In this age of high-tech gadgets and media, we take instant communication and broadcasts for granted. However, it was 82 years ago on Oct. 3, 1924, when the first-ever LDS general conference was broadcast on the radio.
Prior that, you either went in person to the Tabernacle for general conference or you relied on written reports.
In 2006, general conference can be "attended" through a wide variety of sources. It is available locally on KSL radio (AM-1160/FM-102.7) but can also be heard on the radio in Utah (live or delayed) through: KVNU (AM-610, Logan), KMGR (FM-95.5/102.7, Delta), KMTI, (AM-650, Manti), KSRR (AM-1400, Orem), KSVC (AM-980, Richfield), KDXU (AM-890, St. George) and KVEL (AM-920, Vernal).
In addition, there's KSL-TV, cable and satellite channels, and even reception on your home computer via the Internet.
One thing that has changed in the past year is radio coverage of conference. Digital radio offers a clearer signal — but at a price. What you hear on KSL and some other radio stations will be about seven seconds behind what the television broadcasts have. If you have a TV or radio tuned in to general conference, it will clearly show this time lag. It has nothing to do with a gap for censorship or editing but is simply a delay because of the way digital radio is processed.
In other words, while TV might be one or two seconds behind the actual words being spoken in Conference, radio is now seven or more seconds behind.
MORE ON FM-97.5 — KOAY, "The Oasis" now plays uplifting, positive music 24 hours a day, seven days a week from such artists as Third Day, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith and some local best-selling faith-based performers.
The contemporary Christian format is the fastest-growing music format in America. Simmons has enlisted the services of John Frost and Alan Mason of Goodratings Strategic Services, the format's leading consultant group, to launch successful stations in Denver, Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. There are also highly successful stations in Seattle and Dallas.
The station's format is tailored for the Utah market, reflecting the beliefs and values of the people of faith. The name "The Oasis" was chosen because of the geographic connotation to the desert climate and the format theme of being an escape from the negativity of other formats on the Salt Lake City radio dial.
The station began playing Christmas music 24/7 after changing from an FM talk station on Sept. 1, then on Sept. 18 the station switched to Christian music.
SEMI RADIO — A large image of "County Joe" (FM-107.5) is found on a semitrailer truck that travels around the Salt Lake area. Bus and sign billboards of personalities are fairly common, but this is the first such image I've spotted on a semi.
TEN YEARS AGO IN SALT LAKE RADIO — KFNZ ("K-Fan") goes on the air as Salt Lake's second all-sports station, ... "Q-99" becomes "Rock 99." ... Only five Salt Lake stations — KTKK, KFAM, KANN, KDYL and KSOP — maintain the same formats they were broad-casting in the mid-1980s; all other stations have changed formats within the past 11 years. ... "General Gridlock" on KUBL and KFNZ is Salt Lake's newest traffic reporter.
The Deseret Morning News and KSL Newsradio 1160 are involved in an ongoing news-gathering partnership.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com