KSKI-FM

KSKI-FM
Broadcast areaSun Valley, Idaho
Frequency94.5 MHz
Branding94.5 K-SKI
Programming
FormatAlternative rock
Ownership
Owner
  • Richard Mecham
  • (Magic Valley Media, LLC)
History
First air date
August 3, 1977 (at 93.5)
Former frequencies
  • 93.5 MHz (1977–1991)
  • 103.7 MHz (1991–2013)
Call sign meaning
"Ski"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID60391
ClassC1
ERP2,500 watts
HAAT583 meters (1,913 ft)
Translator(s)103.1 K276DW (Ketchum)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Website945kski.com

KSKI-FM (94.5 FM) is a commercial radio station located in Sun Valley, Idaho. The station was assigned the KSKI-FM call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on June 2, 1980.[2]

History

[edit]

KSKI-FM went on the air August 3, 1977, on 93.5 MHz, the sister to KSKI AM 1340. It broadcast from a tower atop Bald Mountain. Within three months of signing on, it changed its automation format;[3] automation complemented its diverse block programming lineup. KSKI-AM-FM were known for their eclectic mix of music programming, aiming to serve listeners in a market that had no other radio stations; the pair also gained a small but devoted audience in the larger Twin Falls area.[4]

In November 1989, KSKI-AM-FM was sold to Silver Creek Communications, a company of businessman John McCaw, Jr., for $950,000; while McCaw owned cable systems and was in the middle of acquiring TV station group LIN Broadcasting, his other radio holdings were all in Alaska.[5] KSKI-FM moved to 103.7 MHz at a much higher power level, improving reception in the Magic Valley area, in 1991.[6] The AM sister station continued to operate until late 1992, when economic difficulties in the local advertising market caused by the launch of competing station KECH-FM, which had taken to the air in 1988, prompted Silver Creek to shutter the AM station and send the license to the Federal Communications Commission for cancellation.[7] The difficulties also would prompt changes for KSKI-FM in February 1993, when Silver Creek converted the operations of KSKI-FM to an automated service known as "The Mountain", programmed specifically for ski resort areas with special Sun Valley-specific inserts from its base at KZYR in Colorado; it was the service's first non-owned affiliate.[8] The layoffs included KSKI-FM's program director, DJs and a news director, while sales staff and a local news reporter remained in Hailey.[8]

In 1994, KSKI was bought by Idaho state senator Clint Stennett, who owned a cable channel known as KWRV.[9] Stennett unhooked KSKI from "The Mountain" and instituted a live and local adult album alternative format.[10] The station made national headlines three years later when an admiring listener brought the station's morning DJs banana bread that they ate without knowing it was laced with marijuana;[11] the employees were suspended with pay after having remained on the air under the influence, while a 28-year-old Ketchum man was arrested[12] and the station retooled its morning show. Stennett also instituted a drug policy.[13]

1998 brought consolidation when cross town rival station KECH-FM (owned then by Scott Parker’s Alpine Broadcasting, Ltd) bought KSKI, bringing both of Blaine County's radio stations under common ownership; KSKI's studios relocated from Hailey to Ketchum as a result.[14]

KSKI flipped to a wider hot adult contemporary music format in 2002;[15] the station returned to adult album alternative in October 2008.[16]

Ownership

[edit]

In March 2007, Denver-based Blue Point Media announced that it was set to merge with KSKI-FM owner Chaparral Broadcasting, Inc.[17] Chaparral Broadcasting also owns KECH-FM and KYZK in Idaho as well as four stations in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The FCC approved the transfer of the license on May 24, 2007,[18] however no consummation notice has been filed with the FCC as required by law, and as of January 2009, the license remains in the name of Chaparral Broadcasting.[19]

Chaparral sold KSKI-FM and seven other stations to Rich Broadcasting for $3.7 million; the transaction was consummated on April 1, 2013.

On December 5, 2013, the station moved from 103.7 FM to its current 94.5 FM.

Rich Broadcasting sold KSKI-FM, three other stations, and a translator to Richard Mecham's Magic Valley Media, LLC effective September 17, 2019, for $475,000.

On November 1, 2019, KSKI-FM dropped its adult album alternative format and began stunting with Christmas music.[20]

On January 1, 2020, KSKI-FM ended the Christmas music stunt and launched an alternative rock format.[21]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KSKI-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  3. ^ "Format revamped by Hailey station". Times-News. November 13, 1977. p. 15. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  4. ^ Zellar, Ron (September 12, 1980). "The station they said couldn't exist". pp. 1, 2. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 3, 1989. p. 12. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  6. ^ "Classic contemporary music..." Times-News. December 15, 1991. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  7. ^ "Third FM Proposed For Town Of 545" (PDF). January 23, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Blum, Bradley P. (February 26, 1993). "KSKI joins Colorado radio network, lays off some local staff". Times-News. p. B-3. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  9. ^ Normington, Mick (November 3, 1993). "FCC to consider acquisition, merger of Wood River TV, radio stations". Times-News. p. B-2. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  10. ^ Normington, Mick (July 21, 1994). "Stennett buys KSKI". Times-News. p. 14. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  11. ^ Kennedy, Kristan (May 14, 1997). "DJs pulled after eating drug-laced bread". Times-News. pp. B1, B3. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  12. ^ Kennedy, Kristan (May 16, 1997). "'Bandit baker' suspect faces 4 felony counts". Times-News. pp. B1, B3. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  13. ^ Kennedy, Kristan (August 20, 1997). "Man pleads guilty in banana bread caper; sentencing set for Sept. 29". Times-News. p. B1. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  14. ^ Crump, Steve (February 13, 1998). "Ketchum's KECH buys Hailey's KSKI". pp. C1, C3. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  15. ^ "Radio station plans switch to broader music mix". Times-News. February 13, 2002. p. D-6. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  16. ^ "KSKI goes triple-a". Idaho Radio News. November 5, 2008.
  17. ^ Zarkos, Jody (March 9, 2007). "Chaparral set to merge with Denver company; Blue Point Media buying stations throughout West". Idaho Mountain Express.
  18. ^ [1]
  19. ^ [2]
  20. ^ KSKI Drops AAA, Stunting With All-Christmas Radioinsight - November 6, 2019
  21. ^ KSKI Moves to Alternative Radioinsight - January 1, 2020
[edit]

43°38′35″N 114°23′53″W / 43.643°N 114.398°W / 43.643; -114.398

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