 | |
| Broadcast area | Central Iowa |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1150kHz |
| Branding | Iowa Catholic Radio |
| Programming | |
| Format | Catholictalk and teaching |
| Affiliations | EWTN Radio Ave Maria Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KIHS | |
| History | |
First air date | 1948 |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 49099 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
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Transmitter coordinates | 41°27′9″N93°40′52″W / 41.45250°N 93.68111°W /41.45250; -93.68111 |
| Translator(s) | 94.5 K233BT (Des Moines) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | listen live |
| Website | Iowa Catholic Radio |
KWKY (1150kHz) is anAMradio station broadcasting aCatholictalk and teachingformat. Itscity of license isDes Moines, Iowa, and is owned by St. Gabriel Communications, through licensee Trinity Communications, Inc. Most of the schedule isnationally syndicated shows fromEWTN Radio andAve Maria Radio.[2]
KWKY broadcasts by day at 2,500watts.[3] To avoid interfering with other stations on the regional broadcast frequency ofAM 1150, it reduces power at night to 1,000 watts and uses adirectional antenna at all times. The station is also heard onFMtranslator stationK233BT 94.5 MHz in Des Moines.[4]
The stationsigned on the airwaves as KWDM in 1948.[5] The station was part of a trio of new stations that signed on that year in Des Moines including KIOA (nowKPSZ) and KCBC (laterKKSO, the forerunner ofKBGG). The owner of KWDM was George Webber, who set up studios at 407 Fifth Avenue. Webber had an extensive musical library and KWDM was known for its eclectic mix of international music not heard elsewhere in Des Moines. Thecall sign stood for "Webber and Des Moines".
The station was never a huge ratings success, but had a devoted and loyal following of people who enjoyed their programming. In 1959 Webber sold the station to the3M Corporation. He would later bring KWDM back on the air in 1964 as an FM station, at 93.3 MHz (nowKIOA).
Once 3M completed its purchase of KWDM, they switched thecall sign to KWKY. The station began 48 hours ofstunting by playing Earl Brown'snovelty recordPachalafaka for two days with a countdown to "Quickie" and thelegal ID of "KWDM Des Moines" inserted in between the song. KWKY station management also attempted to purchase commercial time onKSO and KIOA to announce that "Quickie is coming." Once the stunting was done, KWKY was introduced as "Quickie 1150" with a newTop 40 format.
Going up against two well established Top 40 stations with much stronger signals larger coverage areas was not a successful decision. In 1960, KWKY adopted aMiddle of the Road format similar toKCBC. In 1961, KWKY tried a Top 40 format again with similar results to the first attempt.
In 1962, the format was again changed, this time tocountry music. This marked the fifth format change in three years. It was with this format that KWKY would reach its highest levels of ratings success. KWKY dominated the country market for the next ten years, as the only full time AM country station in Des Moines.
The decline of KWKY started in 1972 when KSO switched from Top 40 to country music. With KSO's higher power and better coverage area, KWKY's complicateddirectional antenna pattern hurt it in the ratings. KWKY tried to compete for the next four years, but in the end, 3M decided to sell the station to the Putbrese family in 1976.
After the Putbrese family purchased KWKY, the format was switched to anEvangelicalChristian talk and teaching format along with some high school sports. KWKY became abrokered-time station, with national and local religious leaders buying segments of time on the station, during which they could ask listeners for financial support for their ministries.
A fire in 1977 caused $70,000 worth of damages to KWKY'sNorwalk studios. After 30 years of Evangelical Christian programming, a local group ofCatholic business and religious leaders purchased the station through anon-profit corporation, St. Gabriel Communications. While the station still broadcasts religious programming, it is targeted towards Catholic listeners.