Who has the oldest intact format on the Salt Lake radio dial? In recent weeks, the longevity of local veteran morning teams and DJs has been examined, and now it's time for formats.
As with radio personalities, the answer depends on your own criteria.
KSL (AM-1160/FM-102.7) has been doing news/information since its early days in the 1920s as an early "full-service" radio station, which likely ranks KSL as having the oldest intact format at the same station.
However, even that has changed significantly over the years.
KSL and other full-service stations included music for many decades. By 1988, KSL had phased out music in the morning and afternoons. A few years later, KSL had no music whatsoever, and that's how its format remains today. (Dan Jessop of KBZN, a 38-year personality and programmer in this market, also cites KSL as the longest-running format.)
Picking a second-place station is harder.
KSOP (FM-104.3/AM-1370) could be in the running for the runner-up spot. The station, now split into AM playing the old time-country format and the FM playing modern-country dates back many decades. KSOP AM started Feb. 5, 1955, with a country format, and on Dec. 10, 1964, the FM frequency began a country format. (It's also worth mentioning that KLO, AM-1430 in Ogden, started up in the mid-1920s and may also have a very similar format to what it had in its early days.)
MORE DJ LONGEVITY — Excluded from last week's veteran DJ list for the Salt Lake market were two longtime personalities — Bob Nelson from KSFI and Lyle Morris from KBZN. Each DJ has about 28 years experience in this radio market. Both are also doing middays for their respective stations.
RADIO HAPPENINGS — KBYU will broadcast Utah Festival Opera, beginning Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
The station will also air remarks given by Princess Martha Louise of Norway for the 2006 Harold B. Lee Library Annual Author Lecture, June 6, 9 p.m.
In addition, "Classical 89" will air the princess's reading of her book on the "Classical 89 Family Night Theatre," complete with musical accompaniment, June 12, 8 p.m.
— Two Sirius satellite radio DJs, "Derek and Romaine," will be in Salt Lake City this weekend for Utah Gay Pride events. This gay/lesbian duo have a show on Sirius OutQ. Derek also grew up in Salt Lake City.
— Bob Edwards may be off "Morning Edition" these days, but he has an XM satellite-radio show and also a weekend show that airs locally on KCPW Saturdays, noon-1 p.m.
— The "Chunga Golf Classic" (KENZ) will be Wednesday at the Ranches Golf Club at Eagle Mountain.
— KDYL, AM-1060, airs "Sounds of Sinatra," each Sunday, from noon-2 p.m. A shopping show is broadcast each weekday, from noon-1 p.m.
— KTKK ("K-Talk," AM-630) airs "Back County Utah with Brian Brinkerhoff," Saturdays, from 9-11 a.m. The "Mormon Miscellaneous" religion show is broadcast each Sunday, from 5-7 p.m.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com