- KIOA
Infobox Radio Station
name = KIOA
city =Des Moines, Iowa
area =Des Moines, Iowa
branding = 93.3 KIOA
slogan = The Greatest Hits From the 60's and 70's
airdate = 1964 (as KWDM)
frequency = 93.3 (MHz) HD Radio
format =Oldies
erp = 82,000watt s
haat = convert|325|m|ft|abbr=on|0
class = C1
facility_id = 58547
callsign_meaning = K IOwA
owner =Saga Communications
webcast = [http://winmedia.voxcdn.net/3156-WMA-KIOA-FM-32 Listen Live]
website = [http://www.kioa.com/ www.kioa.com]KIOA, "93.3 KIOA," is an
oldies radio station serving theDes 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 withSaga Communications ' other Des Moines stations (KSTZ , KAZR,KLTI-FM ,KRNT andKPSZ ).History
KWDM-Part 2
The 93.3 frequency got its start in 1964 when George Webber, who was the founder of the original KWDM-AM brought back his unique programming to the airwaves after having sold the original KWDM in 1959 to
3M . [ [http://www.desmoinesbroadcasting.com/timeline-frameset.html Des Moines Station Timeline. Accessed June 23, 2006] ] The station consisted of block programming of music, usually ethnic music not heard elsewhere in Des Moines as well as a talk show by his wife and play-by-play sports. KWDM 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 began selling KWDM on contract to The SEQ Corporation. On
April 10 ,1969 , the station went dark, after the owner of the tower and transmitter site 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 October 1969 when the station would go dark for good.Brought back to life
In 1971, the 93.3 frequency was brought back to life as KYNA. With its
Top 40 format, it was taking on giant KIOA from the FM side. The station was programmed well and had great jocks, but was perhaps a bit ahead of its time and lasted for only about a year when it was sold to KIOA.After the station sold to KIOA in 1972 the calls were changed to KIOA-FM and the became known as "Solid Gold Oldies, KIOA-FM 93.3". The station was staffed with quality jocks, but could never quite find its way to a solid listener base, mostly due to FM radio not being as popular in the 1970s.
Magic, a faux paus, and attempted redemption
In 1976 the decision was made to change the station again. The
oldies format had not been working well, and the decision was to giveTop 40 another shot on 93.3. This time the station would be known as "Magic 93" with the calls changing to KMGK. This was the most successful format to date on the frequency. The station pulled in great ratings and things were looking up for the station throughout the remainder of the 70s and early 80s.By the mid 80s, KMGK suddenly found itself fighting for market share as KRNQ and KLYF started to hit on KMGK's previously untouched land of hit music on FM radio. By 1986 the station had slipped below both of its competitors and was looking for its niche once again. On
March 31 ,1986 , after seeingKJJY cut considerably into KSO's share it seemed like it might be a good idea to switch to country as it had a much stronger signal than KJJY's. They promoted the change in format to "Hot Country Hits, K93FM" quite well, but misjudged the market, and after one disastrousArbitron book, the great country experiment ended.On
August 1 ,1986 , the station switched back toTop 40 as KDWZ "Z93", this time using a Rock-leaning direction (in other words, its playlist and music favored Pop-friendly Rock crossovers while avoiding anything that sounded Rhythmic Pop or Dance oriented). Competing head on with KRNQ and KLYF once again was not easy, especially due to the lost time as a country station. They gave it a good fight for four years, but in the end just couldn't make it. It was now time for a new change.Oldies return
On
November 1 ,1990 , the decision was made to give up on the Top 40 programming of "Z93". The station once again was named KIOA-FM and the format wasoldies , just like the incarnation from 1972-1976. The main difference this time around was that KIOA (AM) was now also playing oldies, so 93.3 was just simulcasting its AM sister in what was now known as "ALL Oldies KIOA".In 1993 Saga Purchased KIOA from Midwest Communications of Iowa the simulcast continued, but the brand changed to "Oldies 93-3 KIOA" Over time, KIOA-FM's listener base grew and the station became one of the most successful in the Des Moines area. OnNovember 18 ,1996 , an era ended as KIOA switched to "Talk 940 KXTK" leaving the oldies to its FM counterpart. The call letters then reverted to just KIOA on the FM and the success has continued for KIOA. Today (2008) 93-3 KIOA plays "Iowa's Greatest Hits" primarily focusing on the music of the 70's.Personality Changes
On July 31, 2007,
Saga Communications announced that they would not be renewing the contract of longtime KIOA morning program co-host, Polly Carver-Kimm. Carver-Kimm had served as co-host of "Maxwell and Polly in the Morning," and had also been news director for the Des Moines Radio Group's other five radio stations.Also in late July, Dic Youngs "Youngsy" announced that he would be retiring from KIOA. He stated to a local newspaper that it was not his choice to retire. Youngs has been announcing and disc-jockeying for over 40 years at the station, often talking about old-times and the days of playing old fashioned records on air. Dic Youngs retired from KIOA on his 66th birthday on September 30, 2007. He did, however, return to the airwaves part-time on 1350 KRNT after his retirement from KIOA.
On June 30, 2008, Youngs filed a lawsuit in Polk County District Court, claiming the station squeezed him out in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Youngs is asking for unspecified damages from Saga Communications Inc. [ [http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/BUSINESS/807010362 Des Moines Register article July 1, 2008] ]
KIOA's Current Line Up
Maxwell & Pam in the Morning,Alan White Middays,Tim Fox Afternoons,Jimmy Olsen Evenings,Jay Wells Overnights,Chad Michaels Weekends,Larry Rollins Weekends & Monday Morning 12am-5am
On July 23, 2008, KIOA announced the addition of former Des Moines morning personality Pam Dixon to the KIOA morning show with current host, Maxwell Schaeffer. Dixon says, “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 the University of Iowa and Brown Institute of Broadcasting. She was first heard on KRNT and Q-102 before beginning a 10-year run on KLYF which ended in 1996. Since then, Dixon has used her voice talent as the first female Iowa Cubs stadium announcer and has been heard on the numerous radio and TV commercials. Dixon and her daughter, Maddie, live in West Des Moines.
References
External links
* [http://www.desmoinesbroadcasting.com/kioa/kioa-main.html KIOA History. Accessed June 23, 2006]
* [http://www.oldies933.com Oldies 93.3 website]
* [http://www.desmoinesbroadcasting.com/kmgk/kmgk-main.html KMGK Promos]
* [http://www.desmoinesbroadcasting.com/stations-misc/misc-radiostations.html KKXI and KYNA Jingles]
* [http://www.desmoinesbroadcasting.com/kyna.html KYNA Composite Aircheck 1971]
* [http://www.desmoinesbroadcasting.com/stations-misc/around-dial/kdwz-morning-summer-89/morning-show89.html KDWZ Aircheck 1989]
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