Street level views of marketing & advertising in Idaho
Recently, word got to us that Rizen Creative has expanded, opening an office in Seattle.
And indeed they have, as Katie Meyers has relocated to Seattle, where she’ll be working out of the company’s new satellite office in Seattle. There, she “will focus on new business generation as well as provide strategic insight for current Rizen clients.”
Congratulations to Rizen on the expansion, and to Katie on the move.
The media world is rapidly changing, and Boise viewers, readers and listeners are getting a front row seat.
Just ten years ago, the big players in local media were Gannett (Idaho Statesman), Clear Channel (radio cluster), Citadel (radio cluster), Journal Broadcast Group (KIVI and radio cluster), Belo (KTVB) and Fisher (KBCI – now KBOI).
The Journal sale (a merger in technicality, but the Scripps family will be in charge) cleaves the company’s newspapers from its television and radio assets. It follows a path first implemented by Belo oddly enough – and sets up the new newspaper group as a debt-free company which gives them room to experiment without cash flow issues. Television stations earn some of the best margins in business and can easily help service legacy debt (in the case of Scripps & Journal, much of that debt is from legacy pension obligations).
Do Boise viewers and listeners really see a difference in quality or presentation? Perhaps. Small things like new graphics for TV newscasts and group contests for radio stations can be a benefit. Overall it can boil down to how much a corporate owner is willing to invest in a market like Boise. KIVI & KNIN will likely benefit from Scripps which is known as one of the better television station operators.
On the radio front, Scripps does not currently own any radio stations, so the company will be even more heavily weighted toward the television space. It’s not hard to see that Scripps will take some inquiry on buying those stations, but what it’s strategy will be – hold or sell – is anyone’s guess.
Don Day is the Digital Sales & Product Manager for KTVB and wrote & edited IdahoRadioNews.com for five years. He also tweets a lot
KKGL/96.9 The Eagle used to be one of the Boise market’s top-rated radio stations. Its mix of syndicated show Bob & Tom and classic rock from the 70s and 80s scored top marks with adult men – and even many women.
But along the way, the station faltered. It cut back, retrenched and saw its ratings fade like a pair of stone-washed jeans. Wave upon wave of corporate consolidation seemed to diminish the station even further as it passed from Citadel to Cumulus.
Ratings were so bad that during the 2012 fall ratings period, the station got beat in the morning drive by Mix 106 — among adult men. Mike & Kate are a popular show to be sure, but drop-kicking the Eagle among men with a very female-driven show was nearly unthinkable just a few years ago. (Back in 2008 I noted how the station was the dominant number one).
These days, the station still clings to Bob & Tom. It also features longtime Boise radio vet Scott Cruise. But oddly, Cruise appears on the Eagle and sister station Nash FM at the same time. Not much of a trick in the day of pre-recorded radio, but perhaps a sad sign of corporate consolidation.
In recent months, changes have come to the airwaves of The Eagle. New afternoon host “Forrest” arrived, followed shortly thereafter by a new after-7 talent.
Perhaps those seem like mundane changes. But station management appears to be adding “sex and drugs” to the rock & roll.
In May, the station posted this teaser:
The image linked to a larger, um… fuller image.
When the new jock “Lindsey Marie” debuted, she got the requisite bio on the station’s website, written in first-person voice. The first line, stretched across the top in large font uses a word many find increasingly repugnant:
Hi. I’m Lyndsey. I have a mild case of social retardation, but luckily, I also have a microphone so it all gets captured for you 7p-Midnight
Everyone from the Special Olympics to Michelle Malkin to the state of Michigan have spoken out against the word. Maybe it isn’t a hot button for you personally – but it is for many.
Beyond objectification of women and disregard for those with mental disabilities, the station is in full-on “drugs are cool, man” mode in advance of a Cheech & Chong concert this summer.
The aforementioned afternoon jock Forrest posted this photo to Twitter this week:
Here are the “tobacco pipes” my boss won’t let me give away for @cheechandchong at @RevCenterIdaho pic.twitter.com/fBdYVE6pI1
— Forrest (@rabidforrest) July 8, 2014
With a sign touting the station’s relationship with Boise State in the background and an extra “tobacco pipe” in the foreground, the announcer makes it appear he’s taking a bong hit while in the middle of his shift. One local rival snarked “my guy would be fired for posting a public photo like this.” When I ruminated on Twitter that maybe a blog post was due, Forrest seemed to think that was a great idea, giving his stamp of approval with a retweet:
Bong pics & using the R word – @969kkgl‘s new “hey we’re hip & edgy” tactic? Might be time for a blog post. #idahoradionews
— Don Day (@DonLDay) July 10, 2014
These are just a few disparate items but they seem to add up to a strategy shift: let’s appeal to men’s more primal instincts. Sex. Drugs. Careless language.
It’s a tactic that works in many markets across the country. But is Boise one of them? The area is stocked with conservatives, and I find even the self-identified liberals are generally pretty moderate in many ways. Maybe the audience will grow, but will blue chip advertisers want spots next to the drugs and the sex?
Time, and the constant pressure of the Nielsen ratings book, will tell.
UPDATE: Forrest pulled the tweet and corresponding image from Twitter. But he left a similar shot in Instagram:
Forrest also un-re-tweeted the tweets and basically seemed to retrench.
Also, the out-of-market night talent, Lyndsey from Atlanta, dialed me up on Twitter with a response:
@LyndseyOnAir It's not really about you… and that's not really what I said.
— Don Day (@DonLDay) July 11, 2014
@LyndseyOnAir Sure. It's an analysis – it's either the right strategy or it's not. The listeners ultimately make that call. #MeNoCare
— Don Day (@DonLDay) July 11, 2014
Don Day is the Digital Sales & Product Manager for KTVB, and wrote & edited the now-defunct IdahoRadioNews.com for five years.
While we don’t hear much out of the Publicis Boise office, we did get word recently that they’ve added Bobby Kasper as Art Director.
From their release about the new hire:
At Publicis Boise, Bobby provides graphic design, concept development and file preparation/production for assigned accounts while supporting new business activities. His responsibilities also include assisting the Production Director in fulfillment of sales and marketing kits and materials.
Prior to joining Publicis Boise, he worked at local design agencies and Boise State University Campus Services providing graphic design and production support of marketing materials.
Congratulations Bobby.
We’ve been…let’s just say lax…about keeping up on new hires and such around the state lately. That being said, here’s what’s been happening lately:
Wire Stone
![[wire] stone](https://i0.wp.com/www.idahoadagencies.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/WirestoneLogo-150x26.png?resize=150%2C26){kind=small}
In February, Wire Stone announced the formalization of practice areas for Client Engagement and Delivery Management to complement the existing Creative, Technology and Strategy disciplines. With that, they also announced that Bill Coffey has been promoted to Chief of Delivery Management.
Coffey brings more than 20 years of experience in enterprise technology, channel marketing, project management and business strategy to this role. Having previously served as Director of Operations, he spent the last several years providing business intelligence and internal reporting insights while elevating project management practices.
In addition, Chad Brusse has been promoted from Senior Copywriter to Copy Director and Functional Manager of the Boise office’s copy team.
Oliver Russell
In March, Oliver Russell added art director Mike Stevens to its staff.
As an art director, Stevens will develop engaging visual solutions for interactive, print, and motion graphics projects. A self-professed ski bum, prior to Oliver Russell he worked for Scott USA, Sun Valley Magazine, and Wood River Technologies in Sun Valley, Idaho. He is experienced in a broad range of design, from print to interactive, from textiles to tradeshow exhibits. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Whitworth University, majoring in business administration with a minor in design.
Foerstel Design
Also in March, Foerstel Design added to their staff, with Cody Gacek joining their team as a web designer and developer.
Cody comes with eight years of experience and most recently has worked as a contract agent for Foerstel. He moved to Boise about two years ago from Phoenix, in part because of its positive vibe and variety of outdoor activities such as mountain biking.
Congratulations to all.