, I’ve done a more thorough recap – but we’ll keep it a brief for time’s sake this year.

7 – The Twin/Poky CC mess – Blue Point Media announced it would buy the Clear Channel-owned stations in Pocatello and Twin Falls – as well as a separate deal to snap up KSKI and KECH based in Sun Valley from Chaparral Broadcasting. The Blue Point/CC deal fell apart – leaving the Pocatello and Twin Falls stations still looking for a buyer. GAP Broadcasting stepped in and announced it would buy the Clear Channel stations – but KSKI & KECH will still go to Blue Point.
6 – KXLT goes jockless – Just last month, Peak Broadcasting decided to let Melissa Dawn and Greg Williamson go – and took KXLT/107.9 Lite FM in a new direction – without personalities after morning drive.
5 – KSRV’s emergence – The station that became Bob FM lit up its new Deer Point transmitter in December 2006 with a country format. But before too long, new GM Dave Tester flipped the station to the variety hits Bob FM format, and in the process hosed another upstart – Peak Broadcasting. Peak planned to flip KSAS/103.3 Kiss FM to the Bob format on Sunday April 1, as soon as the new company took control of the station – and even started running teaser liners on Kiss. Instead, Tester beat Peak to the punch by three days – leaving the Peak-ers out in the cold, and Kiss FM alive.
4 – Spanish radio grows up – Spanish-language stations have been around the Treasure Valley for quite a while (KWEI) – but the booming Hispanic population helped boost KDBI, KQTA and KWEI. The ratings started to catch up with the population base this year – and KDBI/La Gran D posted an astonishing 3.8 rating – the highest Spanish-language rating since I started tracking 12+ numbers in 1998.
3 – Peak/Citadel lawsuit – Citadel sued rival Peak Broadcasting, accusing it of raiding the company of top talent (among other things) – including Todd Lawley, Kevin Godwin, Mike Sutton, Mike Owens and Rick Sutherlin. The case is still winding its way through the courts – but barring a settlement should go to trial this year – and that’s when the fun starts.
2 – Tester fires up/Locally Owned restructures – Dave Tester became the manager of a group of stations owned by Wendell Starke of Twin Falls – and began a series of moves to make them his own. 99.1 FM became FM Talk as Man FM, 96.1 became Bob FM, 100.7 became The Boomer (oldies) and the group’s Mountain Home Station got a “Hank” tune up. Tester also put together a brand new studio facility in Nampa by the Idaho Center and started an advertising blitz. Look for another frequency to go online in the next year or so. As part of the move, Starke’s Twin Falls stations were repositioned – with two new transmitters launching to house KTPZ/The Music Monster and KYUN/Canyon Country. The group now owns what are essentially two separate radio groups – one servicing Boise, the other for the Magic Valley.
1 – Peak comes calling – While Tester probably did more in the Boise area, Peak made bigger waves. The group revamped KTMY as KAWO/Wow Country 104.3, revamped KXLT/107.9 Lite FM, saw massive staff changes and turnover, is embroiled in that lawsuit with Citadel, launched KFXD/All Talk 63 and brought back popular morning hosts Jon & Chris and hired new folks at KSAS, KCIX and KIDO. All of its formats look different today than they did in January on Clear Channel.

Next Tuesday I’ll do the thing I hate the most: roll out a “top” list. I already wrote the “top stories” story for the day job website (to debut Monday on KTVB.COM), and there is something to be said for a quick recap. I can pick the best seven radio-related stories of the year – but you should have some say too. Leave your thoughts, and I’ll mix in mine and roll it out next week. I’ve already identified one E. Idaho story and one Magic Valley story – so pitch in those ideas as well.

PS: I got some great “Idaho’s Best” nominees – and I’ll roll those out in January. I didn’t forget.