Movin' Spots

Simmons Media's KYMV "Movin' 100.7" has slowly began to add commercials into it's line-up. They began Saturday, with one commercial per forty-two minutes of music. They were up to about three commercials per break as of Monday night, probably with a few more to come. There is a good chance that "Movin' 100.7" is setting the example for "the Oasis," which is only about a week behind it's sister station.

Simmons Launches 'Oasis,' KSL Adds Local 'Nightside'

7:30 AM - It sounds like the folks at Simmons Media were busy while we were asleep last night. The station just ran a sweeper that read "You're hearing the positive news sound of 97.5 The Oasis." (7:39 AM). It sounds like a Christian Contemporary format to me. The web site for the Oasis [ 975oasis.com ] is up. They just ran another sweeper promising "no off-color humor." They need to make sure the X96 sweepers and Oasis sweepers don't get mixed up on the station computer hard drives!

Also new to me this morning, is a new night program "KSL Nightside" at 1160 AM and 102.7 FM - thanks the the users of the SaltLakeRadio.com forum. I have no idea how long this program has been on the air but it looks like KSL has gone to pretty great lengths to bring local programming back to Salt Lake City nights. It's a variety/news program weeknights that has a pretty large staff: three hosts and six reporters. There are segments of the show can be heard at the Nightside website found on-line at [ nightside.ksl.com ]. Check it out, it sounds like a breath of fresh air to me. It airs weeknights from 7 PM to midnight.

Simmons Launches 'Movin'

10:30 PM - What no sweepers? I am going to be pretty sad if this was all a joke to get us. Either that or they are just a bit behind and haven't made the sweepers yet.

10:00 PM - I'm Movin'! I just finished up listening to "Men in Black," by Will Smith which just rolled into "Tainted Love." The new station seems to be directed toward women mostly, but if you are like me and like a beat, then you'll probably like the station. Now, we need to make sure that this isn't just a joke. I'd personally be really disappointed if they dropped it for a Smooth Jazz format or something - (okay, so you guys at Simmons, don't mess around and actually do that, okay?)

6:30 PM - I received an e-mail today informing me that my order of Macromedia Dreamweaver was returned to the online software store. Apparently it had gotten stuck in some parcel sorting equipment and been crushed into four pieces. Sadly, this means, I am reduced to Frontpage Express to do some well-needed updating of this site. You can certainly see the quality engulfing you!

Rumors are flying of the [ Utah Radio Forum ] ... which, of course is nothing new. Speculations is calling for Simmons Media's newest FM station: KEGH (FM-100.7) to sign on the air within the next twenty four hours. The Utah County booster signal was flipped on today, which let me jam out to a sweeper informing me that the "Eagle has moved to 106.9 FM," on my drive to work this afternoon.

As for the format of KEGH, nothing concrete has come from the message board. It sounds like it may be a Rhythmic AC format "Movin' 100.7," modeled after the new "Movin' 92.5" in Seattle and Las Vegas - as well as Rick Dees' new comeback station"Movin' 93.9" in Los Angeles. Simmons media has purchased the domain name www.movin1007.com ... which could either mean we found an inside scoop ... or they're having some $9.00 entertainment at our expense.

Next Ratings Trend Out Today

(23 DECEMBER 2002) - The next round of ratings are out today . . . I haven't had a chance to see them yet myself, but you can, as always, courtesy of Radio and Records Magazine: Radio & Records - Salt Lake City Ratings. Merry Christmas! I'll post the highlights of the ratings soon, but other than that, this should be the last update until next year. . . see you all in 2003!

(25 DECEMBER 2002) - Ouchie for Kisn 97, which only gains 0.1. FM 100 retains it's #3 place, while KSL jumps to #1. KSOP-AM appears in the ratings, while KOSY 106.5 hits a record low. Again, you can see the ratings yourself, by clicking the link above.

94.9 ZHT Shifts Rythmic

Clear Channel's CHR/Pop outlet, KZHT (94.9 FM) has moved over the last week toward a more CHR/Rythmic orientation. The new station promo, "A Better Mix of Today's Hit Music," rather than the old, "Today's Hit Music," likely refers to the new 6:1 ratio of rythmic music to pop. This is similar to Pheonix's KZZP which after a short while of being "104-7 Kiss FM," moved rythmic. Could this mean changes for KISN? Personally, I don't think so. I doubt that KISN will flip CHR/Pop in place of ZHT. Rather, I feel it will retain Hot AC, which plays much of the CHR/Pop format without the rythm. Clear Channel is trying to make their 4.0-share station "move out of the way," of the 1.7 station.

KJQ 'Moo'ves AAA

Simmons Media's KJQN Brigham City (100.7 FM) has tweaked to AAA over the past few weeks, and now is taking credit for it. Promo lines that once said "Utah's Original Alternative," now state "Utah's Modern Rock with Less Talk." Sound Simmons? Think about FM 100. . ."Continuous Soft Hits with Less Talk. . ." Our tipster calls them a "KENZ twin."

This Is My Salt Lake Christmas List . . .

Currently: FM 100, KOSY 106.5, and KKDS AM 1060 have flipped all-Christmas. Stations with large contents of Christmas music include B98.7 and 97.9 The Breeze. Likely even more stations will join as Christmas approaches. For state-wide listings, visit Utah Radio News. For nation-wide listings, visit 100000watts.com.

Almost all stations in Salt Lake City are now playing some Christmas. . . still haven't heard any on Kisn 97 or 94.9 ZHT though.

Tight Squeeze At The Triad Center?

Thanks to a tipster to Utah Radio Guide, a bit of insight into the question, "Where is Bonneville going to put all of their 'hope to soon acquire,' stations?" Our tipster answers that, "Bonneville is currently studying if the new stations will fit in the Triad Center. So far it looks tight." It may seem that a large amount of space would need to be vacated to make room for three top-10 stations, but as a relative of mine reminded me, "you only need a booth for each station." The original tipster did have a bit more information: "Simmons, that is Dave Simmons, looks to be building his own radio [group] seperate from Simmons Family. I'm getting indications that he's going to move somewhere else." So maybe, when the time comes that all of this has played out, maybe nobody will end up with the fancy building on 700 East. "I wouldn't rule out Bonneville building a new giant media center someday."

KOSY Moves Transmitter

KOSY 106.5 has apparantly moved it's transmitting tower from Utah County to Farnsworth Peak, west of Magna. This means a stronger signal for Salt Lake County, but a weaker signal for central Utah.

Clear Channel - Salt Lake City

A bit of insight into why Tom Sly may have lost his job this past September. One source says that the general status of Clear Channel's sales in respect to other groups is, "overall, a loser. . ." The reason? Simmons Media's good ratings cut into all the Clear Channel stations that could have a chance: FM 100 beats KOSY, KRSP is "a better buy," than Oldies 94.1, and other stations in the group are toward the bottom of the ratings. Citadel, this person mentions, "always undercuts Clear Channel." KSOP, not surprisingly, is cheaper than KKAT, and the ratings at KSOP are slightly better, and have been phenomenally better in the past. They also illustrate the point, by mentioning that while most markets needed only to meet with their regional VPs, Salt Lake City, hand-picked with six other markets, needed to go to the board of directors personally - sounds like hot water, huh? Our tipster left us with this: "Without revenue, the budget cuts will continue, and on and on it goes. . ."