The Prime Broadcast Group Board of Directors reported record-setting viewers, subscribers, and listeners for calendar year 2022 at its January 26, 2023, meeting.

Prime Broadcast Group is the parent company of 102.7FM KPGZ, KMO-TV, Bulldog Radio Network, and KPGZ eNEWS in Kearney, Missouri.

*“Kearney Live” led the way in overall viewership, increased its audience share 56% over 2021 and remained the number one show as it enters its fifth year*

Board member and KPGZ General Manager Brian Watts reported overall growth, audience expansion, and increased content distribution across multiple broadcast platforms in 2022.

“Our expanded content and new broadcast options provide multiple opportunities for our audience to enjoy our programming,” Watts said. “Our goal is to make it convenient for our audience to engage our content anywhere, anytime. Whether it’s live, on-air broadcasts, online video, or digital content delivered via email – wherever our audience is – we want to make sure we are there with them.”

Prime Broadcast Group entities showed increased readership and viewership across every platform. KMO-TV programming led the way, increasing to over 250,000 views, which was up 73% over 2021, and KPGZ e-News showed a 24% increase in readership.

Prime Broadcast Group President and KPGZ News Director Jim Dickerson said, “Our e- News stories are targeted to the interests and concerns of our Kearney and Clay County audiences. We won’t bog down readers with fluff just to fill space or airtime. We run news content that provides value to our audience – an approach that has clearly paid off.”

On the broadcast side, Kearney Live led in overall viewership, increasing its audience share 56% over 2021, remaining the number one show as it enters its fifth year. Kearney Live showed significant viewership increases mid-year following a format change from personal interviews to a panel discussion of relevant local, regional, and national news events.

*The “Coach Minnick Show” saw the largest year over year increase in all programming with an 88% increase of viewership*

The Coach Minnick Show, featuring Kearney Bulldog Head Football Coach Logan Minnick, saw the largest year over year increase in all programming with an 88% increase of viewership over the previous 2021 coaches show.

KPGZ Board President and Director of Marketing, Mike Davis, who hosts the Coach Minnick show said, “There is no doubt that the undefeated regular season helped boost the popularity of the show. The reality is, Coach Minnick not only elevated the Bulldog football program, he energized an entire community and our viewership increase proves it.”

The Bulldog Radio Network, which provides live play-by-play coverage of select Kearney High School sporting events, also saw significant increases which are attributed to an undefeated conference football season, expanded live-coverage of selected away games, and enhanced basketball coverage which added an increased number of girls basketball games to the broadcast lineup.

*“That Thing with Rich Appel” Topped the KPGZ specialty radio programming lineup in increased listenership in 2021*

KPGZ specialty radio programming shows also saw increased listenership in 2021. Leading the list were That Thing with Rich Appel, a classic music program which airs on Saturday afternoons, and The Scene, which airs Friday evenings spotlighting the local Kansas City music scene. Other weekend specialty shows with increased audiences were Neon Beat and Believers and Bluegrass, both of which air in the Sunday program lineup.

“Prime Broadcast Group is managed by a local board of directors and the day-to-day operations are managed by local employees and volunteers,” Mike Davis added. Our operation is woven into the fabric of Kearney, Missouri. Our primary audience will always be the people and businesses of Kearney and Clay County.”

KPGZ News - Prime Broadcast Group and KPGZ provided content for this story