KBOI-FM

{{Short description|News/talk radio station in New Plymouth–Boise, Idaho}} {{for|97.9 FM in Boise (1960–1985)|KQFC}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox radio station | name = KBOI-FM | above = Simulcast of [[KBOI (AM)|KBOI]], [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] | city = [[New Plymouth, Idaho]] | country = US | area = [[Boise metropolitan area]] | branding = News Talk KBOI | frequency = {{Frequency|93.1|[[MHz]]}} | airdate = {{start date|1982|03|17}} | format = [[Talk radio]] | erp = 48,000 watts | haat = {{convert|828|m|ft|sp=us}} | coordinates = {{coord|43.756|N|116.099|W|type:landmark_region:US-ID_source:FCC}} | class = C | facility_id = 39609 | licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] | callsign_meaning = "Boise" | former_callsigns = {{ubl|KIZN (1982–1986)|KIZN-FM (1986–1990)|KZMG (1990–2011)|KTIK-FM (2011–2022)}} | affiliations = {{ubl|[[ABC News Radio]]|[[Fox News Radio]]|[[Westwood One]]}} | owner = [[Cumulus Media]] | licensee = Radio License Holding CBC, LLC | sister_stations = [[KBOI (AM)|KBOI]], [[KIZN]], [[KKGL]], [[KQFC]], [[KTIK (AM)|KTIK]] | repeater = {{Radio Relay|670|KBOI|Boise}} | webcast = {{listen live|https://player.listenlive.co/22021}} | website = [http://www.kboi.com/ kboi.com] }}

'''KBOI-FM''' (93.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]) is a commercial [[radio station]] licensed to [[New Plymouth, Idaho]], United States, and serving the [[Boise metropolitan area]]. Owned by [[Cumulus Media]], KBOI-FM simulcasts a [[Talk radio|talk]] format with [[KBOI (AM)|KBOI]] (670 AM) branded as "News Talk KBOI". Studios and offices are on Bannock Street in Downtown Boise. KBOI-FM shares a tower with [[KBOI-TV]] (channel 2) located in [[Robie Creek, Idaho|Robie Creek]].

==History== ===Country (1982-1990)=== The station signed on the air on March 17, 1982.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1985/B-Radio-All-BC-YB-1985.pdf ''Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1985'' page B-75. Retrieved May 7, 2025.]</ref> KIZN was the FM counterpart to KTOX 730 AM (now [[dark (broadcasting)|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)=== In April 1990,''Kissin' 93'' moved over to 92.3 FM on dial. It was the former frequency for [[Contemporary Hit Radio|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 [[KRVB|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.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/90/RR-1990-06-22-OCR-Page-0099.pdf] [[Radio_&_Records]] June 22, 1990 Page 99</ref> In its place came KZMG ''Magic 93'' with an [[adult contemporary]] format.

=== Top 40 (1991–2011) === ==== Magic 93.1 ==== 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/[[Adult Album Alternative|AAA]] station throughout the decade.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://donlday.com/post/3286120062/pop-wars |title=Don L. Day |access-date=2011-04-24 |archive-date=2011-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814214222/http://donlday.com/post/3286120062/pop-wars |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 [[Voicetracking|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==== 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 [[KNX-FM|KAMP-FM]] (from [[Los Angeles]]), [[WINS-FM|WNOW-FM]] (from [[New York City]]), [[WDZH|WVMV]] (from [[Detroit]]) and Beasley Broadcasting's [[KVPH|KFRH]] (from [[Las Vegas Valley|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)=== 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 (AM)|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.<ref>[https://formatchangearchive.com/hit-music-now-kzmg-becomes-the-ticket/ Format Change Archive: “Hit Music Now” KZMG Becomes The Ticket]</ref>

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 (1976–2011)|Westwood One]] programming. On February 2, 2011, the call letters changed to KTIK-FM.<ref>[http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/01/27/1504201/ktik-the-ticket-adds-fm-signal.html Idaho Statesman] {{dead link|date=October 2023}}</ref> Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.<ref name=abj-citadelcumulus>{{cite news|title=Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/09/16/cumulus-now-owns-citadel-broadcasting.html|access-date=September 16, 2011|newspaper=Atlanta Business Journal|date=September 16, 2011}}</ref>

In late 2012, Cumulus Media announced that it would drop ESPN Radio from 47 of its stations nationwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/111322/report-47-cumulus-stations-switching-from-espn-rad|title=Report: 47 Cumulus Stations Switching From ESPN Radio To CBS Sports Radio|website=All Access|accessdate=6 October 2023}}</ref> KTIK-AM-FM [[network affiliate|affiliated]] with the newly launched [[CBS Sports Radio]]. The move officially took effect on January 2, 2013.

===News/talk (2021–present)=== 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.<ref name="preparing">{{Cite web|title=Cumulus Preparing January Boise Changes|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/215472/cumulus-preparing-january-boise-changes/|access-date=2021-12-24|website=RadioInsight|date=24 November 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>

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

==Programming== Mike Kasper, Chris Walton and Rick Worthington host KBOI's morning show, while program director Nate Shelman hosts the afternoon show. The remainder of the schedule is nationally syndicated conservative talk shows.

The stations broadcast [[National Football League|NFL]] [[American football|football]] as an affiliate of the [[Seattle Seahawks]] radio network.<ref name="wwrnet">{{cite web|url=https://www.seahawks.com/game-day/broadcasting/radio/|publisher=Seattle Seahawks|title=Seahawks Radio Network Affiliates|access-date=September 23, 2018}}</ref>

==Previous logo== [[File:KTIK logo.png|200px]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.kboi.com/ Official website] *{{FM station data|39609|KBOI-FM}}

[[Category:Radio stations in Boise, Idaho|BOI-FM]] [[Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States]] [[Category:Cumulus Media radio stations]] [[Category:Radio stations established in 1983]] [[Category:1983 establishments in Idaho]]