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Bonneville International Corporation is a media and broadcasting company, wholly owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation. It began as a radio and TV network in the Triad Center Broadcast House in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bonneville's name alludes to Benjamin Bonneville and the prehistoric Lake Bonneville that once covered much of modern-day Utah, which was named after him.
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| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Parent | Deseret Management Corporation |
| Website | bonneville |
Bonneville owns 13 radio stations in four major markets as well as one television station in its home market; it also manages eight additional radio stations in two markets under a local marketing agreement. Additionally, its Bonneville Communications division provides marketing and communications strategy and branding services. Bonneville Distribution, another division, provides broadcast syndication and distribution services to non-profit organizations.
Bonneville International was formed in 1964, with the approval of the LDS Church's First Presidency. It was formed to acquire KSL (AM)-FM-TV in its hometown of Salt Lake City, as well as KIRO-AM-FM-TV in Seattle, which had previously been subsidiaries of the Deseret News. The LDS Church divested itself of the Seattle stations between 1995 and 1997, but reacquired KIRO-AM 10 years later.[1] The company has also owned stations in New York City, Dallas, Kansas City, and Los Angeles at one point.
In 1980 it formed Bonneville Communications Corporation, primarily to broadcast LDS General Conference.
Bonneville prided itself on "values-oriented programming" and community involvement, in line with the company's mission as set forth by its first president and founder, Arch L. Madsen. According to Bonneville International's website, their values reflect an understanding that "families are the basic unit of society... and that strong families build strong communities."
Due to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) media cross-ownership rule, Bonneville was unable to purchase additional media outlets in Salt Lake City beyond its flagship cluster. In anticipation of a rule change, Bonneville purchased four additional Salt Lake radio stations in 2002. The FCC did not grant approval for this purchase until 2003, upon which the stations were acquired by Bonneville. The status of this deal is still uncertain—the FCC has only granted a waiver to Bonneville, and a recent court ruling has put the FCC cross-ownership rule changes into question.
On October 4, 2004, Bonneville International announced plans to buy three stations from Emmis Communications in the Phoenix, Arizona market, in exchange for WLUP "The Loop" in Chicago and cash.
On January 4, 2006, Bonneville and The Washington Post announced that the frequencies currently used by WTOP, 1500 kHz AM and 107.7 MHz FM, would be reassigned to a new station, "Washington Post Radio." WTOP would move to 103.5 MHz, the frequencies currently used by classical music station WGMS, which in turn would move to 104.1 and 103.9 MHz, the frequencies used by WWZZ, which would be closed.
WGMS itself would fall silent a little more than a year later, on January 22, 2007. In its place is 1970s-1980s-adult-hits-station WXGG ("George 104"). Simultaneously, public radio station WETA-FM dropped its news/talk format in order to revive its previous classical format, via a partnership with Bonneville. WETA would also receive WGMS' entire music library, hired WGMS' last program director, and also retained the usage of the WGMS call sign. George 104 would last less than four months, when in April 2007, it was announced that the 104.1 frequency would be LMA'd to Radio One. On April 7, 2007, the frequency would flip to a Gospel and Inspiration format, known as Praise 104.1.
The Washington Post Radio experiment ended in September 2007, as the three stations (including the powerful AM 1500 signal) became WWWT, or "3WT". Hosts include syndicated hosts from the Right (Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Neal Boortz) and Left (Stephanie Miller) as well as Washington Nationals baseball. The station's morning show will continue.
Rush Limbaugh once worked for Bonneville Communications, after his stint with the Kansas City Royals.
CBS Radio has announced that it would sell 50 radio stations in 12 markets to focus on major market stations. As of September 22, 2008, Bonneville is one of the seven candidates to make first-round bids.[2]
On August 12, 2009; Citadel Broadcasting has rumored that they're planning to sell the former Disney/ABC's 23 stations to reduce its debt load, however several financial factors may put the deal at risk. While not all the stations can be sold off, Bonneville has expressed interest in 2 FM stations in Washington D.C. (WJZW and WRQX).[3]
On January 19, 2011, Bonneville announced it would sell 17 radio stations in Cincinnati, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis to Hubbard Broadcasting for $505 million.[4] The deal closed May 2, 2011.
On November 17, 2017, Bonneville began operating four San Francisco radio stations and four Sacramento radio stations under a local marketing agreement on behalf of the Entercom Divestiture Trust, following Entercom's merger with CBS Radio.[5] On August 3, 2018, Bonneville acquired the stations outright for $141 million;[6] the deal had been delayed by succession issues related to the death of LDS Church president Thomas S. Monson the preceding January.[7]
On September 30, 2021, it was announced that Bonneville International, owner of the KSL (AM) and KSL-FM, would be taking over operations of The Zone sports network. The arrangement with Bonneville will result in select Utah Jazz games being aired on KSL.[8] Founding host Gordon Monson and some producers were laid off by the new management.[9] The Zone introduced a new lineup effective October 20.[10]
Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and city of license.
Note: Two boldface asterisks appearing following a station's call letters (**) indicates a station that was built and signed-on by a predecessor of Bonneville International.
Television station
| City of license/Market | Station | Channel TV (RF) |
Owned since | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | KSL-TV ** | 5 (38) | 1949 | NBC |
Radio stations
| AM Stations | FM Stations |
| Market | Station | Owned since | Current format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | KTAR 620 | 2004 | Sports talk (ESPN Radio) |
| KTAR-FM 92.3 | 2006 | News/Talk | |
| KMVP-FM 98.7 | 2004 | Sports talk | |
| Sacramento | KHTK 1140 | 2018 | Sports talk |
| KYMX 96.1 | 2018 | Adult contemporary | |
| KZZO 100.5 | 2018 | Hot adult contemporary | |
| KNCI 105.1 | 2018 | Country music | |
| San Francisco | KOIT 96.5 | 2018 (previously owned from 1975–2008) |
Adult contemporary |
| KUFX 98.5 | 2018 | Classic rock | |
| KMVQ-FM 99.7 | 2018 | Contemporary hit radio | |
| KBLX-FM 102.9 | 2018 | Urban adult contemporary | |
| Denver | KEPN 1600 | 2015 | Sports talk |
| KKFN 104.3 | 2015 | Sports talk | |
| KOSI 101.1 | 2015 | Adult contemporary | |
| KYGO-FM 98.5 | 2015 | Country music | |
| Salt Lake City | KSL 1160 ** (simulcasts KSL-FM) |
1922 | News/Talk |
| KSL-FM 102.7 | 2003 | ||
| KZNS 1280 | 2021 | Sports (The Zone) | |
| KZNS-FM 97.5 (simulcasts KZNS-AM) |
2021 | ||
| KSFI 100.3 ** | 2003 (previously owned from 1947–1977) |
Soft adult contemporary | |
| KRSP-FM 103.5 | 2003 | Classic rock | |
| Seattle–Tacoma[a] | KTTH 770 | 2008 (previously owned from 1995–1997) |
Conservative talk |
| KIRO 710 | 2008 (previously owned from 1964–1997) |
Sports radio (ESPN Radio) | |
| KIRO-FM 97.3 | 2008 | News/Talk |
On September 30, 2021, Bonneville International, owner of KSL and KSL-TV, began operating KZNS/KZNS-FM "The Zone" in Salt Lake City under a local marketing agreement with Jazz Communications LLC, through the sports division of KSL News Radio. The operating agreement will allow select Utah Jazz games to be simulcast on KSL-AM 1160 and KSL-FM 102.7. Gordon Monson and Austin Horton were among the long time employees of The Zone who were dismissed as a result of KSL Sports assuming operations of KZNS. Although KSL Sports is responsible for overseeing daily operations of KZNS, Ryan Smith dba Jazz Communications LLC retains ownership of both 1280 AM and 97.5 FM according to the FCC database. The Zone's website at 1280thezone.com is now a dead link. The stations can now be streamed at kslsports.com/thezone/. In June 2022, The Zone officially moved its operations from Vivint Arena to newly built studios and office space in the Triad Center, joining the other radio stations (KSL (radio network), KSFI, KRSP-FM) and KSL-TV, as well as Deseret News, a print newspaper owned by the parent company of Bonneville International. KSL News Radio, KSL-TV, KSL.com, and Deseret News share a consolidated newsroom.
Television stations
| City of license/Market | Station | Channel TV (RF) |
Years owned | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar City - St. George | KCSG | 8 (14) | 1998–2002 | MeTV owned-and-operated (O&O), owned by Weigel Broadcasting |
| Seattle - Tacoma | KIRO-TV | 7 (39) | 1964–1995 | CBS affiliate owned by Cox Media Group |
From 2010 to 2016, Bonneville International also operated an independent TV station, KJZZ-TV (channel 14), in Salt Lake City, under a local marketing agreement with Larry H. Miller Communications Corporation. The arrangement ended when Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired KJZZ-TV.[11]
Former radio stations
| AM Station | FM Station |
| Market | Station | Years owned | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | KIDR 740 | 1991–1997 | Owned by En Familia, Inc. |
| KMVP 860 | 2004–2017 | KNAI, owned by Farmworker Educational Radio Network | |
| KHTC 96.9 | 1991–1997 | KMXP, owned by iHeartMedia | |
| San Francisco | KSFB 1260 | 1982–2008 | Owned by Relevant Radio |
| KBWF 95.7 | 1997–2008 | KGMZ-FM, owned by Audacy, Inc. | |
| KDFC-FM 102.1 | 1997–2008 | KRBQ, owned by Audacy, Inc. | |
| Los Angeles | KBRT 740 | 1969–1980 | Owned by Crawford Broadcasting |
| KBIG 104.3 | 1969–1998 | Owned by iHeartMedia | |
| KZLA-FM 93.9 | 1998–2000 | KLLI, owned by Meruelo Group | |
| KSWD 100.3 | 2008–2015 | KKLQ, owned by Educational Media Foundation | |
| Washington, D.C. | WBQH 1050 | 2004–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting |
| WFED 1500 | 1998–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WWFD 820 (simulcasts WFED) |
1996–2011 | WSHE, owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WTOP-FM 103.5 | 1998–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WTLP 103.9 (simulcasts WTOP-FM) |
1996–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WWWT-FM 107.7 (simulcasts WTOP-FM) |
1998–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WPRS-FM 104.1 | 1996–2008 | Owned by Urban One | |
| Idaho Falls - Pocatello | KSLJ 690 | 2003–2006 | KEII, owned by Riverbend Communications |
| KSSL 1260 | 2003–2006 | KNBL, owned by Riverbend Communications | |
| KBLI 1620 | 2003–2006 | defunct, went silent in 2006 | |
| KLCE 97.3 | 2003–2006 | Owned by Riverbend Communications | |
| KCVI 101.5 | 2003–2006 | Owned by Riverbend Communications | |
| KFTZ 103.3 | 2003–2006 | Owned by Riverbend Communications | |
| KTHK 105.5 | 2003–2006 | Owned by Riverbend Communications | |
| Chicago | WDRV 97.1 | 2000–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting |
| WWDV 96.9 (simulcasts WDRV) |
2000–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WLUP-FM 97.9 | 1997–2005 | WCKL, owned by Educational Media Foundation | |
| WILV 100.3 | 1997–2011 | WTBC-FM, owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WTMX 101.9 | 1970–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| Kansas City | KCMO 810 | 1993–1997 | WHB, owned by Union Broadcasting (KCMO is now at 710 AM) |
| KMBZ 980 | 1967–1997 | Owned by Audacy, Inc. | |
| KCMO-FM 94.9 | 1993–1997 | Owned by Cumulus Media | |
| KLTH 99.7 | 1967–1997 | KZPT, owned by Audacy, Inc. | |
| St. Louis | WIL 1430 | 2000–2008 | defunct, went silent in 2020 was KZQZ at time of license cancellation |
| WARH 106.5 | 2000–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WIL-FM 92.3 | 2000–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WXOS 101.1 | 2000–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| New York | WNSR 105.1 | 1967–1997 | WWPR-FM, owned by iHeartMedia |
| Cincinnati | WKRQ 101.9 | 2008–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting |
| WREW 94.9 | 2008–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WUBE-FM 105.1 | 2008–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WYGY 97.3 | 2008–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | KAAM 1310 | 1978–1994 | KTCK, owned by Cumulus Media |
| KZPS 92.5 | 1978–1997 | Owned by iHeartMedia | |
| KDGE 94.5 | 1995–1997 | KZMJ, owned by Urban One | |
| Houston | KLDE 94.5 | 1997–1998 | KTBZ-FM, owned by iHeartMedia |
| Salt Lake City | KUTR 820 | 2004–2008 | Owned by Truth Broadcasting Corporation |
| St. George | KDXU 890 | 2003–2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media |
| KUNF 1210 | 2003–2006 | KHKR, owned by Townsquare Media | |
| KREC 98.1 | 2003–2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media | |
| KSNN 106.1 | 2003–2006 | KIYK 107.3, owned by Townsquare Media | |
| Seattle - Tacoma | KNWX 1090 | 1995 | KPTR, owned by iHeartMedia |
| KIRO-FM 100.7 | 1964–1997 | KKWF, owned by Audacy, Inc. |
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