KOSY 106.5 Is Salt Lake City's First Christmas Station For 2002

Likely due to the ratings jump seen last year, Clear Channel/Mercury flips Soft AC KOSY 106.5 to an all-Christmas format, a week before Christmas. Too early, perhaps? Not too early for the other 84 reported all-Christmas stations at 100000watts.com, as well as the countless others that will flip today or the day after Thanksgiving. Why such a Christmas rush? Whether because of the nostalgic feelings of Americans after 9/11, or just an influx of "Christmas spirit," stations saw large gains in ratings from Christmas music. KOSY jumped +0.9 share, reaching with 2.0 share of rival KSFI "FM 100." Clear Channel, KOSY's parent owner, is also really big on the Christmas format. All major stations, WLIT Chicago, WNIC Detroit, WSNE Las Vegas, and KOST Los Angeles, to name a few, are among the dozens of stations Clear Channel has flipped all-Christmas. KCFM 96.7 in Central Utah has already been stunting with an all-Christmas format for nearly a month.

Study Show Listeners Sense and Dislike 'Voicetracking'

Radio and Records reports that the majority of those sampled in a Paragon Media Strategies survey "were aware of stations voicetracking. . .and said a station is 'less appealing' with voicetracking." Of the 759 respondents, 55% disliked voicetracking., and found that although the personality and perhaps the time was not appealing, 51% reported that it didn't affect the appeal of a station.

KALL 700? Radio Disney 910? More Rumors? Or Inside Info...

Two different tipsters tell Utah Radio Guide that a deal may be in the works for Clear Channel's KALL to receive Radio Disney. The gist of the deal would be this: Radio Disney would move to AM 910, currently KALL, and KALL would move to AM 700, currently KWLW. The thinking behind the move is this: KSOP-AM will likely cut KWLW's listeners in half when it finally takes a hold in the market, dropping the Classic Country outlet to only a 0.7 share. The thinking may also be that if similar programming were used at night between "KALL 700," and Clear Channel's WLW 700 Cincinnati, it would create a large nighttime coverage that could benefit both stations, and listeners who wish to tune into those programs. Meanwhile Radio Disney could be given new life at 910 AM. One rumor said 910 would be spun off to ABC for some capital, while the other rumor said opposite. It seems logical for Mercury-Clear Channel to keep 910 AM at this time, they have no visible motive to sell it. This would also allow Citadel to break it's contract with Radio Disney-ABC and pursue a new format at their KBEE-AM 860. Likely KBEE-AM would simulcast the FM for an undetermined amount of time until, if felt needed, new programming may be brought to AM 860. *Remember, this is rumor, but is more credible because it's from a tipster, the forum, and someone in the industry, at separate group*

Lyle Morris Now On 97.9 The Breeze

Capital Broadcasting's 97.9 The Breeze has hired Lyle Morris, formerly of FM 100, for the 7 P.M. to Midnight shift. Lyle replaces Michael Kavanagh.

Ratings Shakeup!

Fall P1 ratings, covering October bring KSL on top tied with KUBL "K-Bull 93." Simmons' Media's KSFI "FM 100," which nearly always takes first place, dropped -0.8 to third place. KQMB "Star 102.7" skyrockets +0.8, passing Clear Channel's KZHT by +0.3 despite "94.9 ZHT" 's, +0.4 gain. KZHT typically is the leader in new music. KRSP "Arrow 103.5" sees a loss of -0.7, placing it at fifth place. KSOP "Country 104.3," has a minor loss of -0.2, remaining second place in country music, and sixth place overall. KNRS, "Family Values Talkradio," sees a gain of +0.4, while KENZ "The End," and KODJ "Oldies 94.1," see small losses. KUUU, rhythmic outles "U92," sees a +0.6 jump, taking it to eleventh place. KKAT, "The New K102," drops -0.9, retaining it's place as Utah's third place country, however doing much better than it did last year around this time. KXRK, "X96" still stuck in it's rut from the last book sinking -2.0 since last winter, but seeing small gains of +0.4 since the last book. KBER "K-Bear 101," -0.1, KURR "Classic Rock 99," no change, KBZN "The Breeze," sees a -0.1 drop, while the KOSY/KRAR simulcast "Kosy 106.5," sees +0.1 change, leaving it at seventeenth place. KUDD, "Power 107.9," up +0.1, and KBEE, "The New B98.7," sees +0.2 increase, after a big drop in the last book. KCPX, "Channel 105.7," snatches +0.2, taking a share nearly equal to that lost recently by KXRK. KISN, "Kisn 97," tanks out at a record low of a 1.7 share, nearly half of it's share Summer '01. KWKD, "Mad Dog 102.3," sees small gains, KALL ties KWLW "Classic Country AM 700," which droped -0.5. Spanish stations, KSVN, KBJA, KSGO collective drop -0.4, while KKDS standards sees +0.2. For the very first time sportsradio KZNS/KOVO/KSOS, "1280/960/800 The Zone" appears with a 0.9 share beating KFNZ "K-Fan 1320"s share of 0.7. And for an interesting note KARB-FM of Price, Utah appears with a 0.5 share.

Simmons Officially Buys AM 820

According to Radio and Records, Simmons Media has now officially purchased AM 820 from "Palmetto Radio Group," likely a Marathon Media subsidiary. Now they can sell it to KSL/Bonneville next spring.

Simmons Media Is Not Leaving Radio

After yesterday's big selloff by Simmons Media, to Bonneville Communications, it appeared as though Simmons was "exiting the radio business." Not so fast, says R&R Online today. Simmons Media president Craig Hanson says that although his company's big sell-offs yesterday to Bonneville, and recent sale of many stations to HBC (Hispanic Broadcasting Company), it "does not mean that we are selling ALL of our stations." Simmons group, according to the R&R article, was so bold to say that Simmons "will continue to own eight radio stations in Utah." Also, bit bit of insite into KPKK, Hanson expects that KPKK will "sign on in early 2002." It also says that "Simmons is purchasing Ogden, UT-based Oldies KSOS-AM and . . .KXOL." How much do you want to bet that they'll pick up some Marathon stations as well?

KCFM 96.7 Stunting Christmas Music

Getting into the Christmas spirit a bit early, Micro Communication's new KCFM-FM at 96.7 FM in Levan, UT isplaying all Christmas music. The station, which signed on the air within the last few days, may likely become a Soft AC station, similar to Micro Communication's KSRR 1400 "K-Star" in Provo. Currently, it cannot be heard above Provo, because of KUSU's translator in Salt Lake City, at 96.7 FM.

FM 100, Star 102.7, Arrow 103.5 Sold To Bonneville

Despite looking like a false rumor, Simmons Media has sold four of it's Salt Lake City radio properties to Bonneville Communications for $X.X Million. Bonneville currently owns KSL-AM 1160 as well as the Deseret News. Bonneville will become to new owner of FM 100, Star 102.7, and Arrow 103.5. Also as part of the deal, Bonneville gets the construction permit for AM 820, which was rumored to carry "The Zone." They have also purchased the company's St. George properties, as well as their Idaho properties. Simmons retains Alternative rocker X96, AAA KJQN "KJQ," the new KPKK, which will sign on the air shortly, as well as KZNS "The Zone." Could this be a possible move by Simmons group to but the stations they care currently LMAing from Brent Larson? (UPDATED See Above) And could they be buying any new properties? Any Millcreek properties perhaps?

Simmons to Sell to Bonneville? Not Likely.

Rumors circling around the internet, speculate that Simmons Media, owner of FM 100, Star 102.7, X96, Arrow 103.5, KJQ, and operates a quarter-dozen AM stations, plan to sell their stations to Bonneville. The rumor however seems unlikely for a few reasons: Mainly, Bonneville can only own one radio station (KSL 1160) and one television station (Channel 5), since they own a newspaper, The Deseret News. Although there has been request by several companies, including Bonneville, to relax those ownership rules, they haven't happen as far as my knowledge goes. Also, it isn't uncommon to hear a "Simmons to sell all stations," rumor. See below. The rumor's creator claims that it was from the industry paper, Radio and Records, however scouring the R&R webpage, I could not find any mention of the rumored sale. Apparently, if to take effect, Bonneville and/or Simmons would make the announcement tomorrow. Please e-mail me if you have any other information, or you can cite the supposed "article."

Kisn Reeeaaalllyyy Returns To It's Roots

Not only has Kisn 97 returned to it's roots of Hot AC, but even other items are a "flashback." Now the positioner on-air being phased in, "Utah's Best Variety and the Best Music," is an evoultion of the old positioner, "The Best Variety and Today's Best Music." The stations is also airing it's old jingles.