Goodbye Clear Channel

Listeners should stay tuned to find out how the sale of six Boise stations affects the radio landscape.

Some turmoil is likely in the coming weeks. Peak Broadcasting this week took over the former Clear Channel Communications radio stations effective, said Don Day, editor of IdahoRadioNews.com.

“It could mean nothing, and it could mean a lot,” he said. “The easy answer for now is that it’s probably going to introduce some turmoil into the market.”

Staff changes are likely, and some have happened already, Day said. No changes to formats or advertising rates have been announced officially, but remain a possibility at some point.

Peak’s purchase marks the first Boise radio station deal in more than a decade involving a major group, Day said. The big players are Journal Broadcast Group, Citadel Broadcasting, and, until this week, Clear Channel, Day said.

Peak’s acquisition isn’t official. The company will operate the six Idaho stations under a local marketing agreement with Clear Channel until the Federal Communications Commission gives final approval to the sale.
Most FCC approvals take a couple of months, but the agency might approve the Boise deal sooner, he said. In Boise, Clear Channel is selling to Peak Broadcasting KCIX 105.9, KSAS 103.3, KXLT 108 (107.9), KFXD AM 630, KIDO 580, and KTMY 104.3 – which changed from an oldies format early last year.
“They are what appears to be a well-funded, well-backed group of people,” Day said of Peak. “In Fresno, they’re staffing up and appear to be putting money into those stations.”
Peak hired Jeff Godwin to run the Boise stations, Marketing Director Linnell Eastton said. Godwin previously worked for Citadel for about six years as general manager, then for Citadel in Boise in Colorado Springs as a regional vice president.
Mike Owens joined Peak as sales director, Eastton said.
Owens previously worked as Boise group general manager for Citadel, which owns six Boise radio stations, Day said, including 670 KBOI.
Peak hasn’t made all of its indications about its staffing plans but probably won’t replace popular on-air talent soon, he said.
Clear Channel is selling all of its TV stations and all radio stations in markets not in the top 100, Day said. The Clear Channel fire sale includes three stations in Twin Falls and several in Pocatello and Idaho Falls, Day said.
Clear Channel sold all stations in markets below a certain size regardless of each market’s financial performance, and Boise was the largest, Day said.
Clear Channel was known for looking for efficiencies, including bringing talent from big markets into smaller markets via computer link.
“Peak is going to have a tough time doing that because they only have two markets,” Day said.