Omaha's Local Radio Stations (Non-Sports Stations)

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:43 am

Omaha World Herald wrote: Waitt Radio, NewRadio Group merge

Omaha-based Waitt Radio said Wednesday it plans to merge with Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based NewRadio Group.

If given Federal Communications Commission approval, the merger will form a new entity consisting of 89 radio stations and the Waitt Radio Network. Joint operations are expected to begin by Jan. 1.

Waitt Radio owns 24 radio stations in Nebraska, 15 in Iowa, 14 in Kansas, three in Minnesota and six South Dakota, as well as the Waitt Radio Network headquartered in Omaha.

NewRadio Group owns 20 radio stations in Wisconsin and seven in Illinois.

Company officials have not yet decided upon a name for the merged company, said Waitt Radio Vice Chairman Steve Seline.

Waitt Radio Chairman Norman Waitt will remain chairman of the board.

NewRadio Group President and Chief Executive Officer Mary Quass will be president and chief executive officer of the new company.

Waitt also announced Mike Delich, president of Waitt Outdoor, will lead a management buyout of the Waitt Outdoor company.

j4nu · Post by **j4nu** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 3:35 pm

Any word on what this means as far as company headquarters? Will they remain in Omaha?

sokkerdewd · Post by **sokkerdewd** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 10:58 pm

I had heard HQ will be in Cedar Rapids...

Hal Dawg · Post by **Hal Dawg** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:45 am

This is not what you want to read right before Christmas:
http://thereadersmedianotes.blogspot.co ... works.html

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 7:36 pm

Luchs said the employees who were let go each received a severance package based on their years of service, plus money equal to one month of COBRA health coverage (that they can spend as they choose).

If you've ever been in broadcasting, Sean, you'd have to agree this is a pretty decent parting gift. Most folks get an hour to clean out their stuff and then they're frisked for CD's at the door.

The timing sucks, but it always does...

DTmatt · Post by **DTmatt** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:42 am

I wanted to post this topic so that you could all put your two cents in about the radio stations offered here in Omaha. Do you think we have enough variety, etc??

What I've always wondered about, being that we are a hotbed city for indie music, why we don't have a TRUE indie music radio station. Sunday nights at Eleven on 89.7, not to mention the occasional time in which the River plays a good song, is about the only thing us Indie loving folks have as far as a radio station. I'm just thinking though that a kick butt indie station would be amazing.

What do you all think?

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:08 am

I think our overall selection leaves something to be desired. Besides an indie station, I'd really like to have an actual hard rock/metal/alt station come back ala the old 93.3.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:47 am

True nuff.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:54 am

I listen to Sports talk all day and at night listen to rock. I always had the radio on Z92. However Z92 is playing more and more new garbage that really really sucks, so much so, that I don't really listen to them much anymore and find myself listening to 96.1 the brew. I have not heard that new station much yet, but I did hear a few songs I like on that new 101.9.

ShawJ · Post by **ShawJ** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:31 pm

I NEVER listen to the radio anymore-can't stand it. I rely on iTunes now for discovering new music.

89.7 was really the only station I would listen to, as well as 93.3 before it changed.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:28 pm

You guys are absolutely right.

Commercial music radio isn't really about music, it's all about generating advertising revenue for the huge conglomerates that own them. Songs are just widgets, chosen by 'focus groups' (I've always wanted to know how these people are chosen), so you usually end up with this bland, inoffensive mush. Radio DJ's have very little to do with selecting the music played, and it's the same all over the country. There was a time (late 60's to early 80's), when actual music geeks decided the programming on some of the 'new' F.M. stations (Omaha had a fantastic progressive/alternative/edgy station, KOWH-FM, also known as 'Radio Free Omaha'----it introduced me to a ton of great music that wasn't being played on KOIL-AM, the local top 40 pop station at the time) 'Oldies/Classic Rock' stations are the worst. They have the tightest, lamest playlists of any format out there right now (if I hear Boston one more time...) I've pretty much given up on commercial radio for my main music source (I discover new stuff on-line now), although I still listen to it in the car sometimes, but I'm probably more likely to be listening to NPR (god, I'm getting old).

The real bright spot in the music radio world right now is XM/Sirus (sp?). I'm seriously considering a subscription, since music geeks actually run the shows, and they program the good stuff.

'scuse me, while I kiss the sky.....

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:46 pm

106.9 the city was my fav and filled a nice whole in variety, but of course nobody listened. The river isn't nearly as good as it used to be.

jtshaw · Post by **jtshaw** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:56 pm

Thanks much for this thread. About a month ago I bought a digital radio tuner in hopes that one or more of the stations which are broadcasting digitally would devote a second channel to a more eclectic, alternative range of music. No such luck.

I found eleven stations in the Omaha metro (10 FM and 1 AM) which now broadcast a digital signal:

FM
90.7 KVNO
91.5 KIOS
92.3 KEZO
93.3 KHUS-1 and KHUS-2
94.1 KQCH
96.1 KQBW-1 and KQBW-2
99.9 KGOR-1 and KGOR-2
103.7 KXKT-1 and KXKT-2
104.5 KSRZ
105.9 KKCD

AM
1110 KFAB

The music broadcast by the four stations with second channels represents a variation on standard themes. For example, KXKT has "contemporary country" on the first channel and "classic country" on the second channel. Nothing wrong with that, but it does not do anything for me.

This is unfortunate, because the promoters of digital radio have claimed that the capacity for second, and even third, channels would allow stations to profitably target smaller audiences. "Narrowcasting" meets the radio airwaves. In Omaha, at least to this point, their claim has proven false.

I do recommend spending some time with KIOS (FM 91.5) on Sunday evenings. "Sound Opinions" at 8 PM and "Sounds Eclectic" at 9 PM often play some very good alternative, independent rock bands.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:25 pm

If you want to know why radio sucks everywhere in the country, look no further than the $19.5 BILLION dollar deal involving the nation's largest owner of radio stations, Clear Channel:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/26/news/co ... tm?cnn=yes

Clear Channel is the nation's largest operator of radio stations, a business that has been stagnant for years as digital music players and satellite radio have siphoned off listeners and advertising dollars.

The company now generates more than half of its revenue from its billboard business, consisting of roughly 800,000 signs worldwide, and that business has been growing as advertisers have shifted spending away from other avenues to billboards, which are harder for consumers to bypass.

The whole article is based on the actual deal, but the above two paragraphs pretty much illustrate perfectly that radio's raison d'etre is nothing more than shoving advertising into someone's ear.

-Big E

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:10 pm

Commercial free KIOS and XM are about all I listen to in the car. It has been soooo long since I listened to local commercial radio that I have no clue what is playing on what frequency, nor do I care.

DTmatt · Post by **DTmatt** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:06 pm

yeah, I've just had only the radio to listen to recently because my CD player in my car sucks and it broke on me!

Maybe Saddle Creek will be awesome and start up a local radio station as well!! (hey I can dream can't I!?!?)
I'll take the entire jukebox down at the Slowdown as a play list!

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:15 pm

DTmatt wrote:I'll take the entire jukebox down at the Slowdown as a play list!

The jukebox at Oleaver's is one of the best I've heard in a long while. Though, I can't exactly say I've listened to many.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:33 pm

I only listen to sports radio anymore, I gave up on music radio years ago. The problem I see with music radio is you can't stick to one specific genre, you need to appeal to the masses in order to attract advertisers and in doing so end up turning everyone off by playing stuff that they don't like. I think it's a dying industry seeing that the mp3 revolution (thankfully) has made it easier than ever to listen to what you want, where you want, and when you want, instead of some industry executive making the decision for you.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:52 pm

Bugeater wrote:I think it's a dying industry seeing that the mp3 revolution (thankfully) has made it easier than ever to listen to what you want, where you want, and when you want, instead of some industry executive making the decision for you.

Ah, but therein lies the rub...

Without the revenues of radio ads subsidizing the music played (and radio stations do pay the recording industry to play the music), and the recording industry paying the radio stations for exposure, and without people having to shell out $14 (per CD) for $2 worth of music (two good tracks), how long does the recording industry model hold up?

I don't think it's necessarily a good thing if the only performers that can afford to record are the ones that have already made it big. I do think the recording/radio industry needs to be put in its place, however. Hopefully they will grow up and play nice for their own proportionate slice of the pie before they bring the whole thing down.

-Big E

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:39 pm

ricko wrote:The real bright spot in the music radio world right now is XM/Sirus (sp?). I'm seriously considering a subscription, since music geeks actually run the shows, and they program the good stuff.

I have had a subscription to XM for about 4 years. I never looked back at "commercial" radio (what an appropriate name!) from the very first day I signed on. If you pre-pay you can get it for like $10 a month (less than the cost of one CD) and the equipment is pretty inexpensive now as well.

If you are a serious (Sirius ...ha ha) lover of alternative music, or frankly alternative programming in general (news, information, sports) you will love it! The only time I listen to local stations is sometimes KIOS for All Things Considered or Fresh Air or As it Happens, or in cases of severe weather.

joeglow · Post by **joeglow** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:30 pm

I hate the music stations. If I am listening to the radio, it is either KFAB or NPR.

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:18 am

the1wags wrote:I think our overall selection leaves something to be desired. Besides an indie station, I'd really like to have an actual hard rock/metal/alt station come back ala the old 93.3.

All of the commercial stations here are very formulaic and playlists tend to be very tight.

I find myself listening either to KIWR which does have a good selection of newer and progressive rock that the commercial stations won't touch (plus PS Blues on Sunday morning), or else NPR (KIOS?) for news and such.

I love real 50s-60s oldies, but whatever the name is at 99.9 is so same-old same-old all the time!

Z-92 is same-old same-old as well, and Todd-n-Tyler get old after a while, like maybe 15 minutes or so!

I won't even mention the AM right-wing talk radio venom, and I really don't care for nonstop endless-loop sports talk.

What we really don't have, and what I really think would work would be:

1. A good classic/modern/alternative rock station with free-thinking program directors, ala KOMP in Las Vegas.

2. A real oldies station, 50s thru 70s, with a very wide playlist and infrequent play of the ones you hear on every other oldies stations all the time.

3. A good real all-news station without any Limbag type oh-so-stuck-on-himself loudmouths!

Oh well ....

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:36 am

Bugeater wrote:

I think it's a dying industry

Well, that was said when Moving Picture theatres with "talkies" became prevalent.
Well, that was said when TV sets became prevalent.
Well, that was said when 8-track tapes became prevalent.
Well, that was said about AM radio when contemporary hit music on FM became prevalent.
AND it's been said for the last half dozen years since the dawning of satellite radio, which has about 7 percent penetration in the USA, but less than half of new car buyers renew after the "free" period that comes with their car.

The good and bad news is that radio is making money, which can't be said for local newspapers, doing what it's doing. Even though the music selection generally sucks to many listeners, it's a combination of two things that gets the music played... it's partly that most contemporary music sucks, plus the fact that contemporary music, modern country music, "safe" oldies, hip-hop, etc, have a sizeable fan base that DOES like what it hears on the radio. Otherwise, the market share of satellite radio would be a lot higher.

So... what you and I hear when we choose to dial in a radio station isn't so much decided by the station brass because of any internal prefedrences... it's decided by the consumer who accepts it. And enough of the consumers are satisfied with what's out there.

Last item: I actually work at an oldies station in the Tri Cities (although we, like KGOR, refer to it as "Classic Hits" nowadays, because we're mixing in some 80's and the term "oldies" infers 50's & 60's to the general public"). I can't tell you how many times I've heard from Omahans that our music mix is so much more listenable and enjoyable than KGOR's. On the other hand, I can't tell you how many times I've been told by locals that KGOR's music mix is so much more listenable and enjoyable than OURS! It's all either a matter of taste, or it's just different than what you're used to hearing, which freshens it up for ya.

Just my two cents worth for today.

theurge · Post by **theurge** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:07 am

Apparently 93.3 has a Metal Station that you can pick up if you have a HD Radio on their 2nd subchannel. (It's kind of an insult to what K-rock used to be though) It's more or less just a playlist on shuffle w/o a DJ. They also stream it on the net too. I just wish I didn't have to buy a HD Radio to hear it, otherwise I would be listening to this all the time:

http://www.mega100online.com/cc-common/ ... ?strid=188

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:58 pm

I guess TheBrew 96.1 and KGOR - clear channel -
are going to go through some changes. They let go TheBrews morning Dj Lester St James this morning. He was also KGOR's Programming director

Post by **Brad** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:45 pm

Uffda wrote:I guess TheBrew 96.1 and KGOR - clear channel -
are going to go through some changes. They let go TheBrews morning Dj Lester St James this morning. He was also KGOR's Programming director

Seriously? That Sucks! He was also UNO Hockey's emcee...

On the same note NRG Media (1620 the zone) let go of Terry Leahy who was also UNO Hockey's color commentator.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:19 pm

Brad wrote:
Uffda wrote:I guess TheBrew 96.1 and KGOR - clear channel -
are going to go through some changes. They let go TheBrews morning Dj Lester St James this morning. He was also KGOR's Programming director
Seriously? That Sucks! He was also UNO Hockey's emcee...

On the same note NRG Media (1620 the zone) let go of Terry Leahy who was also UNO Hockey's color commentator.

Yep I know him personally. He said he saw it coming

Post by **Brad** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 8:16 am

Apparently Bill Jensen is Retiring from Clear Channel.

jag42 · Post by **jag42** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:33 pm

Yup...96.1 The Brew is now something called 96.1 KISS-FM and seems to be a copy of 94.1 and 106.9. I was shocked today. Omaha does not need another version of 106.9 and 94.1. 96.1 The Brew was the perfect in-between for 105.9 (too much old-fogey classic rock) and Z-92 (too modern/hard rock and Ozzy Osbourne). I drive a route and stp by many businesses in a week. A vast majority had 96.1 The Brew on. Is KGOR 99.9 changing formats too?

jessep28 · Post by **jessep28** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:46 am

jag42 wrote:Yup...96.1 The Brew is now something called 96.1 KISS-FM and seems to be a copy of 94.1 and 106.9. I was shocked today. Omaha does not need another version of 106.9 and 94.1. 96.1 The Brew was the perfect in-between for 105.9 (too much old-fogey classic rock) and Z-92 (too modern/hard rock and Ozzy Osbourne). I drive a route and stp by many businesses in a week. A vast majority had 96.1 The Brew on. Is KGOR 99.9 changing formats too?

The new format will be an in-between once everything goes to dubstep.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:03 am

There is nothing new, or original, in local, over the air waves radio in America. The stations you find in Omaha have the same names, and logos, and music, and sometimes over the air voices, as stations in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Orlando or anywhere else. I used to love traveling somewhere new, because each city would have its unique blend of dee jays and music. This was back in the 1970s, when no one ever heard of "clear channel". Save for local accents, you can now be plopped down in any mid sized city in America and you have the same restaurant chains, offering the same menus, the same retailers offering the same clothing, the same gas stations, and all the rest. Add to that the same pablum on the radio dial and it removes a lot of what made traveling somewhere new so special.
I will say that when we were in Canada this summer the radio stations did seem more unique, and more fun to listen to, but even there some of them were virtually indistinguishable from American radio in the 21st Century.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:17 am

After reading nativeomaha's take... I have to think of so many other industries. I think of the Walmart syndrome, killing off the unique mom and pop stores the five and dimes the soda fountains, how does the Bookworm still remain open these days (You Got Mail) even electronic stores (Radio Shack, Best Buy) are going under. And then you have Newspapers (even though the Oracle is buying them up, must be a great bargain), what forces are at play that are changing our economical environment that we might not even recognize in ten years time.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:05 am

jag42 wrote:Yup...96.1 The Brew is now something called 96.1 KISS-FM and seems to be a copy of 94.1 and 106.9. I was shocked today. Omaha does not need another version of 106.9 and 94.1. 96.1 The Brew was the perfect in-between for 105.9 (too much old-fogey classic rock) and Z-92 (too modern/hard rock and Ozzy Osbourne). I drive a route and stp by many businesses in a week. A vast majority had 96.1 The Brew on. Is KGOR 99.9 changing formats too?

Sir, there is no such thing as "too much Ozzy". If you were a dove, I'd bite your f@ckin' 'ed clean off.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:45 pm

I only listen to 90.5 and 91.5, the rest I stopped listening to about ten years ago...

the occasional time I do hear any of them I want to smash my radio. Z-92 has literally spiraled down to playing f'ing aerosmith and van halen twice an hour

Ozzy and ACDC probably only once and hour. :deadhorse:

New music doesn't get as much airplay as Z-92 spins this old sh!t.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:48 pm

nebport5 wrote:New music doesn't get as much airplay as Z-92 spins this old sh!t.

Hhahahaha :lafcry: :lafcry:

I don't like Z92 because I think they play WAYYYYY too much new stuff!

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:32 pm

Radio? What's that?

I'll listen to 91.5 and 90.7 but the rest of the time I stream my personal collection and some Spotify.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 3:01 am

Don't remember the call letters or its location on the dial (I think it's in the low 90's FM), but Omaha has the best Jazz radio station I've heard (it trumps the stations in Chicago, St. Louis, and DC) Whenever I'm in town, I'm not only listening, I'm jotting down artists names, etc.. Whoever does the programming/music selection really knows their stuff.

jessep28 · Post by **jessep28** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 12:25 pm

ricko wrote:Don't remember the call letters or its location on the dial (I think it's in the low 90's FM), but Omaha has the best Jazz radio station I've heard (it trumps the stations in Chicago, St. Louis, and DC) Whenever I'm in town, I'm not only listening, I'm jotting down artists names, etc.. Whoever does the programming/music selection really knows their stuff.

It's probably 91.5 KIOS, which is Omaha's NPR station.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 11:22 pm

Bring Back the Brew!!!
http://www.facebook.com/BringBack961TheBrew

bigredmed · Post by **bigredmed** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 6:29 pm

jessep28 wrote:
ricko wrote:Don't remember the call letters or its location on the dial (I think it's in the low 90's FM), but Omaha has the best Jazz radio station I've heard (it trumps the stations in Chicago, St. Louis, and DC) Whenever I'm in town, I'm not only listening, I'm jotting down artists names, etc.. Whoever does the programming/music selection really knows their stuff.
It's probably 91.5 KIOS, which is Omaha's NPR station.

Is their station jazz only, or is it musica obscura classical like KVNO?