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KPSZ
KPSZ (940 AM, "Hope 940") is a commercial radio station in Des Moines, Iowa. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Des Moines Radio Group. KPSZ's studios and offices are located on Locust Street in Des Moines along with Saga's other local stations (KRNT, KSTZ, KIOA, KOEZ and KAZR). KPSZ broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. National religious leaders heard on KPSZ include Adrian Rogers, David Jeremiah, Joyce Meyer and Jim Daly. Using a brokered programming model, hosts buy blocks of time on KPSZ and may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries.
KPSZ is powered at 10,000 watts by day and 5,000 watts at night. It uses a directional antenna with a six-tower array to protect other stations on 940 AM, a Canadian and Mexican clear channel frequency. The transmitter is on 228th Avenue at Carpenter Street in Hartford.
On January 15, 1948, the station signed on as KIOA. 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, Iowa. 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, not affiliated with any large radio network. This was a risky format in the post war era when network dramas, comedies, soap operas and game shows were very popular. 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.
The first two major changes to KIOA since its birth came in 1957. 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 Moines 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.
During 1962, KIOA saw a ratings decline, as KSO was starting to cut in on KIOA's lead. This was due to some recent turnover of disk jockeys 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 that day, the station was up and running again from the transmitter site near Hartford.
The studios remained in Hartford until a new facility could be constructed at 803 Keosauqua Way in downtown Des Moines. This was the location of the "KIOA Fishbowl", where the DJs would broadcast in front of a plate glass window looking out at the city. This was similar to KSO's studios at 1910 Ingersoll Avenue.
KPSZ
KPSZ (940 AM, "Hope 940") is a commercial radio station in Des Moines, Iowa. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Des Moines Radio Group. KPSZ's studios and offices are located on Locust Street in Des Moines along with Saga's other local stations (KRNT, KSTZ, KIOA, KOEZ and KAZR). KPSZ broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. National religious leaders heard on KPSZ include Adrian Rogers, David Jeremiah, Joyce Meyer and Jim Daly. Using a brokered programming model, hosts buy blocks of time on KPSZ and may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries.
KPSZ is powered at 10,000 watts by day and 5,000 watts at night. It uses a directional antenna with a six-tower array to protect other stations on 940 AM, a Canadian and Mexican clear channel frequency. The transmitter is on 228th Avenue at Carpenter Street in Hartford.
On January 15, 1948, the station signed on as KIOA. 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, Iowa. 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, not affiliated with any large radio network. This was a risky format in the post war era when network dramas, comedies, soap operas and game shows were very popular. 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.
The first two major changes to KIOA since its birth came in 1957. 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 Moines 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.
During 1962, KIOA saw a ratings decline, as KSO was starting to cut in on KIOA's lead. This was due to some recent turnover of disk jockeys 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 that day, the station was up and running again from the transmitter site near Hartford.
The studios remained in Hartford until a new facility could be constructed at 803 Keosauqua Way in downtown Des Moines. This was the location of the "KIOA Fishbowl", where the DJs would broadcast in front of a plate glass window looking out at the city. This was similar to KSO's studios at 1910 Ingersoll Avenue.