Top radio stories of 2009

What were the top Salt Lake radio-related developments/stories of 2009?

Here's my top 10:

1.Dramatically decreased ad revenue/layoffs.

Bonneville International reported a 15 percent decline in advertising revenue in July. This downturn was typical of most radio companies. Bonneville had already reduced the workforce at its S.L. radio stations with the layoffs of five people in February. Clear Channel laid off 9 percent of its workforce in January.

2.Major broadcast bankruptcy.

Citadel Broadcasting, the nation's third-largest radio company, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late December. With nine S.L. area owned/managed radio stations, the local impact of this declaration is yet to be determined.

3.Religious radio gets church specific in Salt Lake City.

The "Mormon Channel," a new radio service of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, launched in May via the Internet and HD radio affiliates.

KIHU, AM1010, Utah's first all-Catholic radio station premiered in August.

4.An "International" division begins.

KSL Broadcasting started the process of becoming a separate, local media company from Bonneville International (but still under the Deseret Management Corporation umbrella). Although Bonneville remains based in Salt Lake City, it now includes 19 radio stations in seven non-Utah cities — Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Phoenix, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.

KSL Broadcasting Co. will include KSL radio (AM-1160/FM-102.7) , KSL-TV (Ch. 5), KRSP, FM-103.5 and KSFI ("FM-100"), plus Bonneville Communications and Farnsworth Peak.

5.A trend in more niche programming and less simulcasts.

KACP, AM-570, a new conservation talk radio station, replaced the former simulcast of KNRS, FM-105.7, in September. (Is KSL next, with a possible spin off of AM-1160 from FM-102.7?)

6.Radio veterans/legends pass away.