About Bonneville

[emailfailed]

In the last couple days there has been plenty of speculation about what will become of 100.3. The one thing some people keeping bringing up only to have it shot down is Bonneville taking the station top 40 or even some type of rock format. Well, there is a reason why Bonneville won't do this, simply put it's a Mormon run company who holds such beliefs dear to their corporate heart.

Yes, they're based in Salt Lake City.

This applies to their television division.

Bonneville is notorious for refusing to air programs they deem offensive on Salt Lake's NBC affiliate, KSL-TV. This has included episodes of Law and Order. Programs that may be a little "racy" that make the cut are covered in disclaimers warning the family.

One of the jokes is Saturday Night Live doesn't exist in Salt Lake.

Now NBC has been kicking around a new affiliate, or just buying a station, but it's my understanding they're locked into a long-term contract with KSL-TV.

Just for the record, this poster is not putting down Bonneville, Mormonism or any such thing. Rather I'd want to give a little understanding why Bonneville will never do such formats. If they won't air an Law and Order episode on their television station, do you think they're going to air 50-Cent or Westside Connection on their radio station?

Maybe they'll surprise us all and return the call letters of KXEZ.

After all, if it was good enough for Hugh Grant...

///Obscure?

 

[ceejay]

Oh, dear ...... and this must be why KZLA was so family oriented in the beginning.
After emmis took over, they started playing stuff with lyrics I was afraid I would hafta explain to my Grandkids!

 

[henry]

A bit of insight from a Salt Lake resident ....

If KSL chooses to run edgier programming, they get calls asking how a "television station owned by a church could run certain programming." When they chose not to air programming they get complaints as well. Talking to a sales guy there, it sounds like the viewers in the market are simply picky.

As for SNL it started way back in the 70s and 80s when the show first came on and the viewers were much more conservative than they are now. Today KSL runs almost all NBC programming, most of it much racier than SNL ever could be. The decision not to air SNL is simply tradition. It's easier to just keep doin' what you're doing, than rock the boat.

Remember KSL-TV's core audience is 45-to-dead ... the pickiest viewers of all.

 

[faaradar]

In the last couple days there has been plenty of speculation about what will become of 100.3. The one thing some people keeping bringing up only to have it shot down is Bonneville taking the station top 40 or even some type of rock format. Well, there is a reason why Bonneville won't do this, simply put it's a Mormon run company who holds such beliefs dear to their corporate heart.

///Obscure?

Bonneville is running a CHR and a semi-Alternative rock in Cincinnati.

 

[pbf1]

Bonneville is running a CHR and a semi-Alternative rock in Cincinnati.

Really? When did Bonneville buy Kiss?

(WKRQ hasn't been CHR in over a decade. It's Hot AC.)

 

[hotpatrick2004]

I stream the sound(the bonneville alt station in cinci) sometimes in cinci and it is a decent commercial alt for radio today not bad. They seem to play very little crossover of the active format praise the heavens above ;D Why do you say semi-alternative?

 

[mbatchelor]

In the last couple days there has been plenty of speculation about what will become of 100.3. The one thing some people keeping bringing up only to have it shot down is Bonneville taking the station top 40 or even some type of rock format. Well, there is a reason why Bonneville won't do this, simply put it's a Mormon run company who holds such beliefs dear to their corporate heart.

///Obscure?

Bonneville is running a CHR and a semi-Alternative rock in Cincinnati.

Bonneville's "Movin" station in St. Louis plays some stuff that would be deemed pretty racy by LDS church standards.

 

[pbf1]

Bonneville's "Movin" station in St. Louis plays some stuff that would be deemed pretty racy by LDS church standards.

Not for long!

 

[nmoore6676]

I stream the sound(the bonneville alt station in cinci) sometimes in cinci and it is a decent commercial alt for radio today not bad. They seem to play very little crossover of the active format praise the heavens above ;D Why do you say semi-alternative?

Since I like the older country songs and artists I've streamed "The Wolf 97.3" also from Cincinnati and I like it. Their companion country station WUBE is high rated so they seem to have a handle on country. However in scanning the stations they own overall they appear to be heavily into News and News Talk so it's hard to say how they will go.

I would hate to see Saul Levine take it in the shorts if they try country here, I think we could use a better new station, like the heyday of KFWB (as a news station) before CBS ruined it. I think getting the type of competitive talent to take on KFI might be extremely costly. The KSL lineup is heavy on local shows but what goes in Salt Lake might well be a dud here in SoCal. The menu of syndicated talk is very well represented locally now with KGIL added to the mix.

 

[KOHS]

Bonneville actually does have a rock station in SLC- KBER. I believe they play classic rock on KBER, but rock nonetheless.

Obviously reading the tea leaves say any format with rap and heavy metal are out.

Some radio people in Phoenix affectionately call the suits at Bonneville--"The Men in Secret Underwear", or TMISU for short. ;D (No disrepect intended to Mormons or their secret underwear.)

Bonneville runs a jack-type format in Phoenix that I really like. They use on-air jocks and play a lot of good music. The station is called "The Peak". Great imaging, too. Love the "Mr. Peakerman" character.

 

[TimmyWA]

Bonneville actually does have a rock station in SLC- KBER. I believe they play classic rock on KBER, but rock nonetheless.

KBER is a Citadel owned station. But Bonneville does run a Classic Rock outlet, 103.5 The Arrow KRSP.

 

[kentuckymedia]

Here is the thing about Bonneville...

They are a well ran, well oiled machine. They understand what they need to do to win and they will give you the resources to do it. They dont want to be offensive, but they understand the word MODERATION.

I doubt they would ever launch any kind of URBAN station.

Bonneville is a moral and community driven company. One thing I love about Bonneville is they arent afraid of community service, and they are proud of every dollar they spend for the communities they serve. Its about building a relationship with the audience and the business. And relationships are what get you ratings and money in the end..no who can beat their chest the most.

Bonneville is truly one of the best companies in the business. If you look at community service and broadcast excellence...the top 7 companies not in any specific order would be Bonneville, Connoisseur, Maverick, Great Plains, Saga, Mid West Family and Emmis.

The other thing I have learned about Bonneville is they truly do care about their people. Thats a good thing!

Bonneville is an extremely smart company. If they launch AC on the format, they will outspend KOST every single time. They know the importance of billboards and television..even if it costs them millions of dollars. Bonneville knows what they need to do and they will find the funds to do it and do it well.

 

[henry]

Ditto.

As for Bonneville, the program great stations in terms of quality. They invest more into KSL than they need to ... which is why it's still #1. Both Arrow and FM 100 are very tight with good air staff, all live from 6a-6p, and some nights they are live. Not bad in a day-and-age where most stations have only a morning show and a few tracked jocks.

That said, don't expect Fort Minor's "Where'd You Go" to air un-edited. Nor would I expect anything much edgier than Classic Rock or a Hot AC-leaning CHR.

I don't see any obvious holes in the Los Angeles market 100.3 could fill. I wouldn't discredit news, but it'd be a very tough market against KNX and KFWB. If CC (unlikely) blew up KBIG or KYSR, I could see Bonneville trying Hot AC.

 

[kentuckymedia]

Bingo, you said it right!

Bonneville knows what it takes to win. If they do CHR, they will do it extremely well. You wont hear 50 cent, but you will still here Fall Out Boy, Usher, Michelle Branch, Kelly Clarkson and the like. All are great artists with tons of listener value. Look at WKRQ. It may not be top of the line in ratings...but they are still in top 5 with revenue every single time. And the revenue keeps growing. I think in 2007 the station grew nearly 20% higher than the year before in revenue.

 

[KOHS]

Bonneville actually does have a rock station in SLC- KBER. I believe they play classic rock on KBER, but rock nonetheless.

KBER is a Citadel owned station. But Bonneville does run a Classic Rock outlet, 103.5 The Arrow KRSP.

D'oh! You are correct, Timmy. Glad someone from Utah was here to correct me. 8)

KBER's music wouldn't make it one minute on a Bonneville station.

 

[4UH8SIMBKAGN]

Oh, dear ...... and this must be why KZLA was so family oriented in the beginning.
After emmis took over, they started playing stuff with lyrics I was afraid I would hafta explain to my Grandkids!

What beginning? Bonneville got KZLA when they traded it for KBIG. KZLA went country in 1980.

 

[hamNcheese]

Bonneville actually does have a rock station in SLC- KBER. I believe they play classic rock on KBER, but rock nonetheless.

KBER is a Citadel owned station. But Bonneville does run a Classic Rock outlet, 103.5 The Arrow KRSP.

D'oh! You are correct, Timmy. Glad someone from Utah was here to correct me. 8)

KBER's music wouldn't make it one minute on a Bonneville station.

Bonneville just sold a station in Pocatello, (ISU Bengals!) couple hours outside Salt Lake City. Active Rocker, K-Bear 101. Cant remember the calls. Never held back with the music. Slipknot, Metallica, Megadeath, ect... and that was daypart. Things got wild at night. Def werent holding back with the metal. Station sold a year ago, to another owner with similar beliefes. Dont think the format has changed at all. Bonneville is not afraid of rock.

But I honestly dont think Bonneville is getting into LA to do Active Rock.


FYI - The kids on bikes, guys in ties with the girls with some of the best damn smiles this side of....salt lake city(!)...make great neighbors.

 

[newhampshiredude]

Ditto.

As for Bonneville, the program great stations in terms of quality. They invest more into KSL than they need to ... which is why it's still #1. Both Arrow and FM 100 are very tight with good air staff, all live from 6a-6p, and some nights they are live. Not bad in a day-and-age where most stations have only a morning show and a few tracked jocks.

That said, don't expect Fort Minor's "Where'd You Go" to air un-edited. Nor would I expect anything much edgier than Classic Rock or a Hot AC-leaning CHR.

I don't see any obvious holes in the Los Angeles market 100.3 could fill. I wouldn't discredit news, but it'd be a very tough market against KNX and KFWB. If CC (unlikely) blew up KBIG or KYSR, I could see Bonneville trying Hot AC.

It's about tiem somebody said it! This board seems very anti-Mormon and anti-Bonneville, when the company has done a superb job with most of its radio stations. What is wrong with Bonneville keeping their stations in-line with their beliefs, when they can get ratings doing it, and can make people happy for not succuumbing to the deteriorating culture we have in this country today. I'm not uptight, but Bonneville is a great company and should be commemorated on these boards for their commitment to local programming.

 

[TimmyWA]

It's about tiem somebody said it! This board seems very anti-Mormon and anti-Bonneville, when the company has done a superb job with most of its radio stations. What is wrong with Bonneville keeping their stations in-line with their beliefs, when they can get ratings doing it, and can make people happy for not succuumbing to the deteriorating culture we have in this country today. I'm not uptight, but Bonneville is a great company and should be commemorated on these boards for their commitment to local programming.

Well said. Well said.

 

[kentuckymedia]

Exactly!

In a world of radio thats losing money, in a world of the "r" word, in a world of cookie cutter stations with personalities tracked in from millions of miles away, in a world of corporate buyouts that are falling through the cracks. BONNEVILLE has and always will remain a progressive company.

Bonneville is making money in their markets, while other companies are losing.
Bonneville is making a positive impact in their communities while others could care less about the market they serve
Bonneville is a top notch group that believes in their product, understand what it takes to support their product and is willing to go the extra mile to make their employees happy and listeners happier.

Bonneville is one of few companies out there that really are a GREAT company.

As I said before...Bonneville, Saga, Maverick, Connoisseur, Great Plains, Emmis, Mid West Family are some of the top group owners in the country. When you factor in passion, investment, people, marketing, etc.