BOISE - Listeners expecting country music on 96.1 FM Friday morning heard something a bit different.

KSRV-FM radio switched from 96.1 The Bull to a new format – 96.1 Bob FM.  Bob uses a relatively new type of format known as “Variety Hits,” using a wide range of songs, mixed together in seemingly random order.

The station’s first morning featured songs from Aviril Lavigne, Steve Miller Band, Alanis Morissette, US and Kiss among others. Tester says the station has more than 1500 songs in rotation at any one time. The station says it will “play anything,” including music from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s.

The station will not feature traditional DJs, according to Tester – instead using one pre-recorded voice, known – appropriately – as “Bob.”

Station CEO Dave Tester says his station sees a niche to be filled in the western part of the Treasure Valley.  Bob will focus on the newly shifting population center – from Meridian west to Ontario, though its signal can be heard in Boise, and as far north as McCall.

KSRV upgraded its transmitter last year, moving from a low-power tower in the Ontario, OR area – to a full-power signal broadcasting near Bogus Basin.