October 14, 1947 Boise radio listings

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• (Broadcasting Magazine) February 19, 1945 -- Control of KFPY would pass from Mrs. T. W. Symons Jr., 2/3 owner, and Arthur L. Bright, vice - president and general manager and 1/3 owner, to Ed Craney, Montana and Oregon broadcaster, and the Queen City Broadcasting Co., operating KIRO Seattle, headed by Saul Haas, under a transaction completed last week and subject to FCC approval.
  Mrs. Symons also is half -owner of KXL Portland, with Mr. Craney holding the other half. Whether that station is in any wise involved in the transaction was not re- vealed. Mr. Craney also operates KGIR Butte, and the Z -Bar Network.
  Mr. Haas has enjoyed meteoric success in radio, having acquired KIRO as a 250 -watter a decade ago. The station now operates with 50,000 w and is the Seattle CBS outlet. A prominent New Deal figure in the Pacific Northwest, he is the Collector of Customs at the port of Seattle and has been Democratic campaign manager during the Presidential and Congressional campaigns in the Northwest area.

• The newspaper refers to KFXD FM as channel 267. That would be 101.3 MHz.

• I noticed the absence of KBOI 670, a powerful station in Boise which was a CBS affiliate for years. When did the station go on the air?

  • KBOI radio, currently known as 670 AM in Boise, Idaho, has a long history dating back to the post-World War II era.The station originally signed on the air on August 11, 1947 (some sources note May 1, 1947, for initial operations), under the call letters KDSH on 950 kHz (950 AM). It was Boise's second commercial AM radio station (following KIDO). Founded by Dee and Saul Haas (of Queen City Broadcasting, with "KDSH" derived from their names), it began with 1,000 watts of power (quickly upgraded to 5,000 watts day and night) from a transmitter site on Eagle Road in Meridian, Idaho (now the location of St. Luke’s Meridian Hospital). The station used a directional antenna setup, including a unique tunnel under Eagle Road for transmission lines to a third tower. KDSH was a CBS Radio Network affiliate for much of its early period and served as a full-service outlet with music, news, and local programming. On February 11, 1955, the call letters changed to KBOI to align with its sister television station, KBOI-TV (channel 2, now KBOI-TV under Sinclair ownership), which had signed on in 1953 under the same owner, Boise Valley Broadcasters.

    This unified branding helped strengthen the stations' presence in the market. In 1960, KBOI-FM launched on 97.9 MHz (now KQFC), initially simulcasting the AM signal. The major technical change occurred in 1968, when KBOI moved from 950 AM to 670 AM. This shift was to a clear channel frequency (previously dominated by stations like WMAQ in Chicago), allowing a significant power increase to 50,000 watts (daytime, with directional patterns for nighttime protection). The move involved legal challenges, including opposition from NBC (protecting its Chicago clear channel) and local competitor KGEM, but it was approved and executed with fanfare in the summer of 1968. This upgrade greatly expanded coverage across southern Idaho, eastern Oregon, and beyond, improving signal strength and reliability.

    Following the frequency change, KBOI evolved from a full-service/middle-of-the-road format (popular music, news, sports) to a stronger emphasis on news, talk, information, and agriculture, becoming a regional authority in those areas. Ownership changes included sales in the 1970s (e.g., to Charles Wilson in 1975, separating it from the TV station, which became KBCI-TV temporarily), and later consolidations through companies like Capstar, Citadel, and ultimately Cumulus Media (current owner). The station has maintained a news/talk format for decades, often right-leaning, with syndicated programs, local news, and sports. In recent years (e.g., 2021–2022), it added an FM simulcast on 93.1 MHz (KBOI-FM) to reach more listeners. Today, KBOI (670 AM) remains a prominent news/talk station in the Boise market, with its 50,000-watt signal and long legacy as a community voice.

    • I had no idea that KDSH/KBOI was co-owned by Saul Haas with KIRO. I think there was also a connection with KID in Idaho Falls.

      Here's a recording of the frequency switch from 950 to 670: https://youtu.be/_t9WFL6Daqc?si=YJXw8VHVjE77TuaI

      • May 1962--- Haas to KSL board ** Shortly to be announced will be election of Saul Haas, president, chief owner and general manager of KIRO- AM -FM -TV Seattle to board of KSL- AM -FM -TV Salt Lake City, owned by Mormon Church. through parent Corporation of President, also controls KID -AM -TV Idaho Falls and KBOI- AM -FM -TV Boise, both Idaho. Mr. Haas was elected president of Washington State Assn. of Broadcasters last month.

      • February 19, 1945 -- Control of KFPY would pass from Mrs. T. W. Symons Jr., 2/3 owner, and Arthur L. Bright, vice - president and general manager and 1/3 owner, to Ed Craney, Montana and Oregon broadcaster, and the Queen City Broadcasting Co., operating KIRO Seattle, headed by Saul Haas, under a transaction completed last week and subject
        to FCC approval.
        Mrs. Symons also is half -owner of KXL Portland, with Mr. Craney holding the other half. Whether that station is in any wise involved in the transaction was not re- vealed. Mr. Craney also operates KGIR Butte, and the Z -Bar Network.
        Mr. Haas has enjoyed meteoric success in radio, having acquired KIRO as a 250 -watter a decade ago. The station now operates with 50,000 w and is the Seattle CBS outlet. A prominent New Deal figure in the Pacific Northwest, he is the Collector of Customs at the port of Seattle and has been Democratic campaign manager during the Presidential and Congressional campaigns in the Northwest area.

      • Awesome find! The fybush website has some great radio history.

    • Thank-you Jason for your comprehensive and informative response!