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KBOI-FM

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Coordinates: 43°45′22″N 116°05′56″W / 43.756°N 116.099°W / 43.756; -116.099
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For 97.9 FM in Boise (1960–1985), see KQFC.

KBOI-FM
Simulcast of KBOI, Boise
Broadcast areaBoise metropolitan area
Frequency93.1 MHz
BrandingNews Talk KBOI
Programming
FormatNews/Talk
NetworkABC News Radio
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KBOI, KIZN, KKGL, KQFC, KTIK
History
First air date
March 17, 1982; 43 years ago (1982-03-17) (as KIZN)
Former call signs
  • KIZN (1982–1986)
  • KIZN-FM (1986–1990)
  • KZMG (1990–2011)
  • KTIK-FM (2011–2022)
Call sign meaning
"Boise"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID39609
ClassC
ERP48,000 watts
HAAT828 meters (2,717 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitekboi.com

KBOI-FM (93.1 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to New Plymouth, Idaho, and broadcasting to the Boise metropolitan area. KBOI-FM and sister station KBOI 670 AM simulcast a news/talk format branded as "News Talk KBOI", under the ownership of Cumulus Media.

Studios and offices are on Bannock Street in Downtown Boise. KBOI-FM shares a tower with KBOI-TV in Robie Creek[2]

Programming

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Weekdays begin with an news and information show, Kasper and Chris (Mike Kasper and Chris Walton). The KBOI morning newscaster is station news director Rick Worthington. KBOI's afternoon drive time slot is hosted Nate Shelman, who also serves as the station's program director. In middays and nights, the station features nationally syndicated conservative talk shows, including Mark Levin, Guy Benson, Vince Coglianese, Will Cain, Red Eye Radio and America in the Morning. Most hours begin with world and national news from ABC News Radio.

Weekends on KBOI-AM-FM include shows on money, real estate, home improvement, technology, law and gardening, as well as religious and paid brokered programming. Syndicated shows include Bill Handel on the Law, Rich DeMuro on Tech, Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla, The Ben Ferguson Show and Sunday Nights with Bill Cunningham. The stations broadcast NFL football as an affiliate of the Seattle Seahawks. radio network.[3]

History

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Country (1982-1990)

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The station signed on the air on March 17, 1982; 43 years ago (1982-03-17).[4] KIZN was the FM counterpart to KTOX 730 AM (now silent). The two stations were owned by Constant Communications and they simulcast a talk radio format. The studios were on West Franklin Street.

The simulcast only lasted a few months until the studios for the FM station were ready. At that point, KIZN broke away from the simulcast and began airing a country music format. The call sign was pronounced "Kissin'".

Adult contemporary (1990–1991)

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In April 1990,Kissin' 93 moved over to 92.3 FM on dial. It was the former frequency for CHR/Top 40 station (previously branded as 92 Kiss FM under the previous call letters KIYS). The shift left Boise without a true Top 40/CHR radio station. Future competitor KF95 (94.9 KFXD-FM) had no interest in playing music by rhythmic and hip-hop artists due to low population of African-Americans in the Treasure Valley at the time.[5] In its place came KZMG Magic 93 with an adult contemporary format.

Top 40 (1991–2011)

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Magic 93.1

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In 1991, the station became changed to a CHR/Top 40 format as Magic 93.1, targeting younger listeners in the Boise market. It went head to head with KF95. After a rough initial launch, the station eventually took down heritage rival KF95 to become the dominant AC/AAA station throughout the decade.[6] The station made headlines when popular KFXD jock Evan "The Hitman" (Evan McIntyre) abruptly bailed on his shift and called in to Magic to announce that he was "leaving the towers of Amity Road behind".

Magic's popularity began a steady decline after 105.9 KCIX raided Magic's talent roster. That resulted in the loss of several personalities, including PD and morning show host Mike Kasper and co-host Kate McGwire. While KCIX's attempt to take over the Top-40 market fell short, the damage from losing the morning show proved costly. A laundry list of morning show experiments and frequent talent turnover did little to solve the problem.

When 103.3 KSAS-FM was launched in 2000, Magic 93.1 and KSAS-FM immediately began a head-to-head match-up, and the two stations see-sawed back and forth in the ratings. In the beginning, KSAS featured talent voicetracked from other markets, while KZMG adopted a live and local approach. However, when KSAS turned to more local stunts and events, KZMG got knocked down to third place as it turned to syndication.

93-1 Hit Music Now

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On October 5, 2009, KZMG dropped the heritage "Magic" name and reverted to the slogan "93.1 Hit Music Now". But it still kept its existing Top 40/CHR format. The logo and branding was similar to CBS Radio's KAMP-FM (from Los Angeles), WNOW-FM (from New York City), WVMV (from Detroit) and Beasley Broadcasting's KFRH (from Las Vegas). The new imaging also featured shorter DJ interruptions and a playlist adjustment to better compete with KSAS.

Despite the change, the rise of another rival, 101.1 KWYD, changed the dynamics of the Boise Top-40 wars. It became evident that Boise could not support three Top-40 stations. This, along with corresponding advances in digital music storage technology such as iPods and the Internet, essentially doomed KZMG, and talk of a format flip soon intensified.

Sports talk (2011–2021)

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After an 18th-place finish in the ratings, the widely rumored change to sports radio was executed. At 3:00 pm on January 26, 2011, Citadel Broadcasting began simulcasting 1350 KTIK on 93.1, and imaged itself as "93.1 The Ticket". Longtime DJ Matt "MJ" Johnson announced a Super Bowl contest, and played "Bye Bye Bye" by NSync as the final song on 93.1 Hit Music Now. The new format debuted with "Idaho Sports Talk" with Jeff Caves and Mike Prater, who interviewed Johnson.[7]

Minor league sports broadcasts such as the Boise Hawks and the Idaho Steelheads would not be heard on the FM frequency; instead it would broadcast either ESPN Radio or Westwood One programming. On February 2, 2011, the call letters changed to KTIK-FM.[8] Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[9]

In late 2012, Cumulus Media announced that it would drop ESPN Radio from 47 of its stations nationwide.[10] KTIK-AM-FM affiliated with the newly launched CBS Sports Radio. The move officially took effect on January 2, 2013.

News/talk (2021–present)

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On November 26, 2021, Cumulus Media announced that the station would drop its simulcast with 1350 AM on January 3, 2022. A new translator, K237HA 95.3 in Nampa, would become the new FM home for KTIK's programming.[11]

The 93.1 frequency then changed its call letters from KTIK-FM to KBOI-FM. The FM station began simulcasting news/talk-formatted KBOI (670 AM).[11]

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References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KBOI-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/KBOI-FM
  3. ^ "Seahawks Radio Network Affiliates". Seattle Seahawks. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  4. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1985 page B-75. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  5. ^ [1] Radio & Records June 22, 1990 Page 99
  6. ^ "Don L. Day". Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  7. ^ Format Change Archive: “Hit Music Now” KZMG Becomes The Ticket
  8. ^ Idaho Statesman [dead link]
  9. ^ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  10. ^ "Report: 47 Cumulus Stations Switching From ESPN Radio To CBS Sports Radio". All Access. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Cumulus Preparing January Boise Changes". RadioInsight. November 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
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43°45′22″N 116°05′56″W / 43.756°N 116.099°W / 43.756; -116.099

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