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Tribune columnist Gordon Monson out at The Zone, as KSL takes over management of sports radio station

Monson and Utah Jazz play-by-play man Craig Bolerjack helped found the station in 2001

(Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo) Larry and Gail Miller watch a game with Gordon Monson in 2007.

  | Sep. 30, 2021, 6:58 p.m.
| Updated: Oct. 1, 2021, 2:45 a.m.

Bonneville International, the company that manages KSL’s TV and Newsradio efforts, announced a contractual agreement with the Smith Entertainment Group to run the programming and day-to-day operations of The Zone Sports Network on Thursday.

The deal means that Jazz games will be simulcast on 1280 AM/97.5 FM (The Zone), while some regular-season games and all playoff games will be simulcast on KSL’s airwaves (1160 AM/102.7 FM). David Locke and Ron Boone will call the games on both platforms.

In addition, Bonneville is making changes to the programming of the station, including cutting ties with longtime host and Tribune columnist Gordon Monson. In 2001, Monson and Jazz TV play-by-play man Craig Bolerjack founded the Zone Sports Network, which began as an independent radio station before being bought by Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment. Monson had been a co-host of the station’s afternoon drive-time program, “The Big Show”.

Other radio producers were also let go in the deal.

The Zone was not a part of the initial sale of the Jazz to new owner and Qualtrics co-founder Ryan Smith, but a deal between the two sides for the radio station was completed in May.

“Bonneville is proud to partner with the Utah Jazz, and we are grateful for the trust the Jazz have placed in us with their radio assets,” Darrell Brown, president of Bonneville, said in a statement. “Our two companies are uniquely aligned, sharing deep roots in Utah and a focus on serving local audiences with a commitment to high quality content and operations.”

“Our radio and streaming alignment with the KSL platform for Utah Jazz games is a tremendous opportunity to bring our team to more fans over a much larger broadcast footprint,” Jim Olson, president of the Utah Jazz, said in a statement. “The Zone has been the top-rated sports radio station in the market, and this partnership with KSL’s digital assets, equipment and experience will only further enhance the listening experience for Jazz and sports fans.”

This story will be updated.