Idaho Radio News Etc.

BOISE – Big changes are coming for the radio and TV broadcasts of Boise State sports – but the full impact won’t be known for a while.

Learfield Communications tells NewsChannel 7 it has been selected as the new broadcast and advertising rights partner for sports. You likely have never heard of the company, because it works behind the scenes. The group sells packages to advertisers that contain a mix of radio, television and in-stadium signs.

Learfield confirms it’s deal with Boise State also gives it the task of finding a sponsor to buy the naming rights to Bronco Stadium.

For now it is unclear where the games will wind up on your TV and radio dials. The KTVB News Group is in the final year of its television contract with the university. Peak Broadcasting and KIDO radio have one year remaining on its deal with the school for radio rights.

It also is not yet known where television games will appear this fall.

Learfield’s deal does not begin until after the upcoming 2009-2010 season ends. Learfield officials say they won’t have an announcement on what local radio and TV stations will air the games – or who will serve as announcers until this fall.

The contract is subject to approval by the Idaho State Board of Education.

The company handles similar packages for a variety of schools across the country – including University of Idaho, Oregon State, Alabama, Oklahoma and dozens of others.

The deal will not affect the Western Athletic Conference’s agreement to carry some games on ESPN.

Both Peak Broadcasting and Citadel Communications announced they would slice paychecks for employees this month.  PB said it would pull 10% from all non-sales employees, while Citadel Boise asked for a 5% slice.

Peak and Citadel are doing what they think the must to survive, and clearly taking money from employees pockets is not an action taken lightly. However there’s a unique wrinkle here: the presence of personal service contracts.  Employees – especially on-air talent – are asked to sign these agreements.

The bargain is simple: you sign a piece of paper guaranteeing you compenstation and a series of raises, and in exchange you promise not to work for a defined set of competitors. In some cases it is just the local market area, but in others it can apply to larger geographic areas or markets by rank (i.e. you can’t work for stations in anything smaller than market 50, for example).

Employers like this deal because it legally binds you from going to work across the street (disclosure: I am employed under a PSC).  Employees don’t generally have a ton of choice in the matter since this is generally a requirement of employment — but they do provide some stability and a guaranteed raise each year.

Multiple source tell me that in Peak’s case, the company is requiring the contracted employees to take the cut.  They have been told they must sign a document agreeing to the pay cut.  However, it’s the other half of the deal that is at best problematic.  Employees tell Idaho Radio News that they have been told if they did not sign the agreement, they are subject to immediate termination without cause.

Those employees have a contract – a piece of paper that guarantees them a job. Peak is telling employees that they must sign the pay cut addendum or be terminated.  Experts I’ve talked to indicate this could be tricky for PB if an employee chose to challenge the tactic. A check of court filings shows no current lawsuits by employees against the company.

Yahoo HotJobs has some excellent advice:

If you have an employment contract, you may be able to refuse the cut altogether or at least quit and collect unemployment, but only if the contract states terms of compensation and says that your employer cannot alter the terms without your consent. The pay cut could constitute a breach of contract and an attorney can help you negotiate the terms of your release or fight for your full pay.

Another avenue is to contact your local unemployment office.  IRN regular Jim Smith has offered to talk to anyone with questions – wheter it is from Peak, Citadel or elsewhere in the state. Call your any Job Service office statewide and punch in extension 3283.

First layoffs – then a severe cutback in part-timer hours — now Peak Broadcasting has taken another measure to stem the tide of a weak economy: non-sales employees will take a 10% pay cut.

Before you go “why not sales?” try to remember that those employees are all on commission to varying degrees – meaning they’re probably taking home less money these days anyway.

Citadel and Peak continue to battle it out for the top spot in the market – with Citadel raking in a total of 27 share points 12+ in the book – or an average of a 4.5 share per station.

Peak notched a 24.9 share or 4.15 per station.

Journal continues to fade, with an 18.9 total – or 3.15 share per station.

Impact is still far back in the pack with a 7.6 total, which averages out to 1.9 share points per stations..

From spring, Peak, Citadel and Journal all lost ground. Impact gained – increase from a 5.2 to a 7.6.  However, they also have one more frequency in the market – but they also lifted KTMB from a 0 to KPDA’s 1.9

Bob Behler will have a new partner in year two of KIDO’s broadcasts of Boise State University Football.  Jadon Daley has left Peak Broadcasting Boise.  Multiple sources (basically anyone I’ve asked) say he liked doing the play-by-play but was frustrated with the other parts of the gig – selling ad time for Peak.

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.

Peak SVP Kevin Godwin confirmed the new lineups for KIDO/580 AM and KFXD/63 KIDO, starting Monday.

630
5:30-7am – AM Idaho with Holmes and Burnett
7am-10am – Dan Patrick
10am-1pm – The First Team with Steve Czaban
1pm-4pm – Todd Schnitt Show
4pm-5pm – Lars Larson
5pm-6pm – KTVB News at Five (live at 5, repeat at 5:30)
6pm-8pm – Lars Larson

580
5am-9am – AM Idaho with Holmes and Burnett
9am-Noon – Dennis Miller
Noon-3pm – Dr. Laura
3pm-6pm – Glenn Beck
6pm-9pm – Dave Ramsey

Several things to note. First – AM Idaho is contracting by an hour per day – now running four hours instead of five. Dr. Laura will now air for an extra hour each day. Dennis Miller was slated to launch on 630 – but is now set for 580. A source tells me the 580 frequency was going to have AM Idaho, followed by Beck, Dr. Laura and a local show – which would have put Beck and Rush head-to-head, but the economic pinch seems to have dictated these moves instead.

The small, privately funded Peak Broadcasting is not immune to the economic storm. The company, which owns radio stations in Boise and Fresno has steadily cut back in 2008, after staffing up in 2007.

Idaho Radio News has learned that plans for a new, local afternoon show on KIDO have been scrapped. Jon & Chris Show producer Jim Kimball – who was to be involved in the effort – has been let go.

Also, KAWO/Wow Country 104.3 morning host Amber Lee has been let go – leaving a solo morning show. Of Peak’s six Boise stations, one has no local morning show of its own, and two are hosted by solo acts (KXLT and KAWO). The group has also cut several other staff positions – and is now at about the same staffing level on the talent side as when it took over for Clear Channel.

Looks like we know a little bit more about what Peak is doing with the Jon & Chris timeslot – which is being filled by Fox Sports for now:

The big question still remains what KIDO/580 plans to do with the 10am-1pm slot… Peak said in a news release on October 7th that Rush’s slot would be filled with something live and local…

In its place, beginning January 1st, 2009, 580 KIDO will debut a new LIVE and LOCAL radio show aimed directly at residents of Idaho and the growing Treasure Valley.

The revamped KFXD-AM/63 KIDO is making another change – this time letting Jon Duane and Chris Kelly go.  The duo have been given a farewell show – which is on the air right now.

Kelly and Duane are upbeat about the change – and even thanked Peak management (at least for letting them put together a final show).

Fox Sports will take the timeslot starting tomorrow.

Peak Broadcasting is moving its station sites to an enterprise system called “Platformic” — in both Boise and Fresno.

Check out Platformic’s borderline-creepy demo video here.

How this affects Peak’s deal with Stationality isn’t clear. Peak’s sites are currently the strongest in the market when compared with the other groups overall effort – so it will be interesting how this move affects that balance.

Since the old KMCL-FM went off into the “Wild” never to be heard from again – Peak is switching the games to KDZY-FM/Heartland Country 98.3.  KDZY will air football and men’s basketball, plus the weekly coach/recap show.

Peak Broadcasting just picked up another media savvy former player for its broadcast team. BSU basketball standout Abe Jackson will join Bob Behler as color analyst for its broadcasts of men’s basketball this season. Jackson is a BK grad and former all-WAC forward (and a nice guy to boot).

“As the excitement of the 2008 BSU Athletic season gets underway, we are proud to welcome Abe to our talented team of broadcast professionals at Peak Broadcasting,” Peak SVP Kevin Godwin said in a statement. “Abe’s in depth knowledge of college basketball, Boise State, and the Treasure Valley, will make tuning in BSU basketball on the Peak/Boise State University Sports Radio Network a truly unique listening experience.”

Abe guest hosted an edition of KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra with Mark Johnson and (soon-to-be Peak colleague) Brian Holmes several years ago, and was always a good media interview. His knowledge of b-ball is encyclopedic and he’s paid close attention to BSU basketball since he graduated several years ago, and should bring an interesting dynamic to the product.

(Disclosure: Abe is a friend)

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?

Peak Boise needs some more people to help sell spots…

Radio Sales Account Executive

Peak Broadcasting is looking for motivated people to join our sales team. We have six great radio stations in Boise and the potential to earn a lot of money is incredible. If you’re organized and self-motivated, then the sky is the limit with Peak. If you’re willing to work hard to make a lot of money, this is the job for you.

Contact not listed, but I’m sure calling 344-6363 will point you in the right direction

I’m very excited about the appointment to my new management position with Impact Radio Group

Those words were credited to Darla Sturtevant in a news release issued eight days ago. But Sturtevant is no longer with Impact. Idaho Radio News has confirmed through multiple sources that Impact’s newly-appointed director of sales has left the company. She joined Peak Broadcasting’s Boise operations.

Sturtevant’s making the rounds. She started the year at Citadel – moved to Impact this spring, and now makes the drive to Park Blvd. each morning.

Factoid of the day: Sturtevant’s son Aaron Paul (nee Sturtevant) currently stars in AMC’s Breaking Bad (not Bud), and had bit parts in Mission: Impossible III, K-Pax, House MD, Medium and more. Here’s a press pic of the Sturtevants earlier this year at the Breaking Bud premiere.

Peak Broadcasting and KWEI will work together to broadcast all the BSU Football home games this year in Spanish. A full team is in place: Steve Ramirez and Marcos Magallon on play-by-play, color commentary by former defensive lineman Alex Guerrero and Edgar Uriostegui on the sideline. Guerrero will also contribute to KIDO’s pre-game.

News release after the jump (UPDATE: the Fight Fight BSU blog broke this yesterday!)

Read the rest of this entry »

Related: Behler was Peak’s third choice

© 2008 Idaho Radio News

The battle for the rights to broadcast Boise State University Athletics on a local radio station has been unusually contentious – and public.

Idaho Radio News obtained nearly 200 pages of documents related to Peak Broadcasting’s acquisition of the radio rights to Boise State University sports. The documents were obtained under Idaho’s open records law, and were so voluminous that the university had to spend staff time to cull and redact the records (don’t worry taxpayers, I paid the $47 bill). IRN also reviewed an audiotape of a June meeting of the Idaho State Board of Education where Citadel tried to push for a rebid of the contract, and Boise State was put in the position of defending its choice of Peak Broadcasting.

We’ve also looked at several versions of the contract and e-mails between Peak executives and Boise State officials.

The records help paint a better picture of not only how Peak was awarded the contract, but how and why it landed on Bob Behler and Jadon Dailey as its broadcast team for this fall’s football games.

Citadel’s last stand

Peak Broadcasting and KIDO were officially awarded the contract in April – with the new deal set to start as soon as the 35-year relationship with Citadel and KBOI ended in June.

Just before KBOI’s clock ran out, Kelly A. Cameron, an attorney for Boise firm Perkins-Coie made a short presentation on behalf of Citadel to the State Board.

“I’m not here to today to convince, but to raise our concerns,” Cameron said.

Cameron helped lay out Citadel’s case for why it wasn’t considered fairly. The bottom line, in Citadel’s estimation: cash. Citadel claimed it put forth more money toward the deal, and other factors like “enthusiasm” shouldn’t be considered.

“The financials of Citadel’s proposal was [sic] just superior,” he said. “Our suggested remedy for this would be to rebid.”

Later that day, the Board took up the matter, and Kevin Satterlee, attorney for Boise State said that while Peak’s bid was technically worth more, the incentives put forth by Peak far outweighed the cash.

Satterlee also emphasized that Peak’s bid included incentives for post-season play, which if the football team reached a bowl game or men’s basketball team made it to the NCAA or NIT tournament in one of the two years, Peak’s bid would actually pay out more money.

It’s the network

One of the key factors in awarding the bid to Peak was the creation of a region-wide network of affiliated stations. Peak’s proposal provided for stations across Idaho and throughout the region. Once the deal was signed, Peak SVP Kevin Godwin lined up affiliates in Ontario, McCall, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and into Oregon and Washington. Citadel’s proposal provided for two markets: KBOI and a Spokane affiliate.

“KBOI has a very strong signal that reaches out across some parts of Idaho,” BSU President Dr. Robert Kustra said. “As strong as that signal is, it misses quite a bit of Idaho, and it misses our surrounding states. KIDO in their proposal offered to extend coverage of Boise State University athletics beyond the KBOI contract by signing up affiliates throughout the state and beyond the state.”

Satterlee estimated the value of that network at between $700,000 and $1 million – if Boise State were to go out and purchase airtime for its games to air on those stations.

But Cameron said that was unfair – since Citadel’s network, such as it is, also has value.

“I’ve not seen any basis for $1 million,” he said. “Peak didn’t put that number in (the bid). Citadel had also proposed a network, not the same as the network Peak proposed, but certainly not at a value of zero.”

The $700,000-$1 million figure determined by the school appears to have come from an estimate given by Godwin. In a spreadsheet outlining the value of promotions and airtime on the eleven stations in the Bronco Sports Network, Godwin came up with a figure of $496,642 per year – or $993,284 over the life of the contract. The value of just the airtime alone is estimated at $729,284.

Citadel valued its network at $350,000.

Broncos En Espanol

Another key factor cited was the creation of a Spanish-language affiliate. But Peak tried to finesse that part of the deal to a degree that Boise State felt compelled to remind Peak of how important the Spanish-language portion of the broadcasts were to the winning bid.

Godwin wanted to remove the Spanish-language portion of the deal from the final contract.

“(E)verything looks fine except for the commitment you are asking of us for Spanish broadcasts,” Godwin wrote. “I would prefer to leave that out of this contract and work with [sic] to secure a subcontractor agreement outside of the contract.”

Godwin said he “put the brakes” on the Spanish portion of the deal (with KWEI) because of liability concerns.

“We will work diligently to get a local Spanish broadcasting partner and secure the subcontractor agreement. But as for this BSU/Peak contract…there are two many variables & uncertainties at this point for us to commit to that network addition in our agreement.”

On June 12th, BSU General Counsel Satterlee said in no uncertain terms that this line of thinking wouldn’t fly. The “ground breaking” addition of the Spanish-language affiliate was key to the award.

“I… appreciate that we need to make sure that Peak and the University are covered as far as the liability of a third party station being involved,” Satterlee wrote to Godwin. “However, it is the fact of that new ground breaking that was the basis of the award of the contract to Peak. It was Peak’s proposal that included a Spanish language broadcast as part of the radio network and it was the creation of the network that was a pre-requisite to the contract award.”

“We need to find a way to make this work,” Satterlee wrote.

The formation of the Bronco Sports Network – and the Spanish portion of it in particular were noted at the June 19th State Board of Education meeting.

“Peak has committed to running our games on a Spanish station in the Treasure Valley, and that’s never been done before,” Satterlee told the board.

No value in the value

Another key point by the BSU team was that some of what Citadel proposed to do – and put value toward – actually didn’t have any value to the school.

The top item was the creation of an hour-long Saturday morning radio program. Satterlee said they tried this one time before and it “failed because it was too much of a burden to the University.”

Peak also proposed a weekly hourlong show – but the actual time-slot gave it more value in Boise State’s estimation. Peak’s show is slated to air on Wednesday evening, instead of the hectic Saturday morning period.

“Saturday morning is not a good time to have our athletics staff try and make a radio show when there is [sic] football games all through the fall and basketball games all through the winter,” Satterlee said. “While there’s quote-unquote value in the Citadel bid, there wasn’t any value to the University.”

Citadel also put $200,000 of value toward a NCAA Final Four tournament contest.

“While it does promote listenership to that station, it doesn’t promote value to the University,” he said.

The ‘inappropriate overture’

After Satterlee had a chance to defend the University’s choice of Peak Broadcasting, Dr. Kustra addressed the board one more time.

He said that his group went out of its way to be fair and equitable to all sides – and he was as surprised as anyone about the choice of Peak Broadcasting.

“I never in a million years thought the contract would be awarded to KIDO,” he said. “KBOI had a long history with Boise State, and if anybody had asked me to make the call, I would have assumed – and I did assume – that the contract would have stayed where it was for a number of years.”

Kustra said he doesn’t know Kevin Godwin – and said he doesn’t think he’s ever met him.

He mentioned several “overtures” on behalf of groups that wanted “this contract very badly.” He told the board that no back-channel requests ever came from Peak. But clearly someone at Citadel did something that Kustra thought to be improper.

“It’s particularly distressing that we bent over backwards to be fair, to be objective and to ignore some overtures that I think that were improper,” he said. “And in the end, the contract went to someone I didn’t even know.”

Godwin expressed gratitude to officials in the Athletic Department.

“Guys, I didn’t attend the SBOE meeting, but I know Kevin and Dr. Kustra put a lot of effort in defending your decision regarding the rights and I wanted to tell you how much we appreciated that.”

In the end, the State Board of Education approved the deal, and just a few days later, KIDO relaunched with a new BSU-themed logo and slogan. Over at Citadel, general manager Sandy Gamblin was fired from his post just two weeks after the decision.

Peak Broadcasting conducted an extensive search to find the new “Voice of the Broncos” after it attained the right to broadcast football and basketball games earlier this spring. Peak hired Bob Behler, formerly the play-by-play announcer for University of Massachusetts.

But before Behler got the nod, Peak approached two other men about the job. The list of applicants started at nearly 200, and Peak Broadcasting SVP Kevin Godwin “knocked down” the list to 56 – then 16.

Godwin told the media that he hoped to name the new “Voice” on Friday June 20th. The actual announcement didn’t come until ten days later – on June 30th. Now we know why. It turns out, Bob Behler hadn’t even been in Boise yet. He arrived for the first time on June 26th – a full week after Godwin indicated the new hire would be made public.

But Peak’s first choice wasn’t Bob Behler. In fact, he received the third offer from the company. The first offer went out to Chris Blair who is the play-by-play announcer for Georgia Southern University. In a note from Godwin to two top BSU sports officials on Monday June 23rd, he broke the news that Blair turned the job down – and Peak’s short two year contract was a major reason. “the two year deal and moving this far away became issues once we started to discuss the process,” Godwin wrote. “I’m not concerned and I’m glad we found this out now. Dave Koehn and I talked Friday night and he is extremely excited about it. I have a letter of intent with compensation details in front of him now and have a contract being drawn up for him…but I’m obviously hesitant to announce anything until the contract is signed (I hope by tomorrow).”

As we reported last month, Dave Koehn decided not to sign that letter – instead opting for a play-by-play gig with the University of Virginia.

Godwin seemed to get more cautious as the process went on. The day before Behler arrived in Boise, Godwin e-mailed BSU sports officials with his backup plan.

“Just in case, please review the list of candidates I emailed to you yesterday, and the demos/resumes, I want to continue to be prepared to move forward with others if need be.”

In an e-mail sent just an hour after the “just in case” note, Godwin dug in and put on the full court press with Behler. (As an aside, Boise State redacted Behler’s name from this note – but the “TO:” line wasn’t removed… it reads “Bob Behler.”)

“(Redacted), I really enjoyed our conversation last evening, and I can’t wait to meet you tomorrow… after I pick you up at the airport… we will head to a great little steakhouse for dinner with a couple of guys from Peak.” Godwin noted that he would take Behler to Peak, then go to Boise State. “If you are still excited or more so about this position….maybe head to lunch and discuss details/dates. How does that plan sound?”

Behler clearly enjoyed the trip – and he signed his name on the dotted line, Peak finally announced the hire on June 30th.

BOISE – A former Boise State football player is moving from the field to the broadcast booth.
Jadon Dailey will serve as color analyst for Peak Broadcasting’s broadcasts of Bronco football starting this fall.
The former Bronco center will move back to Boise from Phoenix, where he’s been working in marketing for a radio station in Arizona. Dailey is well known for his passionate contributions to the Out of the Blue documentary that followed his performance in the Fiesta Bowl in 2007.
“The addition of Jadon to our broadcast team will add an insight unique to the Broncos,” Peak Broadcasting’s SVP Kevin Godwin said in a prepared statement. “His recent experience with this team will provide listeners with a vivid description of all the action from start to finish.”
Dailey joins Bob Behler who will provide play-by-play for the radio broadcasts.
The BSU games will be heard on a network of stations, including 580 KIDO in Boise.

The Idaho Daily Statesman has a Q&A with new Peak Broadcasting/Boise State play-by-play announcer Bob Behler. Here’s hoping he talks in the booth more than he did to the paper.

An exclusive in-depth Idaho Radio News investigation and data analysis reveals that Behler… didn’t say much. The questions asked by reporter Chris Langrill amounted to 271 words (counting explainer copy, but NOT the story’s intro) – while Behler’s answers amounted to 221 words.

What we know: He drives a Pontiac, saw the Fiesta Bowl, doesn’t like going upside down on a roller coaster, and roots for the San Francisco Giants (which the Statesman spelled San Fransisco… yeah.)

Dave Koehn is the new voice of the Broncos.

That’s what Peak Broadcasting officials and Boise State honchos hoped to announce eight days ago. Unfortunately, Koehn had other plans. He won’t be packing his bags and moving from Texas to the City of Trees — instead he’s headed the other direction to take over play-by-play for the University of Virginia Cavaliers.

The guy in charge of the UVA decision said big things about Koehn: “We feel we have a real star in the making.” So who will be Boise State’s rising star?

The Idaho Daily Statesman’s Brian Murphy said the school had its list narrowed down to four finalists. A well-placed source indicates Koehn was the top pick. Now Kevin Godwin and Gene Bleymaier are trying to figure out who to throw the job to now. Godwin was clearly overly confident in telling the media that a pick would likely be named by June 20th — eight days and counting ago.

Applications were due to a talent scouting firm by April 28th – two months ago today. The season starts in two months and two days. Let’s assume that it takes three weeks for the new hire to get here – that leaves just a month to become an expert on Bronco Football and build chemistry with the also-unnamed color analyst.

There’s still a lot of people cheesed off about the way Paul J. Schneider was treated in this whole mess, especially after Idaho Radio News first reported Boise State’s interest in bumping him from the top job. Now Peak & BSU are facing an ever tougher battle to find the right person as a salve for the open wound ripped open last fall with some of the Bronco faithful.

Also: Someone might want to clue the Statesman kids in about the change in radio stations (look closely):

So Peak’s SVP Kevin Godwin said we’d probably have an announcement on KIDO’s pick for play-by-play of BSU basketball and football.

Friday came and went… nothing.
Monday… ditto.
Tuesday? Same deal.

It’s interesting to set a public deadline… then miss it by several business days. KBCI says there are four finalists – and the last candidate was interviewed last week. The four candidates have experience from college to NFL levels.

What we don’t know is who it will be… or when we’ll find out.

UPDATE: The folks at BroncoCountry.com are holding a “new Peak announcers contest.” The suggestions are mostly tongue in cheek. This is my favorite from “BadWillHunting”:

Bert (play by play): Football? I never get picked for that on the playground… Can this team win? Oh, it’s pointless, never mind!

Ernie (color): Rubber Ducky… heheheheheheheh…

Idaho Daily Statesman reporter/columnist Brian Murphy reports that Citadel will make a 5-minute presentation to the State Board of Education in Idaho Falls today in an effort to reopen the bid. Citadel’s lawyer said there were “some errors” in the selection of Peak – and hopes to re-open bidding. Citadel feels its financial compensation package wasn’t properly considered. (Peak offered more money, according to records obtained by Idaho Radio News).

State Board staff has already recommended approval of the Peak agreement.

Also – Peak GM Kevin Godwin tells Murphy that he hopes to announce the new play-by-play announcer for the games on KIDO by Friday. Godwin said there have been a high quality-level of applicants – with experience ranging from college, to NFL to network level.

UPDATE: Citadel’s efforts failed. Peak gets the contract.

We’ll take our annual look at the contents of local EEO files later this week – but it is always interesting to see which stations are in compliance of the requirements. The EEO files must be posted on station website by June 1.

KIZN – Posted
KZMG – Posted
KRVB – Posted
KSRV – Not posted, out of compliance
KKGL – Posted
KQFC – Posted
KWEI – Not posted, out of compliance
KTMB – Posted
KQXR – Posted
KQLZ – No website, exempt
KDBI – No website (?)
KSAS – Posted
KAWO – Not posted, out of compliance
KJOT – Broken link, out of compliance
KCIX – Posted
KQTA – No website (?)
KTHI – Broken link, out of compliance
KXLT – Posted
KIDO – Posted
KFXD – Posted
KBOI – Posted
KTIK – Posted
KCID – Not posted, out of compliance
KGEM – No website, exempt