Broadcast area | Des Moines metropolitan area |
---|---|
Frequency | 93.3MHz (HD Radio) |
Branding | 93.3 KIOA |
Programming | |
Format | Classic hits |
Subchannels | HD2:Top 40 (CHR) "Hits 99.9" |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
KAZR,KOEZ,KRNT,KPSZ,KSTZ | |
History | |
First air date | September 18,1964 (as KWDM) |
Former call signs | KWDM (1964–1969) KYNA (1971–1972) |
Call sign meaning | KreatingIOwA |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 58547 |
Class | C1 |
ERP | 82,000watts |
HAAT | 325 m (1,066 ft) |
Translator(s) | HD2: 99.9 K260AM (Des Moines) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | kioa.com |
KIOA (93.3FM) is acommercialradio station inDes Moines, Iowa. It is owned by Saga Communications, operating as part of its Des Moines Media Group, and airs aclassic hitsradio format. The station's studios are located at 1416 Locust Street along with Saga's other Des Moines stations (KSTZ,KAZR,KOEZ,KRNT andKPSZ). Thetransmitter is located off 24th Street SE, near 6th Avenue SE, inAltoona.[2]
KIOA broadcasts in theHD Radio hybrid format. Its HD2 subchannel carries aTop 40 (CHR) format branded as "HITS 99.9", which is also heard on 250–watt FMtranslator station 99.9K260AM in Des Moines.[3]
The 93.3 frequency got its start on September 18, 1964 asKWDM.[4] George Webber, who was the founder of the original KWDM (1150 AM, laterKWKY), brought back his unique programming after having sold the AM station in 1959 to the3M Corporation.[5] The FM station consisted of block programming of music, including classical, operatic and ethnic music not heard elsewhere in Des Moines. The schedule also included a weekday talk show, "Listen While You Work," hosted by his wife, Edith Dunham Webber, andDrake University and high school sports.
The station had a huge record library of rare classical and operatic albums. KWDM, located at2401+1⁄2 University Avenue, was never a top performer in the ratings, but it did have a loyal following. Unfortunately, that following was not enough to keep it profitable.
In 1968, George Webber sold KWDM to a local group known as the SEQ Corporation. The studios were moved to the Mike Wilson building at 4111 Hubbell Avenue, on the east side of Des Moines. The format went from talk torock and roll tocountry music. A controversial talk show, the "Hawkeye Nightline," with Russ Lavine, aired Monday-Saturday nights, previously heard on KDMI (97.3 FM, nowKHKI). On Sunday nights,John Birch Society members Jim and Mary Parker hosted that three-hour slot.
Countrydisc jockeys included Bob Neel, Jack Myer and Rex Youngs. National news from theABC FM Network aired 15 minutes after the hour. On April 10, 1969, the station wentdark, after the owners of the tower and transmitter site, John and Jean Murphy, shut down the station due to non-payment of rent. A month later, Webber regained control of the station, operating it at reduced hours. In May 1969, the final selection was played,Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" ballet. Although Webber wanted to bring back the fine music format, he lacked the finances and was too far advanced in his years to make a go of it. The 93.3 frequency went dark for two years until 1971.
On April 26, 1971, the 93.3 frequency came back on the air asKYNA, airing aTop 40 format, competing against the well established KIOA (940 AM, laterKPSZ).
Although KYNA was programmed well—including the syndicatedAmerican Top 40 program withCasey Kasem—and had high-quality DJs, many homes and cars did not have FM radios in the early 1970s. KYNA lasted for only about a year when it was sold to the owners of its Top 40 competition, KIOA.
In 1972, KYNA was bought by the Mid-America Broadcasting Company.[6] In November, thecall sign was changed toKIOA-FM, and the station became "Solid Gold Oldies, KIOA-FM 93.3". From 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., the station aired a 1950soldies format, andsimulcasted 940 AM during the remainder of the day. Once again, it was hard to establish a listener base on FM radio in the 1970s, so KIOA-FM also struggled in the ratings.
In the early 1970s, KIOA-FM put together a double album of oldies, called "Solid Gold." It contained 24 hits and had a board game on the inside of the cover. These collectible records are rare and hard to find. The records were made to help improve KIOA-FM's popularity and bring in some extra cash flow as well.
In March 1976, the station flipped back to Top 40, this time as "Magic 93"; with it, the call letters changed toKMGK. This was the most successful format to date on the frequency, as the station pulled in good ratings through the late 70s and early 80s.
By the mid-80s, KMGK found itself fighting for market share asKRNQ,KCCQ, andKLYF began also playing hit music on FM radio. KMGK slipped below both of its competitors, and management decided a new format was needed.
An FM station,KJJY, was taking some of thecountry music audience ofKSO's. It seemed like it might be a good idea for 93.3 to also switch to country as it had a stronger signal than KJJY. The owner, Midwest Communications, promoted the change to "Hot Country Hits, K93FM", which began November 7, 1984.[7] Midwest kept the KMGK call letters for about two years. In April 1986, the station rebranded asKKXI, but it failed to advance in the ratings.[8]
On August 1, 1986, the station switched back toTop 40 for a third time as "Z93"KDWZ, this time using arock-leaning direction while avoiding titles that soundedRhythmic orDance oriented.[9] Competing head-on with the better establishedKRNQ,KCCQ, andKLYF once again was not easy.[10]
On October 10, 1990, at 7 p.m., KDWZ returned to oldies by once again simulcasting KIOA (AM)'s oldies format as "All Oldies KIOA", along with a callsign change back toKIOA-FM.[11][12]
In 1993, Saga Communications purchased KIOA-AM-FM from Midwest Communications of Iowa, as the simulcast continued, but the branding switched to "Oldies 93.3 KIOA."[13][14] Over time, KIOA-FM's listener base grew and the station became one of the most successful in the Des Moines area.[15] On December 14, 1996, the simulcast ended, with the AM becoming "Talk 940 KXTK". The call letters then reverted to just KIOA, with the "-FM"suffix dropped.[16]
In September 2008, the 1960s music was dropped and KIOA evolved into aclassic hits format. In addition, the station dropped the "Oldies 93.3" moniker in favor of branding by the KIOA call letters, and changed slogans to "Iowa's Greatest Hits", with KIOA's playlist primarily focusing on the music of the 1970s and 1980s.[17]
KIOA's playlist features music from the 1970s and 1980s, with some 1990s tracks being played.
On July 31, 2007, Saga Communications announced that it would not be renewing the contract of longtime KIOA morning program co-host,Polly Carver-Kimm. Carver-Kimm had been part of "Maxwell and Polly in the Morning," and had also been news director for Saga's other five Des Moines radio stations. Also in July 2007, Dic Youngs, also known as "Youngsy," announced that he would be retiring from KIOA. He told a local newspaper that it was not his choice to retire. Youngs had been with KIOA, both AM and FM, for over 40 years, often talking about old-times and playing 45 RPM records on air. Youngs retired from KIOA on his 66th birthday on September 30, 2007. He would move to sister station KRNT on a part-time basis. Youngs remained at KRNT until his death on October 1, 2009, at age 68.[18]
On July 23, 2008, KIOA announced the addition of former Des Moines morning personality Pam Dixon to the KIOA morning show, joining longtime morning host Maxwell Schaffer. Dixon said, "I feel like the stars have aligned and it was the right time for me to return to broadcasting. I've been a fan of KIOA my whole life and it's MY music." A Des Moines native and Hoover High graduate, Dixon attended theUniversity of Iowa. She was first heard on KRNT and Q-102 before beginning a 10-year run on KLYF which ended in 1996. Dixon would retire in April 2017. Amy Sweet, who had been heard on sister stationKAZR, would join the morning show in 2014. In May 2018, Schaffer left the station after 23 years; he was replaced in July by Luke Matthews. Sweet was let go in January 2020 due to corporate layoffs, and would be succeeded by Heather McGregor. Jeriney, formerly ofKRBZKansas City, replaced McGregor as Matthews' co-host in January 2022.
Program Director, Leigh McNabb, joined the station in fall of 2019. She did Middays on KIOA until Feb of 2025 when she moved to afternoons.
41°37′55″N93°27′25″W / 41.632°N 93.457°W /41.632; -93.457