SLC Radio/TV: More Layoffs Reported At KSL

KSL TV/AM/FM Salt Lake City laid off 30 employees Thursday, as part of a restructuring that reunites its broadcast and digital divisions, ending a 16-year separation of operations.

The cuts, confirmed by an internal memo from General Manager Tanya Vea, affected staff in news, sales, engineering, and marketing. 

At least five on-air reporters were among those let go, including Lindsay Aerts, Ashley Fredde, Lauren Steinbrecher, Dan Spindle, and Hugo Rikard-Bell. Vea cited “economic headwinds” and the need to prepare for 2025 as reasons for the consolidation.

Owned by Bonneville International, KSL (NBC affiliate) had operated its digital arm (KSL.com) separately since 2009 under Deseret Digital Media. The new structure places all platforms—TV, radio, and digital—under unified leadership to streamline content and technology use.

KSL's official statement framed the changes positively: "In an ever-evolving media landscape, this unification will position KSL to continue to leverage the best technologies available and to deliver the highest quality content across the state."

This marks the second round of layoffs in a year at KSL. The company described the move as essential to remain competitive in a shifting media landscape, while former staff and local observers expressed concern over reduced local journalism capacity, especially in political and community coverage.

KSL remains a dominant broadcaster in Utah, but the cuts reflect broader industry challenges, including declining ad revenue and digital disruption.

These cuts highlight ongoing consolidation in Utah's news ecosystem, following similar reductions at The Salt Lake Tribune (38% of newsroom staff in 2024) and other Bonneville properties. While KSL remains a top-rated station, the layoffs could strain its ability to cover state-specific stories amid growing national polarization.