The Simmons Media Group now owns KOVO (AM-960, Provo), but don't expect any changes to the station.
According to G. Craig Hanson, Simmons president, the deal was closed a few months ago. He said Simmons wanted the station because it has such a strong signal in the Utah County area.
Simmons has been simulcasting KZNS ("The Zone," AM-1280) on KOVO for several years now and he said no changes are expected to the all-sports format.
Simmons had a lease agreement and had been running KOVO for the past few years, so the sale — said to be worth $1 million — is no surprise.
"We consolidated and now we're expanding," Hanson said of Simmons Media's current direction.
The company sold KSFI, KRSP and others to Bonneville several years ago and is now purchasing even more stations outside Utah. Hanson said Simmons more recently has radio acquisitions in Las Vegas but still needs facilities built there.
Simmons also owns stations in Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Idaho and southern Utah.
Hanson said that satellite radio is not really impacting local radio. "It's more like satellite TV," Hanson said.
The two satellite companies have about 8 million U.S. subscribers combined, but Hanson said that doesn't even represent the Los Angeles or New York radio markets alone in total numbers.
"Will it ever eclipse over-the-air radio? No," Hanson said. "Radio is a seasoned traditional media."
What satellite radio is doing is giving the public even more media choices, but the local aspect is the bread and butter of airwave radio.
Regarding radio advertising for 2005, Hanson said ad revenues are up about 4 percent.
TWO NEW DJs — "Jessica" is a new member of the KZHT "Z-Morning Zoo" show with Frankie and Dangerboy. Born in Arizona, and an Arizona State graduate in broadcasting, she worked at two radio stations in Phoenix and most recently for the Weststar Talk Radio Network. Her husband, Kevin, also works in local radio.
— "Brandie," who worked for the late "Star 102.7," is the new midday personality on KEGA, "The Eagle."
RADIO HAPPENINGS — "Jack FM" (KJQN) is a station that prides itself on playing what listeners want to hear. Now it has a new segment, "Celebrity Jack," where local and national celebrities will be saying what songs they'd like to hear on the station. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. did the first installment this past week. Celebrity features air each Thursday.
— The broadcast premiere of "Book of Gold," a newly commissioned opera composed by Brigham Young University composer-in-residence Murray Boren, with libretto by Glen Nelson, will be Nov. 26, 11:30 a.m. on KBYU (FM-89.1/89.5). The story is built around the publication of the Book of Mormon and is based on original documents and never-before-published historical records from 1827-30.
KBYU will also air "Family Night Theater" on Monday at 8 p.m. and again on Thursday at noon. "A Thanksgiving of American Folk Songs" will be broadcast Thursday, as will "Giving Thanks: A Celebration of Fall, Food and Gratitude."
— KUER (FM-90.1) has begun airing a special youth series, "Youth Waves," each Monday at 7:30 a.m. through Jan. 30, 2006.
— Through a joint venture with Deseret Book, Clear Channel Radio stations KOSY, 106.5 and KXRV, "The River 105.7," have collected more than 3,000 books for underprivileged kids along the Wasatch Front. "We are excited to get these books into the hands of children in Utah who do not have any books in their homes," said Clear Channel radio-market manager Stu Stanek. "We are pleased with the generosity of the residents of Utah."
The books will be sorted by Clear Channel and Deseret Book employees and delivered to Daphne Williams, director of the Salt Lake Education Foundation.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com