Three veteran broadcasters have teamed up to launch a new radio station in Bismarck.
Bob Denver, Lauren Gray and Sid Hardt will begin broadcasting sometime within the next month from the new station’s headquarters on Fourth Street in downtown Bismarck.
The format of the radio station, including the music it will play, is still a secret. But it will include news, sports, weather and a full 24 hours of music. The station will broadcast from KXRV-FM 107.5, which until now has been known as “The River.” The name of the station will change, but the trio of broadcasters has yet to announce the new moniker.
Last month, Denver entered into a lease-management agreement with the station’s Idaho-based owner World Radio Link Incorporated. Denver said the takeover may be complete by mid-September, though it might take a few more weeks to introduce the new format.
Denver was the market manager for six Clear Channel radio stations in Bismarck-Mandan for about seven years before leaving the company in January. He has more than 40 years of broadcast experience.
“I just enjoy radio. It’s all I’ve ever done outside of high school and college,” Denver said. “Been lucky to have people that want to work for me. I needed a break and took
it.”
Gray, a self-described Eric Clapton fan who named her cat “Layla,” has been in the television and radio broadcast industry for the past 30 years. She started her career at a small radio station in Minnesota when she was 16 years old. Since then she has hosted her own television program on KXMB, produced web content for six corporate owned radio stations and was an on-air personality for Rock 101.
Gray said the new station will be sort of “a throwback.”
“It’s back to what we remember,” she said.
Hardt has been a broadcast personality in Bismarck for 38 years. Most recently, he was co-host of a program on KQDY-FM 94.5. He said he joined up with Denver and Gray because the new station will allow them to “do what we want” and have fun on the job.
“I’m an old soldier in this business,” Hardt said. “I remember those 20 years at KFYR when we had fun and did all of that stuff. And that’s kind of what we’re going back to doing.”
-Michelle Farnsworth is a freelance reporter for the Great Plains Examiner.
Hey, good luck to you.Nice photo. A rose between thorns. I have a blog (see above) and would be willing to share stuff from it if there is an appropriate venue for it.
Good luck hope it is a success!
Congratulations! Three of my favorite radio people starting their own station…doesn’t get any better than that! Can’t wait to tune in when I’m back in Bismarck to see the kids this Christmas! Enjoy the ride!
lauren gray is so sexy!