KZNS-FM
Encyclopedia
KZNS-FM is a radio station
broadcasting a sports radio
format. Licensed to Coalville, Utah
, the station serves Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas. This station is currently owned by Millcreek Broadcasting and is branded as 97.5 The Zone.
Until July 2011, KZZQ was an active rock
station called 97.5 The Blaze, previously located on 94.9 under the call sign KHTB
, which is now branded as 94.9 Z-Rock. The station changed call signs from KOAY to KZZQ on September 9, 2008. A tribute concert for the Blaze by local artists took place shortly after the station was abruptly taken off the air. It was one of three active rock radio stations in Salt Lake City, the others being Z-Rock and KBER 101 (KBER
).
format. On September 5, 2006, the station became KOAY and branded itself as "The Oasis", carrying mostly soft adult contemporary music.
and became The Blaze, with the call letters becoming the current KZZQ. The Blaze had previously been located on 94.9 with the call sign KHTB
, which subsequently became the call sign for a new active rock station called 94.9 Z-Rock. Reportedly, The Blaze had almost been shut down, but was able to continue using the Blaze moniker because Citadel failed to acquire the naming rights. However, on this date, due to poor ratings (possibly as a result of competition against Z-Rock), The Blaze changed to what they called a "Rockin' Hits
" format. However, this new format was met with even poorer ratings and extremely negative response from the station's longtime listeners. However, on December 1, 2010, The Blaze's morning host, Roger "Big Rog" Orton, spent his shift protesting the station's new mainstream rock
format by playing active rock
songs. This protest was met with overwhelmingly positive response from listeners, and the station received thousands of supportive phone calls, song requests, e-mails, and Facebook
messages. Several Facebook fan pages showing support for The Blaze also appeared and hundreds of listeners signed the radio station's van, which was spray-painted white to act as a petition for the station to return to the active rock format. The Blaze returned to playing active rock shortly afterwards.
1280 AM "The Zone". On July 15, 2011 KZZQ changed their call letters to KZNS-FM.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting a sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
format. Licensed to Coalville, Utah
Coalville, Utah
Coalville is a city in Summit County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,382 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Summit County...
, the station serves Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas. This station is currently owned by Millcreek Broadcasting and is branded as 97.5 The Zone.
Until July 2011, KZZQ was an active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
station called 97.5 The Blaze, previously located on 94.9 under the call sign KHTB
KHTB
KHTB is an active rock radio station broadcasting to Salt Lake City, Utah and the surrounding areas. KHTB broadcasts on 94.9 and currently identifies itself as 94.9 Z-Rock. It is owned and operated by Cumulus Media...
, which is now branded as 94.9 Z-Rock. The station changed call signs from KOAY to KZZQ on September 9, 2008. A tribute concert for the Blaze by local artists took place shortly after the station was abruptly taken off the air. It was one of three active rock radio stations in Salt Lake City, the others being Z-Rock and KBER 101 (KBER
KBER
-External links:*...
).
History
The station was assigned the call letters KTPM on June 11, 2003. On August 10, 2005, the station changed its call sign to KFMS and began carrying a talk radioTalk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format. On September 5, 2006, the station became KOAY and branded itself as "The Oasis", carrying mostly soft adult contemporary music.
The Blaze
On September 9, 2008 the station changed to active rockActive rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
and became The Blaze, with the call letters becoming the current KZZQ. The Blaze had previously been located on 94.9 with the call sign KHTB
KHTB
KHTB is an active rock radio station broadcasting to Salt Lake City, Utah and the surrounding areas. KHTB broadcasts on 94.9 and currently identifies itself as 94.9 Z-Rock. It is owned and operated by Cumulus Media...
, which subsequently became the call sign for a new active rock station called 94.9 Z-Rock. Reportedly, The Blaze had almost been shut down, but was able to continue using the Blaze moniker because Citadel failed to acquire the naming rights. However, on this date, due to poor ratings (possibly as a result of competition against Z-Rock), The Blaze changed to what they called a "Rockin' Hits
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
" format. However, this new format was met with even poorer ratings and extremely negative response from the station's longtime listeners. However, on December 1, 2010, The Blaze's morning host, Roger "Big Rog" Orton, spent his shift protesting the station's new mainstream rock
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
format by playing active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
songs. This protest was met with overwhelmingly positive response from listeners, and the station received thousands of supportive phone calls, song requests, e-mails, and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
messages. Several Facebook fan pages showing support for The Blaze also appeared and hundreds of listeners signed the radio station's van, which was spray-painted white to act as a petition for the station to return to the active rock format. The Blaze returned to playing active rock shortly afterwards.
The Zone
On July 7, 2011 at 12 midnight KZZQ changed their format to sports, simulcasting KZNSKZNS
thumb|The radio towers for KZNS, north of the [[Salt Lake City International Airport]]KZNS is a radio station broadcasting a Sports talk format. Licensed to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, it serves the Salt Lake City area...
1280 AM "The Zone". On July 15, 2011 KZZQ changed their call letters to KZNS-FM.