Bonneville International
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Salt Lake City , United States |
Area served | United States (multiple markets including Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Francisco, Denver, Seattle) |
| Products | Radio stations, Television station, Broadcast syndication, Marketing and branding solutions |
| Owner | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (through Deseret Management Corporation) |
| Parent | Deseret Management Corporation |
Bonneville International Corporation operates as a media and broadcasting enterprise entirely owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) through its commercial division, Deseret Management Corporation. Established in 1964, Bonneville began as a radio and television network based in Salt Lake City. The company’s name honors explorer Benjamin Bonneville and the ancient Lake Bonneville located in Utah.
The corporation controls 13 radio stations distributed across four principal markets and owns a single television station in Salt Lake City, while also managing eight more radio stations via local marketing agreements. Its business segments include Bonneville Communications, which provides marketing and branding solutions, and Bonneville Distribution, specializing in broadcast syndication services for non-profit organizations.
History
On September 4, 1964, Bonneville was founded with the endorsement of the LDS Church to unify its television and radio holdings, encompassing KSL-AM/FM/TV in Salt Lake City and KIRO-AM/FM/TV in Seattle. The Church sold off its Seattle properties between 1995 and 1997 but later reacquired KIRO-AM. Bonneville’s portfolio has also included stations in New York City, Dallas, Kansas City, and Los Angeles.
Bonneville Communications Corporation was launched in 1980 to air the LDS General Conference. The company prioritizes "values-based programming," reflecting founder Arch L. Madsen’s philosophy that strong families serve as the foundation for robust communities.
Expansion within Salt Lake City was initially hindered by FCC cross-ownership regulations; however, following regulatory clearance in 2003, Bonneville acquired four additional radio stations in 2002. In 2004, it exchanged Chicago’s WLUP for three Phoenix stations from Emmis Communications.
In 2006, Bonneville collaborated with The Washington Post to introduce "Washington Post Radio," adjusting frequencies between WTOP and the classical music station WGMS. After WGMS ceased broadcasting in 2007, its frequency underwent several format changes before becoming "Praise 104.1" under Radio One’s ownership.
The Washington Post Radio format concluded in 2007, with the stations rebranded as WWWT "3WT," featuring syndicated political talk shows and sports content. Notably, conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh was once employed by Bonneville early in his career.
When CBS Radio announced plans to divest 50 stations in 2008 to concentrate on larger markets, Bonneville emerged as one of the initial contenders. By 2009, it had shown interest in acquiring two Washington D.C. FM stations from Citadel Broadcasting amid Citadel’s efforts to reduce debt.
In January 2011, Bonneville divested 17 stations located in Cincinnati, Chicago, Washington D.C., and St. Louis to Hubbard Broadcasting for $505 million; this transaction was finalized in May of the same year.
Bonneville expanded its presence in Northern California by operating eight Entercom divestiture trust stations under a local marketing agreement starting November 2017 and completed their acquisition for $141 million in August 2018 after delays related to leadership transitions within the LDS Church.
In September 2021, Bonneville assumed control of The Zone sports network in Utah, securing broadcast rights for select Utah Jazz games on KSL. This change involved staff restructuring and introduced a refreshed programming schedule launched the following month.
Bonneville-owned stations
Stations are organized alphabetically by state and city of license.
Note: Stations marked with two bold asterisks (**) following their call signs were originally established and launched by a predecessor entity of Bonneville International.
Television station
| City of license/Market | Station | Channel TV (RF) |
Acquisition year | Network affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | KSL-TV ** | 5 (38) | 1949 | NBC |
Radio stations
| AM Stations | FM Stations |
| Market | Station | Acquisition year | Programming 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 held ownership 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 programming |
| KSL-FM 102.7 | 2003 | ||
| KZNS 1280 | 2021 | Sports format (The Zone) | |
| KZNS-FM 97.5 (simulcasts KZNS-AM) |
2021 | ||
| KSFI 100.3 ** | 2003 (previously held ownership from1947–1977) |
Soft adult contemporary | |
| KRSP-FM 103.5 | 2003 | Classic rock | |
| Seattle metropolitan area#Seattle–Tacoma area market, Washington state, United States, North America, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe, All That Is#Seattle–Tacoma area market, Washington state, United States, North America, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe, All That IsSeattle metropolitan area#Seattle–Tacoma area market, Washington state, United States, North America, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Washington state}} The three Seattle stations are streamed online via MyNorthwest.com |
KTTH 770 AM | 2008 (previously owned from1995–1997) |
Conservative talk |
| KIRO (AM) 710 AM | 2008 (previously owned from1964–1997) |
Sports radio (ESPN Radio) | |
| KIRO-FM 97.3 FM | 2008 | News/Talk |
On September 30, 2021 Bonneville International commenced operations of Salt Lake City's sports stations KZNS AM/FM ("The Zone") under a local marketing agreement with Jazz Communications LLC through the sports division of KSL News Radio. This arrangement permits selected Utah Jazz games to be simulcast on KSL-AM/FM. Although KSL Sports oversees day-to-day management of KZNS-AM/FM (1280 AM/97.5 FM), ownership remains with Ryan Smith doing business as Jazz Communications LLC according to FCC filings. The original website for The Zone is no longer active; streaming has been redirected to kslsports.com/thezone/. In June 2022, The Zone moved its studios to the Triad Center alongside Bonneville-owned outlets including KSL-AM/FM and KSL-TV as well as Deseret News—consolidating Bonneville’s media operations and newsroom under one roof.
Television Outlets
| City of license/Market | Station | Channel Analog TV (Digital RF) |
Ownership Period | Present Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar City - St. George | KCSG | 8 (14) | 1998–2002 | MeTV O&O, currently under Weigel Broadcasting |
| Seattle - Tacoma | KIRO-TV | 7 (39) | 1964–1995 | CBS affiliate owned by Cox Media Group |
Between 2010 and 2016, Bonneville International managed the independent station KJZZ-TV (channel 14) in Salt Lake City through a local marketing agreement with Larry H. Miller Communications Corporation. This partnership concluded following its purchase by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Previously Owned Radio Stations
| AM Station | FM Station |
| Market | Station | Ownership Years | Current Ownership/Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | KIDR 740 | 1991–1997 | Currently held by En Familia, Inc. |
| KMVP 860 | 2004–2017 | Now KNAI, owned by Farmworker Educational Radio Network | |
| KHTC 96.9 | 1991–1997 | Currently KMXP, under iHeartMedia | |
| San Francisco | KSFB 1260 | 1982–2008 | Now owned by Relevant Radio |
| KBWF 95.7 | 1997–2008 | Currently KGMZ-FM, held by Audacy, Inc. | |
| KDFC-FM 102.1 | 1997–2008 | Now KRBQ, owned by Audacy, Inc. | |
| Los Angeles | KBRT 740 | 1969–1980 | Owned today by Crawford Broadcasting |
| KBIG 104.3 | 1969–1998 | Current owner is iHeartMedia | |
| KZLA-FM 93.9 | 1998–2000 | Now KLLI, under Meruelo Group | |
| KSWD 100.3 | 2008–2015 | Currently KKLQ, owned by Educational Media Foundation | |
| Washington, D.C. | WBQH 1050 | 2004–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting presently |
| WFED 1500 | 1998–2011 | Under Hubbard Broadcasting ownership now | |
| WWFD 820 (simulcasts WFED) |
1996–2011 | Currently WSHE, held by Hubbard Broadcasting | |
| WTOP-FM 103.5 | 1998–2011 | Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting today | |
| WTLP 103.9 (simulcasts WTOP-FM) |
1996–2011 | Hubbard Broadcasting ownership | |
| WWWT-FM 107.7 (simulcasts WTOP-FM) |
1998–2011 | Under Hubbard Broadcasting currently | |
| WPRS-FM 104.1 | 1996-2008 | Presently owned by Urban One | |
| Idaho Falls-Pocatello | KSLJ AM690 | 2003-2006 | Now KEII, operated by Riverbend Communications |
| 2003-2006 | Currently KNBL, under Riverbend Communications | ||
| 2003-2006 | Defunct and silent since '06 | ||
| 2003-2006 | Managed by Riverbend Communications | ||
| 2003-2006 | Riverbend Communications ownership | ||
| 2003-2006 | Currently Riverbend Communications | ||
| 2003-2006 | Held by Riverbend Communications | ||
| Chicago | WDRV FM97.1 | 2000-2011 | Owned now by Hubbard Broadcasting |
| 2000-2011 | Under Hubbard Broadcasting currently | ||
| 1997-2005 | Now WCKL, Educational Media Foundation | ||
| 1997-2011 | Currently WTBC-FM, owned by Hubbard Broadcasting | ||
| 1970-2011 | Held by Hubbard Broadcasting presently | ||
| rowspan =4 Kansas City | KCMO AM810 | 1993-1997 | Now WHB, operated by Union Broadcasting |
| 1967-1997 | Owned currently by Audacy, Inc. | ||
| 1993-1997 | Presently held by Cumulus Media | ||
| rowspan =4 St Louis WIL AM1430 2000-2008 Defunct and silent since '20, last known as KZQZ WARH FM106.5 2000-2011 Hubbard WIL-FM FM92.3 2000-2011 Hubbard WXOS FM101.1 2000-2011 Hubbard - New York City - WNSR FM105.1 -1967-1997 -WWPR-FM, iHeartMedia - Cincinnati - WKRQ FM101.9 - WREW FM94.9 - WUBE-FM FM105.1 - WYGY FM97.3 (all Hubbard Broadcasting, 2008-2011) - Dallas-Fort Worth - KAAM AM1310 (1978-94) now KTCK, Cumulus Media - KZPS FM92.5 (1978-97) iHeartMedia - KDGE FM94.5 (95-97) Urban One - Houston - KLDE FM94.5 (97-98) now KTBZ-FM, iHeartMedia - Salt Lake City - KUTR AM820 (04-08), Truth Broadcasting Corporation - St George - KDXU AM890, KUNF AM1210 (KHKR), KREC FM98.1, KSNN FM106.1 (KIYK at107.3), all Townsquare Media (03-06) - Seattle-Tacoma - KNWX AM1090 (KPTR), iHeartMedia (95) and KIRO-FM100.7 (64-97), now KKWF, Audacy, Inc. |
See also
Additional resources
External links
- Articles with short description
- Bonneville International
- 1964 establishments in Utah
- American companies established in 1964
- Broadcasting companies of the United States
- Companies based in Salt Lake City
- Mass media companies established in 1964
- Radio broadcasting companies of the United States
- Television broadcasting companies of the United States
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
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