Richard O. Mecham, who has been president of Bonneville International's Salt Lake Broadcast group (KSL-Radio, KSL-TV and Video West Productions) for what he describes as "three glorious weeks" is a recognized expert on the radio broadcasting business, coming as he did from nine years as head of Bonneville's Salt Lake and Los Angeles radio outlets.
But he concedes he's still doing OJT (on-the-job-training) to get up to speed on that newfangled medium called television.
Mecham, 45, comes to his new position at Bonneville following the resignation of former KSL President Steve Lindsley, whose temporary replacement (and also his predecessor) Al Henderson, will remain as a consultant. Jim Yorgason has been named vice president and general manager of KSL-TV.
Though new to the television end of the business, Mecham says he is already forming some ideas on ways to bring KSL-TV and Radio closer together, allowing each to feed off the strengths of the other.
"In my mind, the most powerful duopoly in town is KSL Radio and TV," said Mecham. "There isn't another TV station in this market that has an affiliation with a radio station and vice versa. There is a synergy there that could be incredibly powerful."
In many ways, said Mecham, the two have been operating as "separate islands" for the last few years. KSL-TV has a new morning show with Terry Wood and Kim Johnson that Mecham would like to cross-promote with Grant (Nielsen) and Amanda (Dickson) on the radio.
KSL's ratings for the evening news are not as strong as in the past, but Mecham believes the television news team is still the best locally. "I don't profess to have sat here for three weeks and done the numbers, but we do a very good job with the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. TV news and with the recent demise of K-News radio, I feel good about the (KSL) radio station."
KSL's contract with its network affiliate, NBC, comes up for renewal in 2003, and there has been some speculation in the industry that KSL might decide to become an independent station that is better able to control the content of its programming.
The trend toward increasingly vulgar language, sexual themes and violence on network TV is being criticized by the public. It's a problem that is on the front burner industry-wide but especially at KSL where it's a particularly sensitive issue because of the community in which if operates and the priorities of its owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which also owns the Deseret News.)
Yes, it's a big problem, concedes Mecham, but it would be an ever bigger one if KSL were to go it's own way.
"There is no question that we want to continue being an NBC affiliate, no question at all," he said. "News is a very expensive venture, and without the network agreement, we wouldn't have the ability to do what we do.
"Yes, a lot of people are concerned about the NBC programming and content issue, and none more than I. I've been fortunate in not being here long enough to take heat from anyone yet."
But the heat flows both ways. KSL often finds itself criticized by some as being too liberal in what it shows and others for being too conservative.
"I think most people understand the nature of our ownership and of this market," he said. "Salt Lake City is a little more conservative, and you supposedly define things by community standards. But we're not here to define what those standards are, that's no our job.
"We have to use common sense on what shows run in which time slots. Every show doesn't have to be uplifting but neither should it leave a message that haunts you. I think most viewers trust our judgment."
Mecham would like others to speak up in this regard, saying too few are complaining or drawing attention to programming issues. "I don't mean to sound scriptural, be we are a lone voice in the wilderness. We stand up more than other stations on content issues."
E-mail Max Knudson at max@desnews.com