Kioa
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| City | Des Moines, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Branding | 93.3 KIOA |
| Slogan | Iowa's Greatest Hits |
| Frequency | 93.3 MHz (also on HD Radio) |
| Translator(s) | 99.9 K260AM (Des Moines, rebrodacasts HD2) |
| First air date | 1964 (as KWDM) |
| Format |
Classic Hits HD2: Rhythmic CHR (also on 99.9 K260AM) |
| ERP | 82,000 watts |
| HAAT | 325 m (1,066 ft) |
| Class | C1 |
| Facility ID | 58547 |
| Callsign meaning | K IOwA |
| Owner | Saga Communications |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website |
kioa.com hits999fm.com (HD2) |
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 (KSTZ, KAZR, KMYR, KRNT and KPSZ).
The 93.3 frequency got its start in 1964 when George Webber, who was the founder of the original KWDM 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 classical, operatic and ethnic music not heard elsewhere in Des Moines as well as a weekday talk show, "Listen While You Work" by his wife, Edith Dunham Webber and play-by-play sports such as Drake University and high school games. The station had a huge record library of rare classical and operatic albums that had been the hallmark of the station's format. KWDM, located at 2401 1/2 University Avenue 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 sold KWDM on contract to a local group known as the SEQ Corporation. The studios were moved to the Mike Wilson building at 4111 Hubbell Avenue, on the eastside of Des Moines. Although the format went from talk to rock and then country music, one programming staple remained, the "Hawkeye Nightline" talk show with the controversial Russ Lavine that aired Monday-Saturday nights from 9:00 until Midnight. On Sunday nights, John Birch Society members, Jim and Mary Parker hosted that three-hour slot. Lavine moved his show from KDMI 97.3 FM and had a very loyal audience. Typically, the control board operator would take the caller's phone number and he would call them back as was customary for Russ' program. Short lived talk shows aired on KWDM were hosted by Bill Comito and Mary Johns. Country deejay's included Bob Neel, Jack Myer and Rex Youngs. ABC's FM news service aired 15 minutes after the hour. On April 10, 1969, the station went dark, 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, Mr. Webber regained control of the station, operating it at reduced hours until mid-May 1969 when the final selection on that Sunday night were excerpts from 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 becoming KYNA in 1971.
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Wikipedia