Another KFNZ radio sportscaster — David James — is switching affiliations and will be heard on KZNS (AM-1280) starting in early April.
G. Craig Hanson, president of Simmons Media Group, confirmed Wednesday that David James has been lured away from KFNZ (K-Fan AM-1320) for this relatively new sports-oriented radio station.
Dave Fox, a KUTV Ch. 2 colleague of James, has also been signed to start with KZNS in April.
No firm date on the premiere of the two sportscasters has been set. However, Hansen said James will anchor a new morning show on the station next month, with a yet-to-be-determined co-host.
Fox will team up with Ian Furness for a midday sports-talk show and Craig Bolerjack and Gordon Monson will comprise an afternoon-drive program.
Hanson said this radio change will not affect either James' or Fox's current work with KUTV.
Bolerjack, Monson and Furness joined KZNS shortly after it began last November, moving over from KFNZ, which had downsized its sports staff last fall.
"We feel we have a great group now," Hanson said.
Dan Bammes will still continue to provide news on KZNS after the two new personalities begin. There's no word yet on how the loss of James will affect KFAN.
KZNS of Salt Lake City is also the flagship station for a new KZN regional sports radio network that includes three other Simmons stations, one in St. George (KZNU, AM-1450) and two in Idaho — KZNI (Idaho Falls, AM-1260) and KZNR (Blackfoot, AM-690)
Hanson said much of the AM-1280 sports programming is also carried on the other three KZN stations, meaning travelers can consistently listen to regular sports talk programs as they go north or south of Salt Lake City. He also said "Snowbirds" in St. George can now stay in touch with Utah sports in the winter, and southern Idaho residents can enjoy the shows.
Will KZNS be getting the Utah Jazz radio contract next? Hanson said that won't happen anytime soon.
The KZN call letters are historic for Utah, having comprised the original name for KSL (AM-1160), until it was able to secure its current one.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com