KPUL

KPUL
City of license Winterset, Iowa
Broadcast area Des Moines area
Branding Pulse 101.7
Frequency 101.7 MHz
First air date June 1, 1992
Format Christian CHR (Top 40)
ERP 6,000 watts
HAAT 100.0 meters
Class A
Facility ID 19792
Transmitter coordinates 41°24′2.00″N 93°54′58.00″W / 41.4005556°N 93.9161111°W
Callsign meaning KPULse
Former callsigns KTDG (1990-1992)
KBBM (1992-1994)
KZZQ (1994-2008)
Owner Positive Impact Media, Inc.
Website pulse1017.com

KPUL is a Christian CHR (Top 40) formatted radio station that broadcasts at 101.7 MHz licensed to Winterset, Iowa, with studios located in Waukee. It is notable for being one of a very few independent stations left in the Des Moines market.

Early history

The FCC issued a construction permit for station KTDG on May 7, 1990. The station was not put on the air though until June 1, 1992 as KBBM. The station had no locally produced content and had 24-hour news feeds from CNN Headline News and CNNfn, positioning itself as "Des Moines Business Station". The format was never a ratings winner and would only last for a little over a year before being sold.

Q99.5 KZZQ

In March 1993 the station was purchased by Positive Impact Media Inc., a non profit group. The station's initial purpose was to rebroadcast the programming of a CCM station in the Quad Cities but within a few months found themselves in need of their own programming due to the failure of the Quad Cities station. Shortly after they changed the format to CCM (Christian CHR) and rebranded the station Q99.5 KZZQ, or "The Q". They were the first station to bring CCM to Des Moines, and were quite successful in attracting listeners and receiving support through donations and advertising throughout their first decade.

In 2004, they had competition for the first time as Northwestern College purchased two local stations, Life 107.1 and Life 96.1 and programmed them with CCM (Christian AC). Although they also suffer from weak signals, Life 107.1, coupled with Life 96.1 cover much of the market. This was something KZZQ struggles to do with its lower power (6,000 watts) and a transmitter located North of Winterset, Iowa Southwest of Des Moines. Due to increased competition from Life 107,other stations entering the market, and staff turnover, listenership continued to decline and it became apparent a change was required.

Pulse 99.5

After several days of stunting in February 2008, the station was re-branded Pulse 99.5. The new format became an experimental mix of CCM and CHR–pop in an effort to reach more people through a hybrid format. The new format proved to be a more aggressive change than listeners in the area were ready for, and after a few short months under the new format, Pulse 99.5 re-adjusted its format to a mix of Christian CHR, Rock, and positive, faith-based mainstream hits.

Pulse 101.7

On October 6, 2010, the station announced an "upgrade" involving changing its frequency to 101.7 FM and a rebranding to Pulse 101.7.[1] These upgrades involved other area radio stations (KTIA-FM and IPR)[2] and the FCC approved the changes in the Fall of 2014. The target date for the move to 101.7 FM was March 31, 2015, and after slight weather delays, the tower upgrades were made on April 14, 2015.

The station retains the same format that it most recently used as "Pulse 99.5".

"Pulse 101.7" can now be heard at 101.7 FM in Des Moines and south Central Iowa, online at www.pulse1017.com and with their iOS/Android mobile apps.

References

  1. ↑ "Your Pulse Upgrade", retrieved October 13, 2010.
  2. ↑ http://whotv.com/2015/04/13/iowa-radio-stations-moving-on-the-dial/

External links