After moving Rock 106.7 KBPI Denver to 107.9 K300CP and stations in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins last week, iHeartMedia has launched Country “106.7 The Bull” KYWY Denver.
Positioned as “Colorado’s New Country” and launching with the usual 10,000 songs in a row commercial-free, the move gives the Denver market a full-market FM competitor to Bonneville’s 98.5 KYGO for the first time since that station went Country in 1979. JoJo Turnbeaugh, who joined iHeartMedia Denver as SVP/Programming in May, will serve as Program Director. Turnbeaugh programmed Country “95.5 The Bull” KWNR Las Vegas as part of his duties prior to coming to Denver.
Upon completion of the 10,000 songs the station will add the syndicated Bobby Bones Show for mornings.
KYGO was tied for the Denver market lead with a 6.0 share in the November 2017 Nielsen Audio ratings. KSE Radio Ventures rimshot “92.5 The Wolf” KWOF Broomfield registered a 2.0 share.
New KWBL call letters are pending.
Listen to the launch of 106.7 The Bull at FormatChange.com.
iHeartMedia’s Denver Region announced today their launch of 106.7 The Bull, Colorado’s New Country station. The station will launch with 10,000 commercial-free songs in a row.
106.7 The Bull will broadcast a variety of Country music from top artists including Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert. The station will kick off Denver’s mornings with The Bobby Bones Show. Bobby Bones recently joined the National Radio Hall of Fame as the youngest-ever inductee and was named by Forbes as “the most powerful man in Country music.” Bones is the self-deprecating host of iHeartCountry’s marquee Country morning program, The Bobby Bones Show, and Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones, a weekend countdown show. Throughout the day, local personalities will keep listeners entertained with fresh music and content including local news topics, community events and regional concerts.
“We’re proud to be home of Colorado’s New Country,” said JoJo Turnbeaugh, Regional Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Denver and Program Director of 106.7 The Bull. After launching with ‘two miles’ of continuous music – over 10,000 songs in-a-row – we’ll welcome The Bobby Bones Show in the mornings followed by local personalities, who will provide listeners with the best Country music and content you won’t hear anywhere else.”
“Today marks the dawn of a new day for Denver’s Country fans,” said Tim Hager, President of iHeartMedia Denver. “No other company embraces the Country lifestyle better than iHeartMedia. Our unparalleled resources – including The Bobby Bones Show, unique on-air and digital content, and strong industry partnerships – are the foundation upon which 106.7 The Bull is built. Add local programming, community involvement and the unmatched reach of iHeartMedia Denver, and it’s clear that 106.7 The Bull will quickly become the destination for Country listeners.”
iHeartMedia is the leading media outlet in the Denver market with multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations; live events; data; and its digital businesses and platforms, including mobile, social and its own iHeartRadio, the leading all-in-one streaming music and live radio service – with more than 1.4 billion app downloads and 100 million registered users.
I wonder if this move was made solely to get Bobby Bones heard in Denver.
It’s gotten to the point that some format changes by major group owners are made to get clearance for syndicated programming those companies own and distribute.