Idaho Radio News Etc.

Twin Falls/Sun Valley market

People 12+, M-Su 6am-Midnight
KEZJ-FM 9.3
KKMV-FM 7.1
KLIX-AM 7.1
KYUN-FM 6.6
KIRQ-FM 6
KPDA-FM 6
KZDX-FM 5.5
KLIX-FM 4.9
KSNQ-FM 3.8
KTPZ-FM 3.8
KIKX-FM 3.3
KMVX-FM 3.3
KQLZ-FM 2.7
KBAR-AM 1.6
KFTA-AM 1.6
KART-AM 1.1
KECH-FM 1.1
KRXR-AM 1.1
KTFI-AM 1.1
KSKI-FM 0.5
KSL-AM 0.5

Data copyright 2009, Arbitron.

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.

KLIX/NewsRadio 1310 will spend Thursday delivering good news to Magic Valley radio audiences. Starting at 5:30am, the station will present nothing but positive news for 24 hours. Stories, interviews and positive news will be featured throughout the entire morning show from 5:30am until 10am, then with updates twice an hour during syndicated fare. A Twin Falls nursery is helping sponsor the effort, and will launch a good news website starting Thursday.

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.

Maria E. Juarez, et al have proposed to move KDIL-AM, a construction permit licensed to Dillon, MT to the Twin Falls Market on 940 AM, according to FCC filings. Here’s the link (PDF).

Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama claim KBAR-AM host Zeb Bell referred to the Illinois Senator as the “black Negroid Barack Hussein Obama.”

The Rupert radio host Bell claims he didn’t say it – but admits a guest on the show made “inappropriate remarks.”

The South Idaho Press reports today that Lee Family Broadcasting apologized to parents of Minico High School for a series of incidents over the past two weeks.

The statement ran on all of Lee Family’s stations Friday, and was issued by Kim Lee. KFTA host Ben Reed encouraged students to protest after a teacher threw away a Mexican flag at Minico High earlier this month. The situation escalated with counter-protests, and the arrest of a student for threatening violence at the school.

“Even though the remarks made on KFTA were the wrong choice, the radio station provides a voice for the Latino population of this area,” the apology reads.

The apology concluded with this, according to SIP:

“To display another nation’s flag in the home in respect for one’s ancestors should not be of concern to anyone, but when it comes to public display at parades, schools, public offices, etc. there should be only one ’Old Glory’!!”

More than 50 students at Minico High School in Rupert showed pride in their heritage on Cinco de Mayo by wearing the colors of the Mexican flag. The call to action came from Ben Reed of KFTA/La Fantastica 970 – who prompted more than 50 students to sport the colors.

Reed’s call to action came after a student charged that a teacher threw away his Mexican flag after it was confiscated during PE. The teacher said he didn’t have any pockets, and “put it in the garbage can for safekeeping. ” The student said the instructor had a pattern of making racist comments.

Reed told the Twin Falls Times-News that racial tension has been rising in the area in recent years.

“There is a lot of racial tension in the area,” he told the paper. “I have seen it escalate the past couple of years, and it’s reaching a fever pitch.”

Reed did not respond to an e-mail from Idaho Radio News seeking comment.

The school previously cut funding for its English as a Second Language program – which led the program’s teacher to make a statement of his own last Tuesday.

The program cut was a factor again this week when ESL teacher Dan Luker, who has resigned rather than be assigned elsewhere, heard about the flag incident and responded by desecrating an American flag in the office of a school administrator on Tuesday.

Luker appeared on Reed’s program Wednesday to apologize for stepping on the flag.

Idaho’s FM shuffle continues – with two pending frequency moves in the Treasure & Magic Valleys.

GAP Broadcasting has asked to change KLLP/Star 98.5’s city of license from Chubbuck to Filer – and boost from a C2 to a 100kw C1. The station would stay on 98.5 FM.

The company (which owns the former Clear Channel stations in Poky/IF and Twin Falls) is asking to move KSNQ/98.3 The Snake to 100.1 FM.

AllAccess notes – and FCC filings confirm that GAP Broadcasting has made a deal to buy KSNQ/98.3 The Snake in Twin Falls and KEGE/92.1 The Edge in Pocatello. Intermart Broadcasting currently owns both stations, but GAP controls them via LMA the dates back to the Clear Channel days.

Former Lee Family Broadcasting sales manager and on-air talent Logan Tusow has joined the KTVB News Group as sales manager for KTFT in Twin Falls. Tusow worked for Lee from 2005-2008 – after spending 13 years with the Clear Channel group in the market.

(Disclosure: I am also employed by the KTVB News Group)

Currently, the Bronco Sports Network consists of just two stations: KBOI/News Talk 670 and KGA/Spokane.

Under the new agreement, the network could swell to nine stations in seven markets. Peak Broadcasting worked behind the scenes to secure the network, and is “98% confident” in closing the deals now that it has secured the radio rights.

Potential network partners:

• KID/Idaho Falls (GAP West)
• KWIK/Pocatello (GAP West)
• KLIX/Twin Falls (GAP West)
• KALE/Tri Cities (New Northwest)
• KGA-KEYF-KJRB/Spokane (Mapleton)
• KBJX/Idaho Falls-Pocatello (Pacific Empire)
• KBKR/Baker City (Pacific Empire)
• KLBM/La Grande (Pacific Empire)
• KCLK/Lewiston-Clarkston (Pacific Empire)

But there could be one more partner: KWEI AM/FM. Peak would extend its rights to KWEI – which would produce a Spanish-language broadcast of football games.

A set of massive changes that could reshape radio across Idaho are moving closer to reality. This week, the FCC accepted for filing several proposals that will move several stations from their current dial positions.

• KQEO from 107.1 to 107.9, moving to a new tower with coverage in both Poky & IF (filing)
• KAOX from Kemmerer, WY to Shelley, ID at 107.1. This station would colocate on the KQEO tower. (filing)
• KZDX from 99.9 to 93.5 The Buzz would increase power from 27kw to 63kw and get a directional antenna aimed at TF/Jerome. (filing)

As previously reported, KBYI is moving from 100.5 to 94.3 with Sand Hill Media taking the 100.5 dial position.

KFTY/88.1 FM in the Magic Valley is now broadcasting its own programming for the Magic Valley. The station had been simulcasting co-owned sister KTSY in Boise – but launched its own programming service under the direction of KTSY alum Ty McFarland. New website coming soon here.

Related: KTSY is again up for the Gospel Music Association’s station of the year award.

The Federal Communications Commission just approved a big rulemaking document that affects a raft of frequencies across Idaho. As part of the decision, KZDX/99.9 The Buzz will have to leave its current dial position behind for a new slot at 93.5 FM. KZBQ/Idaho Country 93.7 will shift to 93.9 FM – and KQEU/Arrow 107.1 will slide up to 107.9

Our FCC expert Oldtimer has the breakdown:

WINNERS in IDAHO

- Sand Hill Media’s KSNA 94.3 a C2 licensed to Rexburg Idaho swaps channels with co-owned KUPI at 99.1 thus giving it an improved signal over Idaho Falls.
- Sand Hill’s KUPI takes over the frequency of BYU-Idaho’s KBYI at 100.5 which will give it a transmitter site near Idaho Falls and thus coverage over both Idaho Falls & Pocatello.
- Sun Valley Radio’s KLZX 95.9 licensed to Weston ID upgrades to a C3 from an A and moves to 99.9.
- Simmons owned KOAX 107.3 C2 licensed to Kemmerer WY becomes a move-in to Shelley Idaho covering Idaho Falls & Blackfoot.
- College Creek, another Chris Devine entity, has their Ashton Idaho Fm construction permit changed from 96.5 class A to 104.5 which will allow it to move closer to Idaho Falls & Rexburg.

LOSERS in IDAHO

- The community of Soda Springs loses its only local FM as it moves to Wilson (Jackson) WY at 100.1 as a C3.
- BYU-Idaho’s KBYI is forced to change frequencies from 100.5 to 94.3 despite its objections to the FCC.
- KZBQ Pocatello changes frequency from 93.7 to 93.9 despites its objections to the FCC.
- KZDX Burley changes frequency from 99.9 to 93.5.
- KQEO Idaho Falls changes frequency from 107.1 to 107.9
- Vacant channel 105.1 class A at Dubois ID to 96.5 class A

KMVX/Mix 103 in the Magic Valley’s “60 Hours to Fight Hunger Radiothon” was a huge success. The event brought in 1,432 turkeys that will grace the tables of homes around the area. The Mix 103 folks were joined in the effort by a local car dealer and KMVT-TV.

KKMV/Mix 103 launched a website last week – www.mymix103.com. Not a whole lot there quite yet, but it’s a start!