A shuffle that started out with two stations in Cheyenne WY will now have its ramifications felt as far south as Pueblo CO.

As we previously reported iHeartMedia Active Rock 106.7 KBPI has begun its move to 107.9. The station will be heard on not only 107.9 K300CP Denver and the soon-to-be former KPAW Fort Collins, but also replaced the similar Active Rock format of “Z107.9” KDZA-FM Pueblo/Colorado Springs. The move creates a KBPI trimulcast stretching nearly along the entire Interstate 25 corridor in the state of Colorado and into the Cheyenne WY market as well. The station will simulcast on 106.7 through the end of the year before a new format is launched.

No changes to the KBPI lineup accompany the frequency change.

iHeartMedia’s Denver Region today announced new programming changes in its Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs markets. iHeartMedia Denver has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises — both broadcast and digital — encompassing more than 8 stations comprised of music, talk and news formats.

KBPI’s “Rocks the Rockies” programming will simulcast on 107.9 in Denver, 107.9 in Fort Collins, and 107.9 in Colorado Springs, effective December 11. The station’s programming includes Your Morning Show with Willie B, on-air personalities Beardo and Colfax, as well as a variety of Rock music from artists including Metallica, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana. KBPI’s heavy involvement in each of its listening communities will be reflected by refreshed programming and promotions, including local news topics, community events and regional concerts.

In addition, iHeartMedia Denver’s 107.9 KPAW, The Rock of Colorado, will move its programming to 92.9 KYWY, a stronger signal that will allow its programming to be enjoyed by more listeners than ever before. The station’s programming lineup includes on-air personalities Uncle Nasty, Alicia, Nate Wilde and Willie B’s Garage, and will play a range of Rock hits from artists such as Aerosmith, Queen, Led Zeppelin and Eagles.

“I’m excited to bring revamped rock programming to rock fans across Colorado,” said Tim Hager, President of iHeartMedia’s Denver Region. “The opportunity to take The Bear heritage brand and serve a larger Northern Colorado footprint and simultaneously take the heritage brand of KBPI to truly ‘Rock the Rockies’ across the entire state will serve our listeners, partners and the community in a tremendous way!”
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Update 12/5: The second step in the multi-market programming shuffle has taken place as Classic Rock “107.9 The Bear” KPAW Fort Collins CO has moved to 92.9 KYWY Warren AFB WY as “92.9 The Bear“. 107.9 is currently running redirect messages pointing Bear listeners to the new frequency.

The next step will be the biggest of the three. We can exclusively report that Rock 106.7 KBPI Denver will be relocating to 107.9 and opening up 106.7 for a new format. iHeart has made the filing for the first part of the call letter shuffle for the stations as KYWY will move from 92.9 Warren AFB to 106.7 Denver and KBPI moves temporarily to 92.9. Once completed, the next part of the swap will move KBPI to 107.9 and KPAW to 92.9.

KBPI ranked eighteenth in the Denver market with a 2.4 share in the November Nielsen Audio ratings. A move to 107.9 as part of a simulcast of what is now KPAW and K300CP will still give the station coverage through most of the Denver market and ability to be sold as part of iHeart’s male targeting packages with Classic Rock “103.5 The Fox” KRFX, AAA 97.3 KBCO, Alternative “Channel 93.3” KTCL, News/Talk 850/94.1 KOA, Talk 630 KHOW and Sports 760 KDSP despite being “moved-out” to the Fort Collins market. Only CHR “95.7 The Party” KPTT currently focuses on female demographics in iHeart’s Denver cluster.

Expectations are that iHeart will go after one of Bonneville’s stations currently tied for the market lead by the time the calendar strikes 2018: Country 98.5 KYGO or AC 101.1 KOSI.

Original Report 12/1: A move that will eventually include three markets along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains has begun in Cheyenne WY.

IHeartMedia AC (currently Christmas Music) “Star 92.9” KYWY Warren AFB has moved its programming to 97.1 K246CI Cheyenne/100.7 KOLT-HD2 where it replaces “Real Oldies 97.1“. The year and a half old AC format drops from a Class C2 signal to the 250w/2m translator signal that just covers Cheyenne.

The next step has been not announced yet, but will see Classic Rock “107.9 The Bear” KPAW Fort Collins CO relocate to the 92.9 signal. The station’s social media has already been updated to new URLs and we reported Monday on the registration of TheBear929.com.

That move will drop KPAW from the 100kW/220m 107.9 signal that blankets the region including being audible in many parts of the Denver market to the 33kW/185m 92.9 signal that serves Cheyenne and hits only parts of the Fort Collins/Greeley market.

In the Spring 2017 Nielsen Audio ratings, KPAW placed fourth in the Fort Collins market with a 3.7 share, while KYWY and K246CI tied with a 2.1 share in the Cheyenne market.

What then happens to 107.9 KPAW? The frequency is now being simulcast on 107.9 K300CP Denver via KPTT-HD2. Is the intent to make KPAW/K300CP a player in the Denver market?