KZNS-FM

KZNS-FM (97.5 MHz, The Zone) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Coalville, Utah and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. It airs a sports talk radio format and is owned by the Larry H. Miller Communications Corporation.
Programming is simulcast on co-owned AM 1280 KZNS in Salt Lake City. On weekdays, KZNS-AM-FM have local hosts discussing Salt Lake City and national sports. Nights and weekends, programming is supplied by Fox Sports Radio and Premiere Radio Networks. KZNS-AM-FM are the flagship radio stations for the Utah Jazz basketball team. (The Jazz had been co-owned with KZNS. Larry H. Miller's widow, Gail, is still on the Jazz board of directors.)
KZNS-FM's transmitter is on Humpy Peak in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. It is a Class C radio station, with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 89,000 watts, broadcasting from a tower at 647 meters (2123 feet) in height above average terrain (HAAT). It is rebroadcast on five booster stations, all on 97.5 MHz, in and around Salt Lake City.
History.
Early Years.
KZNS-FM is considered a "move in" station. On June 11, 2003, the unbuilt station was licensed as KTPM, originally located in Franklin, Idaho, close to the border between Idaho and Utah. At first, it was only a construction permit granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), not actually on the air. Even before signing on, the station received FCC permission to move into the lucrative Salt Lake City radio market, from a location about 40 miles east of the city.
On August 10, 2005, the station, still not on the air, changed its call sign to KFMS. The station was sold to Three Point Media for $1.5 million, with the potential to profit from its pending move into Utah.
The station finally signed on the air on September 3, 2006, now licensed to Coalville, Utah, and broadcasting from Humpy Peak. On September 5, 2006, the station became KOAY and branded itself as "The Oasis," carrying a Christian Contemporary music format.
The Blaze.
On September 9, 2008, the station changed to active rock and became "The Blaze," with the call letters becoming 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 in Provo, called 94.9 Z-Rock (now Top 40 KENZ). Reportedly, The Blaze had almost been shut down, but was able to continue, using the Blaze moniker because its owner, Citadel Broadcasting, 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 it called a "Rockin' Hits" format. However, this new format was met with even poorer ratings and negative response from the station's longtime listeners. A tribute concert for the Blaze by local artists took place shortly after the format flip. The Blaze was one of three active rock radio stations in Salt Lake City, along with 94.9 Z-Rock and KBER 101 (KBER).
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 positive response from listeners, and the station received many supportive phone calls, song requests, e-mails, and Facebook messages. Several Facebook fan pages showing support for The Blaze also appeared and hundred 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. But the following year would see a change in ownership.
The Zone.
In 2011, the station was acquired by the Larry H. Miller Communications Corporation. Miller owned a chain of car dealerships around Utah and the Western United States. He also owned the Utah Jazz basketball team. His goal was to own the radio stations that broadcast his team's games, running an all-sports format including shows discussing the Jazz.
On July 7, 2011 at 12 midnight, KZZQ changed its format to sports, simulcasting KZNS 1280 AM "The Zone." On July 15, 2011 KZZQ changed its call letters to KZNS-FM. On May 23, 2012 KZNS-FM relaunched as "Fox Sports Radio 97.5" with programming primarily from the national network, Fox Sports Radio. In 2013 KZNS-FM resumed simulcasting KZNS 1280 AM, once again as "The Zone." KZNS-AM-FM air mostly local sports shows on weekdays, and carry Fox Sports Radio nights and weekends.