Mike Irby is a veteran broadcast engineer who has worked in radio engineering since 1985 and became a leading technical executive in Denver radio. He joined Clear Channel’s Denver operation in 2010 and later served as Vice President of Engineering for iHeartMedia Denver.
Early career
Irby’s broadcast-engineering career began in 1985. His work before Colorado included engineering and information-technology positions in Dallas, Phoenix, Houston and Tucson. He worked with Continental Electronics and later held engineering leadership positions for Clear Channel.
While Director of Engineering for Clear Channel’s Tucson operation, Irby oversaw stations including KRQQ. In 2007 Clear Channel selected him as its West Region Medium Market Engineer of the Year.
Clear Channel and iHeartMedia Denver
In late 2010 Irby accepted the chief-engineer position for Clear Channel’s Denver market, overseeing technical operations for the company’s eight-station cluster. By 2012 he was identified as Director of Engineering & IT for Clear Channel Denver. Following the company’s transition to the iHeartMedia name, Irby became Vice President of Engineering for iHeartMedia Denver.
His Denver responsibilities encompassed major stations including KOA, KRFX and the company’s sports, music and talk facilities, along with the extensive studio, information-technology and transmitter infrastructure required by the cluster.
Super Bowl 50
In February 2016 Irby documented iHeartMedia Denver’s technical operation surrounding Super Bowl 50. The engineering team supported a full week of broadcasts from Radio Row for KOA, KRFX and Denver Sports 760 and prepared KOA‘s game-day broadcast from Levi’s Stadium. Irby’s account detailed the equipment, connectivity, RF coordination and logistical planning required to originate multiple Denver broadcasts from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Engineering leadership
Irby worked closely with other prominent Colorado broadcast engineers. Following the 2012 death of longtime KBCO chief engineer Bill Kleronomos, Irby described Kleronomos as an integral part of the Denver engineering team and recalled working with him even before Irby moved to Denver. He specifically credited Kleronomos’ work during Clear Channel’s early HD Radio rollout.
Irby has also been active in the Society of Broadcast Engineers and served as president of SBE Chapter 32.
Where Are They Now?
As of 2026, professional records continue to identify Mike Irby with iHeartMedia in Denver as Vice President of Engineering for the Denver Region.
Sources
- Tucson Weekly, Media Watch — documents Irby’s move to Denver and responsibility for Clear Channel’s eight-station cluster.
- Radio World, March 20, 2007 — Clear Channel Engineer of the Year recognition.
- Radio World, November 15, 2012 — identifies Irby as Director of Engineering & IT for Clear Channel Denver.
- Radio World, February 3, 2016 — Irby’s first-person account of Super Bowl 50 preparations.
- Radio World, February 5, 2016 — Irby’s account from Radio Row and Levi’s Stadium.
Stations They Worked At
FROM THE TIMELINE
Career Moments
Mike Irby takes engineering leadership of Clear Channel Denver
2010 – Mike Irby accepted the chief-engineer position for Clear Channel's Denver market, taking responsibility for the technical operations of the company's eight-station cluster. Irby had previously been handling engineering and IT duties in Tucson and Denver while the company prepared for the transition.
Mike Irby leads iHeartMedia Denver engineering for Super Bowl 50
February 2016 – iHeartMedia Denver Vice President of Engineering Mike Irby led technical preparations supporting KOA, KRFX and Denver Sports 760 broadcasts from Super Bowl 50 Radio Row. The operation also included KOA's game-day broadcast from Levi's Stadium.
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