Bonneville International is taking over management of Jazz Communications Sports “The Zone Sports Network” 1280 KZNS Salt Lake City/97.5 KZNS-FM Coalville UT.
As part of the deal, Bonneville will simulcast select Utah Jazz games from KZNS/KZNS-FM on News/Talk 1160 KSL/102.7 KSL-FM. The Sports simulcast joins a Bonneville Salt Lake City cluster that also includes AC “FM 100” KSFI, Classic Rock “103.5 The Arrow” KRSP and KSL-TV.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that KZNS afternoon co-host Gordon Monson and a few producers have been let go. Monson had been with KZNS since its launch in 2001.
New Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith acquired the stations from former owner Larry H Miller Communications in April for $100.
The Utah Jazz and Bonneville International Corporation announced a partnership shifting day-day-day operations management of The Zone Sports Network to KSL Sports, under the Bonneville umbrella.
The partnership creates a powerhouse for fans and will bring Utah Jazz games and the rest of The Zone’s lineup to more fans across the state.
The Zone Sports Network (1280 AM/97.5 FM) will continue to broadcast all Jazz games and will be joined in a simulcast on KSL NewsRadio (1160 AM/102.7 FM) for a select number of regular-season games as well as all potential Jazz playoff games.
“Bonneville is proud to partner with the Utah Jazz, and we are grateful for the trust the Jazz have placed in us with their radio assets,” said Darrell Brown, president of Bonneville International Corp. “Our two companies are uniquely aligned, sharing deep roots in Utah and a focus on serving local audiences with a commitment to high-quality content and operations. We look forward to bringing The Zone Sports Network together with KSL NewsRadio, KSL TV, and KSLSports.com to create a new Utah sports powerhouse.”
This historic partnership completes an all-star line-up of sports across KSL properties: KSL NewsRadio is the radio home for BYU football and basketball, KSLSports.com is the exclusive streaming partner for RSL and high school sports, and KSL TV is Utah’s place to watch the NFL and the Olympics.
“Our radio and streaming alignment with the KSL platform for Utah Jazz games is a tremendous opportunity to bring our team to more fans over a much larger broadcast footprint,” said Jim Olson, president of the Utah Jazz. “The Zone has been the top-rated sports radio station in the market, and this partnership with KSL’s digital assets, equipment and experience will only further enhance the listening experience for Jazz and sports fans.”
