Documentary Celebrates KSL Radio's 100th Anniversary

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, March 31, 2022 | 11:16am CT

KSL-AM

This weekend KSL NewsRadio and KSL TV/Salt Lake City will simulcast the documentary KSL Radio 100 Years to celebrate KSL radio's 100th anniversary. On May 6, 1922, Utah became the broadcast home of the first clear channel radio station in the western United States. At the time the call letters were KZN, as in K-Zion, and broadcasts were done from a shack on top of the Deseret News Building. The call letters were changed to KSL, as in K-Salt Lake, two years later.

From the beginning KSL radio has existed to build up families and communities. In 1966 KSL embarked on a project called Quarters for Christmas and in 1976 KSL expanded their efforts to help kids by hosting one of the first radiothons in the country for Primary Children's Hospital.

"Since the beginning, our ownership has recognized the power of media to have influence on communities," said Bonneville International President Darrell Brown. "We put purpose before profits, and I think that's why KSL enjoys the reputation that it does."

The documentary not only looks back at the legacy station's history and community service it also reveals how innovations in digital broadcasting and podcasting are shaping the station's future.

"We helped pioneer radio but technology is evolving and so we continue to innovate," said Bonneville International Executive Vice President Tanya Vea, who is also Salt Lake General Manager. "At our core we are a content company distributing information to reach our audiences wherever they are-their cars, online or through a smart speaker."

In 2005, KSL began simulcasting on 102.7 FM, making it the first Utah radio news outlet on the FM dial and the first station in Utah to simulcast on both AM and FM.

The documentary KSL Radio 100 Years airs on KSL TV and KSL NewsRadio Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 4pm MT.