KPSZ
Encyclopedia
KPSZ, "Praise 940", is an Christian
radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa
, area. It is located at 940 on the AM dial. The station's studios are located at 1416 Locust Street in Des Moines along with Saga Communications
' other Des Moines stations (KRNT, KSTZ
, KIOA
, KLTI-FM
and KAZR).
. The owners of KIOA, the Independent Broadcasting Company, were also issued an FM
construction permit for 93.7 FM, but the station was never put on the air. KIOA was an independent station in its early years with a format of MOR music and news. This was a risky format in the post war era when network affiliations were still quite important. KIOA stayed competitive with the "big three" (WHO
, KRNT, and KSO
), in the Des Moines market and waged a spirited battle with its main competitor in the MOR format, KCBC
. Also during this era, KIOA competed with WHO for the television license on channel 13. Palmer Broadcasting and WHO would be granted the license for what became WHO-TV
.
area. The station was a hit overnight, shooting straight to the top of the Hoopers ratings. Within a year, KIOA would be joined by KSO
and KWKY
in the Top 40 arena. Even with competition, KIOA stayed on top, consistently beating out KSO
and KWKY
would change formats a few times before settling on a country music
format.
, KIOA surged back into its spot on top of the ratings. Shortly thereafter KSO switched to a MOR format and the only competition for KIOA would be KDMI on the FM band. In 1968 KDMI left the Top 40 market, but KSO came back to compete with KIOA.
In 1972 two major changes would happen within the KIOA camp. In January the studios and offices were moved again down the street to the General Growth Properties
building at 215 Keosauqua Way in downtown Des Moines. The second change was the acquisition of KYNA
, an FM station at 93.3 on the dial. There was discussion of moving the top 40 programming to the FM and turning KIOA into a country station, but in the end the AM stayed the same and the FM became an oldies
station. This was due in part to KSO switching to a country station and KIOA once again not having any rivals in the top 40 market.
, known as "GO 95". This station was put on FM by Stoner Broadcasting, owners of KSO, and was the first serious threat to KIOA since 1964. With FM radios becoming more common and the superior sound quality of FM stereo, top 40 radio was one of the first casualties on the AM band. KIOA tried to stay competitive, but with Stauffer Communications' KRNQ
coming on air with a top 40 format as well, it was apparent that a change needed to be made soon.
format. KIOA fell to the middle of the pack as far as ratings went and some long term personalities left or took jobs off the air with the station. The station was stagnant and looking for its niche when in 1984 Dic Youngs, a former on-air personality and currently a time salesman who had been with the station since 1966, started hosting the "Saturday Night Oldies Party". This feature became a hit immediately and helped to set the station in the right direction, and ran on KIOA through September 2007, when the show and host Youngs moved to sister station 1350 KRNT.
on a full time basis in 1986. This move brought KIOA back to the glory it had once had and it has dominated the oldies market in Des Moines ever since. The lone challenge to KIOA's dominace of the oldies market was from KFMG which attempted to compete with KIOA from 1988-1992. KIOA counteracted this by having KDWZ switch to KIOA-FM
and simulcasting the oldies onto FM. In 1988 KIOA moved into newly constructed studios at 5161 Maple Drive in Pleasant Hill, Iowa
. In 1993 the station was purchased by Saga Communications and moved to its present location at 1416 Locust Street in downtown Des Moines.
.
In 2000, Michael Gartner
, the owner of the Iowa Cubs
, reached a lease agreement with Saga Communications to lease the station. The station retained the KXTK calls, but was now known as "Sports 940, The Big Ticket". During this time the studios were located at Sec Taylor Stadium
at 350 SW 1st Street in Des Moines
. "The Big Ticket" carried Sporting News Radio
network programs, local talk shows with personalities such as Larry Morgan and Steve Deace, and I-Cubs, Drake Bulldogs
, and Nebraska Cornhuskers
games. During this time the station had competition from KXNO
and KJJC
. Des Moines proved to be too small a market for three sports stations and KXTK was the first casualty. This ended the lease arrangement and Saga Communications took control of the station again on September 3, 2002.
books these days.
, Jan Markell, J. Vernon McGee
, David Jeremiah
, and Irvin Baxter Jr.
, plus several local talk shows, including Update Today with Maxine Sieleman, The Words & Music Show with Don Thompson, as well as Christian music
during other parts of the day. KPSZ also airs the Triple A affiliate Iowa Cubs, the Green Bay Packers
and Kansas City Royals
games.http://www.packers.com/media-center/radio-shows/packers-radio-network/station-listing.html
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, area. It is located at 940 on the AM dial. The station's studios are located at 1416 Locust Street in Des Moines along with Saga Communications
Saga Communications
Saga Communications is a broadcasting company that owns and operates stations in 26 markets in the United States. The company, which is based in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, primarily operates radio stations , but it also operates 9 television stations Saga Communications is a broadcasting...
' other Des Moines stations (KRNT, KSTZ
KSTZ
KSTZ, known as "Star 102.5," is an FM radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. The station plays Hot Adult Contemporary music. KSTZ is part of Saga Communications' Des Moines Radio Group, along with KPSZ, KRNT, KAZR, KIOA, and KLTI-FM.-History:...
, KIOA
KIOA
KIOA, "93.3 KIOA," is a classic hits 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 .-KWDM-Part 2:The 93.3 frequency got its...
, KLTI-FM
KLTI-FM
KLTI-FM is an American radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary music format. Licensed to Ames, Iowa, USA, the station serves the Des Moines area...
and KAZR).
The Independent Years: 1948-1957
KIOA signed on the air January 15, 1948. Its studios were located in the Onthank building at 10th and Mulberry in downtown Des Moines. The transmitter and towers are located two miles northeast of Hartford, IowaHartford, Iowa
Hartford is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 759 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Hartford is located at ....
. The owners of KIOA, the Independent Broadcasting Company, were also issued an FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
construction permit for 93.7 FM, but the station was never put on the air. KIOA was an independent station in its early years with a format of MOR music and news. This was a risky format in the post war era when network affiliations were still quite important. KIOA stayed competitive with the "big three" (WHO
WHO (AM)
WHO is a clear channel radio station broadcasting 50,000 watts on 1040 AM with a news/talk format. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is located in Des Moines, Iowa. The station can be heard over most of the continental United States during nighttime hours...
, KRNT, and KSO
KXNO
KXNO is a sports radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is located at 1460 on the AM band.-History:KXNO's roots can be traced back to KSO , a station that first broadcast from Clarinda, Iowa, on November 2, 1925...
), in the Des Moines market and waged a spirited battle with its main competitor in the MOR format, KCBC
KBGG
KBGG , is a radio station in the Des Moines, Iowa area. It formerly broadcast a Spanish language format and was known as "La Indomable AM." The station is owned by Cumulus Media....
. Also during this era, KIOA competed with WHO for the television license on channel 13. Palmer Broadcasting and WHO would be granted the license for what became WHO-TV
WHO-TV
WHO-DT is a television station that broadcasts on Channel 13 in Des Moines, Iowa. It is affiliated with the NBC television network and serves most of central Iowa. The station transmits from the WOI Tower in Alleman, Iowa, which is actually owned by WHO-DT's owners. WHO-DT brands itself as WHO-HD...
.
The First Golden Era: 1957-1962
The year 1957 brought the first two major changes to KIOA since its birth. In March the station moved its studios and offices out of the Onthank Building and into the old Tromar Ballroom at the corner of 5th and Park in downtown Des Moines. The second change that year would be one that would change the face of radio in Des Moines for the next 25 years. On May 1, 1957, KIOA became the first Top 40 station in the Des MoinesDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
area. The station was a hit overnight, shooting straight to the top of the Hoopers ratings. Within a year, KIOA would be joined by KSO
KXNO
KXNO is a sports radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is located at 1460 on the AM band.-History:KXNO's roots can be traced back to KSO , a station that first broadcast from Clarinda, Iowa, on November 2, 1925...
and KWKY
KWKY
KWKY is a radio station broadcasting a Talk/Personality format to the Des Moines, Iowa, USA area. The station is owned by Saint Gabriel Communications and features programming from Salem Communications and Westwood One.-Early years:...
in the Top 40 arena. Even with competition, KIOA stayed on top, consistently beating out KSO
KXNO
KXNO is a sports radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is located at 1460 on the AM band.-History:KXNO's roots can be traced back to KSO , a station that first broadcast from Clarinda, Iowa, on November 2, 1925...
and KWKY
KWKY
KWKY is a radio station broadcasting a Talk/Personality format to the Des Moines, Iowa, USA area. The station is owned by Saint Gabriel Communications and features programming from Salem Communications and Westwood One.-Early years:...
would change formats a few times before settling on a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format.
Fall from Grace
During 1962, KIOA started showing signs of wear. KSO was starting to cut in on KIOA's lead in the ratings. This was due to some recent turnover of disk jockies at KIOA as well as the excellent programming of Dick Vance. The final straw that pushed KIOA under KSO was when KIOA's studios burnt to the ground on February 26, 1963. By noon of that day the station was up and running again from the transmitter site near Hartford, Iowa. The studios would remain there until new studios could be placed at 803 Keosauqua Way in downtown Des Moines. This was the location of the "KIOA fishbowl" where the jocks broadcast in front of a plate glass window looking out at the city. This was similar to KSO's studios at 1910 Ingersoll Avenue.The Second Golden Era: 1964-1974
By 1964 KIOA had settled down into its new studios and was under the leadership of program director Peter McLane, who would lead the station until 1977. Under the new leadership of McLane, coupled with Dick Vance leaving KSO to purchase KDMIKHKI
KHKI is a country music radio station located in Des Moines, Iowa, broadcasting on 97.3 FM. The station's studios are in Urbandale, Iowa, with Cumulus Media's other Des Moines stations: KJJY, KGGO, KWQW, and KBGG.-Programming:...
, KIOA surged back into its spot on top of the ratings. Shortly thereafter KSO switched to a MOR format and the only competition for KIOA would be KDMI on the FM band. In 1968 KDMI left the Top 40 market, but KSO came back to compete with KIOA.
In 1972 two major changes would happen within the KIOA camp. In January the studios and offices were moved again down the street to the General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois at 110 North Wacker Drive, a historic building designed by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White...
building at 215 Keosauqua Way in downtown Des Moines. The second change was the acquisition of KYNA
KIOA
KIOA, "93.3 KIOA," is a classic hits 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 .-KWDM-Part 2:The 93.3 frequency got its...
, an FM station at 93.3 on the dial. There was discussion of moving the top 40 programming to the FM and turning KIOA into a country station, but in the end the AM stayed the same and the FM became an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
station. This was due in part to KSO switching to a country station and KIOA once again not having any rivals in the top 40 market.
The Decline of AM Top 40
By 1974, there was another new competitor in the market, KGGOKGGO
KGGO is a classic rock radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is located at 94.9 on the FM band. The station's studios are in Urbandale, Iowa, with Cumulus Media's other Des Moines stations: KJJY, KHKI, KWQW, and KBGG...
, known as "GO 95". This station was put on FM by Stoner Broadcasting, owners of KSO, and was the first serious threat to KIOA since 1964. With FM radios becoming more common and the superior sound quality of FM stereo, top 40 radio was one of the first casualties on the AM band. KIOA tried to stay competitive, but with Stauffer Communications' KRNQ
KSTZ
KSTZ, known as "Star 102.5," is an FM radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. The station plays Hot Adult Contemporary music. KSTZ is part of Saga Communications' Des Moines Radio Group, along with KPSZ, KRNT, KAZR, KIOA, and KLTI-FM.-History:...
coming on air with a top 40 format as well, it was apparent that a change needed to be made soon.
Adult Contemporary:1976-1986
In 1976 the decision was made to move the top 40 format to FM as KMGK and for KIOA to switch to an adult contemporaryAdult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
format. KIOA fell to the middle of the pack as far as ratings went and some long term personalities left or took jobs off the air with the station. The station was stagnant and looking for its niche when in 1984 Dic Youngs, a former on-air personality and currently a time salesman who had been with the station since 1966, started hosting the "Saturday Night Oldies Party". This feature became a hit immediately and helped to set the station in the right direction, and ran on KIOA through September 2007, when the show and host Youngs moved to sister station 1350 KRNT.
Oldies Era:1986-1996
Due to the success of the "Saturday Night Oldies Party" the format was changed to oldiesOldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
on a full time basis in 1986. This move brought KIOA back to the glory it had once had and it has dominated the oldies market in Des Moines ever since. The lone challenge to KIOA's dominace of the oldies market was from KFMG which attempted to compete with KIOA from 1988-1992. KIOA counteracted this by having KDWZ switch to KIOA-FM
KIOA
KIOA, "93.3 KIOA," is a classic hits 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 .-KWDM-Part 2:The 93.3 frequency got its...
and simulcasting the oldies onto FM. In 1988 KIOA moved into newly constructed studios at 5161 Maple Drive in Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Pleasant Hill is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,070 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. The waterpark White Water University is located in Pleasant Hill, as is part of Festival Park...
. In 1993 the station was purchased by Saga Communications and moved to its present location at 1416 Locust Street in downtown Des Moines.
KXTK:1996-2002
In 1996 the station had its first call letter change ever, changing to KXTK, leaving KIOA and oldies programming to KIOA-FM exclusively. The new station was known as "Talk 940" and featured syndicated talk shows with no local news or programming. The station never took off and in 1999 it went back to simulcasting KIOA except for the morning drive which featured Don ImusDon Imus
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio host, humorist, philanthropist and writer. His nationally-syndicated talk show, Imus in the Morning, is broadcast throughout the United States by Citadel Media and relayed on television by the Fox Business Network.-Personal life:Imus was born in...
.
In 2000, Michael Gartner
Michael Gartner
Michael Gartner is an American journalist and businessman. He was President of the Iowa Board of Regents. He is a graduate of Carleton College and the New York University School of Law....
, the owner of the Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
, reached a lease agreement with Saga Communications to lease the station. The station retained the KXTK calls, but was now known as "Sports 940, The Big Ticket". During this time the studios were located at Sec Taylor Stadium
Principal Park
Principal Park, formerly Sec Taylor Stadium, is a minor league baseball stadium located in Des Moines, Iowa. It is the home field of the Pacific Coast League's Iowa Cubs....
at 350 SW 1st Street in Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. "The Big Ticket" carried Sporting News Radio
Sporting News Radio
Yahoo! Sports Radio, formerly Sporting News Radio is a United States sports radio network that broadcasts sports news, talk, scores, and highlights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On August 1, 2011, it was announced the network would change its name to Yahoo! Sports Radio, effective...
network programs, local talk shows with personalities such as Larry Morgan and Steve Deace, and I-Cubs, Drake Bulldogs
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
, and Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
games. During this time the station had competition from KXNO
KXNO
KXNO is a sports radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is located at 1460 on the AM band.-History:KXNO's roots can be traced back to KSO , a station that first broadcast from Clarinda, Iowa, on November 2, 1925...
and KJJC
KNWI
KNWI, known on-air as Life 107.1, is a radio station in Des Moines, Iowa, that is owned and operated by Northwestern College in Roseville, Minnesota and supported by donations from the local community throughout the year and a once-per-year share-a-thon. The station also simulcasts on KNWM at 96.1...
. Des Moines proved to be too small a market for three sports stations and KXTK was the first casualty. This ended the lease arrangement and Saga Communications took control of the station again on September 3, 2002.
940 kHz Today
As of September 3, 2002 the station has been known as KPSZ, "Praise 940". It has a format of both national syndicated and locally produced religious talk along with Christian music. This has proven, from a ratings standpoint, to be the least successful station to occupy 940 kHz, with the station rarely appearing on the ArbitronArbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
books these days.
Personalities and programming
KPSZ airs syndicated shows such as America's Family Coaches with Dr. Gary and Barb Rosberg, Stan Johnson & The Prophecy Club, Woodrow KrollWoodrow M. Kroll
Woodrow Michael Kroll is the president and Bible teacher for the international Back to the Bible radio and television ministry. He is a former president of Davis College in Johnson City, New York, United States...
, Jan Markell, J. Vernon McGee
J. Vernon McGee
John Vernon McGee, Th.D., LL.D, was an ordained Presbyterian minister who later pastored an interdenominational church, a Bible teacher, theologian, and was also a radio minister.-Early Years and Education:...
, David Jeremiah
David Jeremiah
For the article on the retired U.S. Navy admiral and former Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, see David E. Jeremiah.David P. Jeremiah is a conservative evangelical Christian author, evangelist, and currently the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, an evangelical...
, and Irvin Baxter Jr.
Irvin Baxter Jr.
Irvin Baxter Jr. is a Oneness Pentecostal minister who is the founder and president of Endtime Ministries, a Christian organization devoted to presenting his views on Christian eschatology. Baxter is also an author, publisher, broadcaster and international prophecy teacher. Before committing...
, plus several local talk shows, including Update Today with Maxine Sieleman, The Words & Music Show with Don Thompson, as well as Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
during other parts of the day. KPSZ also airs the Triple A affiliate Iowa Cubs, the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
games.http://www.packers.com/media-center/radio-shows/packers-radio-network/station-listing.html