KCPS

Infobox Radio station
name = KCPS


city = Burlington, Iowa
area =
branding = KCPS 1150
slogan = "Talkradio"
airdate =
frequency = 1150 kHz
format = Talk
power = 500 watts day
67 watts night
erp =
haat =
class = D
facility_id = 5224
coordinates = coord|40|51|11|N|91|08|10|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = John M. Giannettino
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website = [http://www.kcpsradio.com kcpsradio.com]
affiliations = ESPN Radio, Motor Racing Network, Westwood One

KCPS (1150 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Talk/Personality format. Licensed to serve the Burlington, Iowa, USA area, the station is currently owned by John M. Giannettino and features programming from ESPN Radio, Motor Racing Network and Westwood One. [ cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=KCPS |title=KCPS Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ]

KCPS Radio signed on the air in 1965 as KYMD. The call letters subsequently changed to KKUZ, (your country cousin), as the station became an outlet for country music. Studios for the AM station were located in a three story brick building at 314 North Main Street in downtown Burlington.

The transmitter site was constructed on a pasture north of town along Irish Ridge Road. KCPS has a directional array consisting of three 214-foot towers and a daytime power output of 500 watts. KCPS was originally a daytime only station. Operating hours expanded and contracted each month from summer to winter. In the late 1970s the sign-on became locked in at 6:00am, but the sign-off time occurred at sundown. In December KCPS would leave the air as early as 4:45pm. In the summer months the station would stay on the air until 8:45pm. The FCC changed the rules for daytime stations in the 1980s and which enabled KCPS to broadcast at night with the transmitter power reduced to 67 watts.

DJs from the early years included Bill Deno, Lonnie Keeler, and Neil Zackmeyer, who referred to himself the “The Old Gravy Sopper.”

KKUZ was purchased by Town and Country Broadcasting in 1978. The call letters were changed to KCPS on March 1, 1979. CPS stands for Country-Politan Sound; a term the new owners defined as a cross between country music and adult contemporary. The morning man during this era was Wayne Smith, who also served as Program Director. The afternoons were hosted by David Ostmo, who called his program “The Smo Show”.

Terry Anderson was News Director for the station, coming to KCPS from cross town rival KBUR. She delivered the news for the station during the morning hours. Top of the hour newscasts for the rest of the day were handled by the program hosts.

David Ostmo was promoted to Program Director after Wayne Smith departed in 1979. Ostmo emceed a popular Sunday afternoon request show. He mixed in a greater amount of rock music to the station’s play list. The approach was to play rock that sounded like country and country that sounded like rock. Charlie Daniels, Bob Seger, The Eagles, The Little River Band, Elvis, Kenny Rogers, and Dolly Parton were some of the artists receiving considerable air time.

Darrell Michelson moved from Fairbury, Nebraska to replace Smith as the new morning man. Michelson stayed with the station for several years. Michelson succeeded Ostmo as Program Director in late 1980. He took advantage of the Urban Cowboy craze and returned the station to its country music roots.

The station was not affiliated with any major radio network until 1981 when KCPS signed up with the ABC Contemporary radio network. In the same time frame Town and Country Broadcasting lost a long fought battle with another company to acquire an FM license. It was a major blow to the owners who hoped to level the playing field with KBUR-KGRS. Time was running out for AM stations with a music heavy format.

Chip Giannettino and his wife Val bought KCPS in 1987. They provided a much need face lift for the station on and off the air. Music programs with local DJs gave way to talk driven programs and syndicated content.

They painted a large mural on the exterior of the downtown studios depicting ladies of the evening through open windows. It was said that the building, originally constructed in 1870, was once a brothel on the upper floors.

The station later moved to another downtown location at 208 Jefferson. More recently KCPS relocated to 205 S. Gear Avenue in West Burlington.

KCPS is the only locally owned radio station in Burlington.

References

External links

* [http://www.kcpsradio.com KCPS website]
*AM station data|KCPS