Sports stations ready for battle

The upcoming sports season is shaping up as one of the most hotly contested ever for Utah's three all-sports radio stations — "The Zone" (KZNS, AM-1280), "K-FAN" (KFNZ, AM-1320) and KALL (AM-700).

Forget for a moment the gridiron contests on the field this fall and examine the broadcast battles — especially between KFNZ and KZNS. Not many U.S. radio markets have three all-sports stations, and for Salt Lake City, the 31st largest radio market, to have that many is rather amazing. (Although Arbitron for some unknown reason still lists KALL as "talk" and not "all sports"; perhaps it's really 2 1/2 all-sports stations, since KALL and KZNS are somewhat jointly operated by Simmons Media.)

"Salt Lake's most influential sports radio station" is how KFNZ is promoting itself, while "The Zone" calls itself "Man's best friend ... uncensored BYU and Utah football coverage." (The Zone also simulcasts on KOVO, AM-960). KALL is simply hyping its University of Utah sports coverage and shares much of the same syndicated programming as KZNS. (KVEL in Vernal is also airing Ute football games this fall.)

When David James and Patrick Kinahan ("D.J. and P.K.") left "The Zone" earlier this year for "K-FAN," some thought the station would fold with their absence. However, at the end of July, KZNS premiered John Lund and Hans Olsen (ex-BYU and pro football star) on its "Manly Morning Show."

Both KZNS and KFNZ are also doing more high school football coverage and play-by-play than perhaps ever before, as both compete for the same listening audience.

Currently, in the latest Arbitron estimates for ages 12-plus, KFNZ is on top of all-sports, with a 1.2 percent audience share, while KZNS and KALL have half of that at 0.6 percent each. Those figures are for an offseason sports period, so expect each of the three stations to increase its audience in the coming months of prep and college football.

• RADIO HAPPENINGS — James Eldredge of South Jordan was the big winner of the recent KRSP Rolling Stones trip to London.

—Kelly Monson is back doing mornings on KBZN (FM-97.9), weekdays, 5-10 a.m. Monson, one of Salt Lake's veteran DJs, will also celebrate his 30th year in the radio business on Sept. 28. The other weekday "Breeze" hosts are Dan Jessop (10 a.m.-2 p.m.); Rob Riesen (2-7 p.m.) and Michael Kane (7 p.m.-midnight).

—Some wondered if the "Showtune Saturday Night" program on KOSY (FM-106.5) would continue after host Erica Hansen's departure. It did air as usual last Saturday at 8 p.m., but Laura Bedore is apparently now the program's (interim?) host.

—KBYU (FM-89.1) will air the works of Norway's composer, Edvard Grieg, throughout the day on Tuesday, the 100th anniversary of his death.

—Inside Radio, in a Houston survey, revealed that Friday is the biggest weekday for radio listening and Monday is the lowest.

• TWENTY YEARS AGO IN SALT LAKE RADIO — KCPX sponsored "Diaper Derbies" at Alpha Beta stores. ... Park City's KCPW was a finalist for a Crystal Award. ... Lou Simon was the program director for KCPX. ... KRSP was set to air Los Angeles Raiders games in the fall.

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E-mail: lynn@desnews.com