Citadel Communications and its 209 radio stations were purchased last week for almost $1 billion in cash by a private investment firm, Forstmann Little & Co.
There are six Citadel stations in Salt Lake City — KBER (FM-101.1), KBEE (FM-98.7), Radio Disney (AM-860), KUBL (FM-93.3), KFNZ (K-Fan, AM-1320) and KENZ ("The End," FM-107.5), but no local programming or staff changes are expected from the sale.
Eric Hauenstein, Salt Lake Citadel general manager, said the stations have been assured there won't be changes from the new ownership. Otherwise, he said, the buyout should mean Citadel's stock won't remain undervalued, and he believes the new company will be stronger and offer greater opportunities for expansion.
"We're pleased," Hauenstein said.
Also, he stressed that many Citadel on-air personalities now have long-term agreements, something most disc jockeys still don't have these days.
In fact, during the past decade, the KBEE morning show has changed its on-air staff like clockwork, about every 18 months on average. Or, at least that was the case until "Simon and Brady" came along in March 1998. Now the duo is approaching its third anniversary. While three years isn't in the class of "Fisher and Todd" (who hit 15 years next month together at the same station), it is very good.
BARBERI WILL INVADE D.C. — When it comes to politics, you always get an earful from Tom Barberi of KALL (AM-910). He's an expert outsider on the subject, and he'll do his show for two days next week from Washington, D.C. Barberi will broadcast live, 6-10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, and Tuesday, Jan. 30, from the nation's capital. His topic will focus on how some of the new federal leaders are doing.
15TH ANNIVERSARY — The "Fisher, Todd and Erin" show on KISN (FM-97.1) will celebrate its latest anniversary on Friday, Feb. 2, 5-10 a.m. Fisher and Todd started the show in 1986, and Erin was added in 1994.
This is Utah's longest-running morning radio show.
KALL CLARIFICATION — The Jim Rome show still airs on AM-910 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., after Barberi's show. The Ed Tyll show moved this week from the 1-4 p.m. spot to 11 p.m.-2 a.m., replacing the "John and Jeff" overnight show, which is now discontinued locally.
Rome is very popular in Salt Lake, and according to recent Arbitron ratings estimates, he is the No. 1 radio program in his time slot in the area for males ages 25-54. Nowhere else in the country is Rome that strong for that demographic.
DR. DEMENTO — No one can argue that this show isn't unique. However, it has been missing from the Salt Lake radio market for years. So, if you're a fan of the show, try these Web sites for an update: www.krellan.com/demento, which offers opportunities to listen to the show on the Web, and www.drdemento.com is the official Web site for Dr. Demento.
RADIO HAPPENINGS — Don't forget the return of Art Bell to the Salt Lake market on Monday, Feb. 5, 11 p.m.-6 a.m. on KNRS (AM-570). Bell replaces Mike Siegel, not Mike Figel, as incorrectly reported last week . . . This was "Temptation Week" on the "Fisher, Todd and Erin" show on KISN. The DJs had various items, such as soft-drink packs, left out in public places to see how long before they were snatched up . . .
The most hilarious TV commercial by DJs that I remember seeing is the current one advertising the "K-Bull" Valentine's Day wedding with "Johnson and Johnson" of KUBL, with the DJs elaborately dressed up as a wedding couple; it's a hoot . . . KBEE offers 98 minutes of commercial-free music most weekday mornings after 9 a.m. . . .
Bill Allred on KXRK did some excellent in-depth interviews recently at the Sundance Film Festival . . . The Star (KQMB) morning show has a "Museum of the Hard to Believe" segment that airs most weekdays . . .
Ever catering to its audience, the "Freak Show" (Mick and Allen) on KURR asked listeners Monday what new technologies they felt overwhelmed by. They got a huge response; many times the "Freak Show" is talk radio on the FM dial, giving listeners plenty of opportunity to speak out.
Deseret News radio editor Lynn Arave can be reached by e-mail at lynn@desnews.com or by phone at 237-2168.