Midday is getting a reset in Salt Lake City. KSL NewsRadio has introduced “Brightside,” a new program built to live both on the dial and beyond it, pairing a streaming-first hour with a traditional broadcast window.
Hosted by Ethan Millard and Alex Kirry, the show runs weekdays from 1–3 p.m., with an additional noon hour produced specifically for YouTube and other digital platforms. It’s a structure that reflects how audiences are actually consuming content today—part live, part on-demand, and not tied to a single device.
The launch also shifts the rest of the lineup. Veteran host Maria Shilaos now anchors a one-hour news block at noon, tightening her previous footprint as the station leans into a more segmented, purpose-driven midday flow.
“Brightside” carries forward the spirit of KSL’s earlier “Nightside Project,” a program that built a following by mixing conversation, perspective, and listener interaction in a more relaxed format. This new version keeps that conversational core but updates the delivery, giving it room to live across platforms instead of inside a single time slot.
Behind the move is a clear strategy from Bonneville International: meet listeners where they are. That means maintaining strong local talk programming on-air while expanding into digital spaces where younger and more mobile audiences spend their time.
KSL has long been known for its commitment to local content, and this adjustment doesn’t change that—it extends it. The station is still all-in on live, local programming, but it’s now packaging that content in a way that can travel further and engage differently.
This isn’t just a lineup change. It’s a signal of where news/talk is headed.
Stations that adapt their content to fit multiple platforms are positioning themselves for what’s next. Those that don’t risk getting left behind. KSL is clearly choosing the first path—and doing it in a way that keeps its core identity intact.
Bottom line: “Brightside” isn’t just a new show. It’s a test of what modern radio looks like when it stops thinking only in hours and starts thinking in platforms.
On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.