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KZIA radio buys The Zone 1600 AM

C

crradiodude

Guest
CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids Television Company announces the agreement to sell radio station The Zone 1600AM KCRG to KZIA, Inc.

“In today’s environment of consolidation in the radio business, we feel that for the long term success of The Zone, this is best for all involved,” said KCRG Vice President & General Manager John Phelan. “KZIA has led the local radio market for many years, and now they will have a second complementary format to add to their mix”, said Phelan.

KZIA, Inc., President and General Manger Eliot A. Keller said, “We’re very excited about the project. We plan to build on the traditions of the station and bring a fresh approach to its programming. We believe in local radio. It provides unique entertainment to its listeners. It offers a cost-effective way for advertisers to reach the Cedar Rapids area listeners.”

An agreement for the sale was signed Monday (July 10, 2006). The sale is subject to consent by the Federal Communications Commission and is expected to be finalized this fall after consent is received. At that time the stations call letters will be changed.

The Zone 1600 AM is a 5,000 watt radio station serving Cedar Rapids and the surrounding area.

Cedar Rapids Television Company (an Iowa corporation) operates KCRG-TV, the ABC Affiliate in Eastern Iowa. Cedar Rapids Television Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Gazette Company.

KZIA Inc. (an Iowa corporation) operates KZIA Z102.9, a 100,000 watt radio station in Cedar Rapids broadcasting today’s hits at 102.9 mHz to the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area. KZIA Z102.9 is the first station in Iowa to be broadcasting HD Radio™ (digital radio) and HD Radio™ Multicasting . KZIA Z102.9 is at www.kzia.com on the Internet.

Story Created: Jul 10, 2006 at 2:53 PM CST
Story Updated: Jul 10, 2006 at 5:22 PM CST

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/3320246.html
 
Hypothetically speaking, what type of jobs might be available following this transaction? ;)
 
Norton will screw this up. Count on it. He knows nothing but Top 40.
Phelan sure can shine a turd. KCRG has done next to no business over the last decade.
They've dwindled to one single employee.
He had to sell.
Now he and Norton will have more reasons to get together and get wasted.
 
If Norton knows nothing but Top 40, why did he start out in Rock and take it to a big ol' fat number one....only to rule that genre for 15 years?
You are obviously a bitter ex-employee, not that I would out you, McDJ....but it is you that knows turds.
 
I don't know anything about Norton, but this still has to be a positive for 1600. The AM has always been the Gazette's forgotten step-child.

How many formats has it had over the years? MOR, Top 40, AC, standards, AC again, oldies, automated country, all news, news-talk, news-talk-sports, all sports. The only thing consistent during all that time was Dave Franklin's Sunday morning polka show, now on KMRY.

How many of these were successful? Maybe Top 40 and AC the first time, until WMT-FM took that audience when it switched from beautiful music.

Still, the Gazette has owned the station since 1947. Not many stations have been under the same ownership that long.
 
supersoul said:
It means Unash had better start looking for gainful employment.
He will not enjoy working for Norton.
Click to expand...
I'm from out of market, who is this Norton guy and why do people dislike him?
 
People don't. Bitter ex-employees who were let go due to blatant ineptitude do. He has his quirks....but he is brilliant. Don't be fooled.
 
OK, on a more serious note: as I asked before, anyone have an idea of what jobs might be available once this transaction happens?

My wife is from Iowa City and we have been looking to move there at somepoint down the line (we live in the chicago area). I love where I work now (at a church), but I want to get into radio in the Iowa City / Cedar Rapids area before I'm too far removed from college/the industry to get back into it. A News/Talk station seems to fit my abilities best. So, a revamped KCRG-AM would seem to be nice. :)
 
JGrandt, as long as you dont' mind being yelled at, intimidated, threatened on a daily basis, and belittled, then Norton is the guy for you.

Otherwise, consider something else.

Now if you like sucking up to management, and enjoy having a permanent brown nose, like FunnyCandyCo, then you may be the right person for employment by Norton.

Also, if you consider a bi-polar individual "genius", then Norton will be right up your alley.
 
no one has mentioned the fact that KZIA is going to start multicasting on HD here soon, I've heard they are going to be introducing a all Dance music type station and a rock station, supposedly with a sound like the old KRNA... Maybe 1600 will get a upgrade to HD as well...
 
Norton is at Conclave in the Twin Cities bragging about his latest aquisition to anybody who will listen.
He has let it slip that he will be changing formats of KCRG, once he has secured the purchase.
 
supersoul said:
Norton is at Conclave in the Twin Cities bragging about his latest aquisition to anybody who will listen.
He has let it slip that he will be changing formats of KCRG, once he has secured the purchase.
Click to expand...
Ya know, it's really not cool to just go ripping on a guy. Just because you are a pissed off ex-employee doesnt give you the right to rip on him mercilously.
 
What Super Fool....I mean SKEEZIX (or is that Super Soul) is really proving is that he doesn't really believe everyone hates Norton. He wouldn't need to point out what a incompetent "bi-polar" Norton is if everyone already knew that for themselves. He has to continue beating his dead horse because he can't believe noone is buying into his bitter garbage. The fact is, Scott Schulte and Ric Swann have worked for Norton for well over a decade. What about Mo Holland, Simon Will, and Michelle Steele? Kellie Lala and Julie Hein on the sales staff? That speaks for itself. What other station in the Cedar Rapids can say that? Norton tells it like it is. Yes, there is the occasional temper tantrum. No they aren't fun. But to go beyond that is absolute slander.
 
KZIA announced this morning that they have closed on the 1600AM purchase. The new station KGYM FM will continue to deature ESPN programming. Scott Unash is the program director.
 
What freq is KGYM FM on?

Will be nice to have an FM sports station in CR.

CD
 
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