KIOA
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| KIOA | |
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| City of license | Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Broadcast area | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Branding | 93.3 KIOA |
| Slogan | The Greatest Hits From the 60's and 70's |
| Frequency | 93.3 (MHz) |
| First air date | 1964 (as KWDM) |
| Format | Oldies |
| ERP | 82,000 watts |
| HAAT | 325 meters |
| Class | C1 |
| Facility ID | 58547 |
| Callsign meaning | K IOwA |
| Owner | Saga Communications |
| Website | www.oldies933.com |
KIOA, "93.3 KIOA," is an oldies radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa, area. It is located at 93.3 on the FM dial. The station's studios are located at 1416 Locust Street in Des Moines along with Saga Communications' other Des Moines stations (KSTZ, KAZR, KLTI, KRNT and KPSZ).
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[edit] History
[edit] KWDM-Part 2
The 93.3 frequency got its start in 1964 when George Webber, who was the founder of the original KWDM-AM brought back his unique programming to the airwaves after having sold the original KWDM in 1959 to 3M. The station consisted of block programming of music, usually ethnic music not heard elsewhere in Des Moines as well as a talk show by his wife and play-by-play sports. KWDM was never a top performer in the ratings, but it did have a fiercely loyal following. Unfortunately, that following was not enough to keep it afloat and the station was in constant financial trouble.
In 1968, George Webber began selling KWDM on contract to The SEQ Corporation. On April 10, 1969, the station went dark, after the owner of the tower and transmitter site shut down the station due to non-payment of rent. A month later, Mr. Webber regained control of the station, operating it at reduced hours until October of 1969 when the station would go dark for good.
[edit] Brought back to life
In 1971, the 93.3 frequency was brought back to life as KYNA. With its Top 40 format, it was taking on giant KIOA from the FM side. The station was programmed well and had great jocks, but was perhaps a bit ahead of its time and lasted for only about a year when it was sold to KIOA.
After the station sold to KIOA in 1972 the calls were changed to KIOA-FM and the became known as "Solid Gold Oldies, KIOA-FM 93.3". The station was staffed with quality jocks, but could never quite find its way to a solid listener base, mostly due to FM radio not being as popular in the 1970s.
[edit] Magic, a faux paus, and attempted redemption
In 1976 the decision was made to change the station again. The oldies format had not been working well, and the decision was to give Top 40 another shot on 93.3. This time the station would be known as "Magic 93" with the calls changing to KMGK. This was the most successful format to date on the frequency. The station pulled in great ratings and things were looking up for the station throughout the remainder of the 70s and early 80s.
By the mid 80s, KMGK suddenly found itself fighting for market share as KRNQ and KLYF started to hit on KMGK's previously untouched land of hit music on FM radio. By 1986 the station had slipped below both of its competitors and was looking for its niche once again. On March 31, 1986, after seeing KJJY cut considerably into KSO's share it seemed like it might be a good idea to switch to country as it had a much stronger signal than KJJY's. They promoted the change in format to "Hot Country Hits, K93FM" quite well, but misjudged the market, and after one disastrous Arbitron book, the great country experiment ended.
On August 1, 1986, the station switched back to Top 40 as KDWZ "Z93", this time using a Rock-leaning direction (in other words, its playlist and music favored Pop-friendly Rock crossovers while avoiding anything that sounded Rhythmic Pop or Dance oriented). Competing head on with KRNQ and KLYF once again was not easy, especially due to the lost time as a country station. They gave it a good fight for four years, but in the end just couldn't make it. It was now time for a new change.
[edit] Oldies return
On November 1, 1990, the decision was made to give up on the Top 40 programming of "Z93". The station once again was named KIOA-FM and the format was oldies, just like the incarnation from 1972-1976. The main difference this time around was that KIOA (AM) was now also playing oldies, so 93.3 was just simulcasting its AM sister in what was now known as "ALL Oldies KIOA".In 1993 Saga Purchased KIOA from Midwest Communications of Iowa the simulcast continued, but the brand changed to "Oldies 93-3 KIOA" Over time, KIOA-FM's listener base grew and the station became one of the most successful in the Des Moines area. On November 18, 1996, an era ended as KIOA switched to "Talk 940 KXTK" leaving the oldies to its FM counterpart. The call letters then reverted to just KIOA on the FM and the success has continued for KIOA. Today (2008) 93-3 KIOA plays "Iowa's Greatest Hits" Primarily focusing on the music of the 70's.
[edit] Personality Changes
On July 31, 2007, Saga Communications announced that they would not be renewing the contract of longtime KIOA morning program co-host, Polly Carver-Kimm. Carver-Kimm had served as co-host of "Maxwell and Polly in the Morning," and had also been news director for the Des Moines Radio Group's other five radio stations.
Also in late July, Dic Youngs "Youngsy" announced that he would be retiring from KIOA. He stated to a local newspaper that it was not his choice to retire. Youngs has been announcing and disc-jockeying for over 40 years at the station, often talking about old-times and the days of playing old fashioned records on air. Dic Youngs retired from KIOA on his 66th birthday on September 30, 2007. He did, however, return to the airwaves part-time on 1350 KRNT after his retirement from KIOA.
KIOA's Current Line Up: Maxwell & Kate And The KIOA Morning Show, Alan White Middays, Tim Fox Afternoons, Jimmy Olsen Evenings, Jay Wells Overnights,
Larry Rollins Weekends & Monday Morning 12am-5am,
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Oldies 93.3 website
- KMGK Promos
- KKXI and KYNA Jingles
- KYNA Composite Aircheck 1971
- KDWZ Aircheck 1989
- Query the FCC's FM station database for KIOA
- Radio Locator information on KIOA
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for KIOA
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