Full Breakdown
Bret Saunders' Departure Marks End of 28-Year Tenure at Denver’s KBCO
6/25/2026, 1:14:07 PM
Bret Saunders’ Exit from KBCO
Bret Saunders, the longtime weekday-morning DJ on 97.3 KBCO in Denver, announced that his employment with the station has ended. The announcement came via his own social-media post after more than 28 years on the air. The departure coincides with staff reductions announced by iHeartMedia, the corporate owner of KBCO, in a report published Wednesday by *The Hollywood Reporter*.
Historical Role at KBCO
Since the early 1990s, Saunders has been a central voice for rock-music listeners in Colorado, hosting weekday mornings and participating in station promotions, including a holiday “Studio C” CD campaign with CBS Colorado. His on-air presence has been described as a “small part of listeners’ lives,” reflecting a deep community connection built over decades.
Ownership and Recent Staff Reductions
KBCO is owned by iHeartMedia, a national media conglomerate that operates numerous radio stations. According to *The Hollywood Reporter*, iHeartMedia initiated a wave of staff cuts across its properties during the week of Saunders’ announcement. The report does not disclose the total number of positions eliminated or the specific criteria guiding the reductions.
Key Figures & Groups
- Bret Saunders – DJ, on-air personality, and longtime community figure at KBCO.
- iHeartMedia – Corporate owner of KBCO and the entity implementing the staff reductions.
- CBS Colorado – Partner in promotional activities with KBCO.
- The Hollywood Reporter – Publication that reported the broader staff-cutting initiative.
Data & Tenure
- Tenure: 28 + years at KBCO.
- Primary Slot: Weekday morning show.
- Staff-cut Scope: Not quantified in the available sources.
Official Statements & Responses
Saunders posted a farewell message on social media, thanking listeners for “28+ years” of support, expressing that his time at KBCO “has come to an end,” and indicating he will “check in again soon.” No direct comment from iHeartMedia regarding the specific decision to end Saunders’ employment appears in the sources; the corporate rationale is limited to the broader staff-cut announcement.
Verbatim Quote
> “Thank you for 28+ years. I've loved every day with you, and being a small part of your lives has been my greatest honor and pleasure. My time at KBCO has come to an end. I will miss the laughs, the countless people I've met, and being a part of the community. I will check in again soon, but for now, just know I delighted in being with you.” — Bret Saunders, DJ
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The exact number of iHeartMedia employees affected by the current round of cuts is not provided.
- No official iHeartMedia statement clarifies whether Saunders’ departure is solely a result of the cuts or part of a separate restructuring decision.
What’s Next
Saunders indicated an intention to remain engaged with the community, suggesting possible future appearances or projects, though no specific plans are detailed. KBCO has not announced a replacement for the weekday morning slot, leaving the station’s immediate programming direction uncertain.
