Des Moines is poised to have 13 different Christian radio formats after two pending radio station sales are completed.
The latest sale is Community Broadcasting/Bott Radio Network’s agreement to purchase KDPS/88.1 (Des Moines) from Des Moines Independent Community School District for $175,000. The deal was signed Sept. 3 and filed with the FCC the following day.
The sale includes the KDPS license and transmission equipment, but no studio equipment.
On Sept. 8, the buyer requested a callsign change for KDPS to KCVD effective Oct. 17.
The school district had publicly announced plans to sell KDPS when it took the station off the air in the spring, citing changing curriculum and the costs of running an FM radio station.
KDPS is a core Des Moines signal using 5.2kW/85m (class A).
Kansas-based Bott Radio Network is currently heard on four stations elsewhere in Iowa. The network carries Christian teaching and preaching programs along with a late-afternoon block of Conservative Talk.
The sale of KDPS comes as the FCC considers the sale of KJMC/89.3 (Des Moines) to American Family Radio.
The two new services will compete with eleven existing Christian radio formats in Des Moines.
Music-based formats include:
- “Life 107.1” on KNWI/107.1 and KNWM/96.1
- “Pulse 101.7” on KPUL-FM/101.7
- “K-Love” on K213DV/90.5, K237GC/95.3, K297BX/103.7, and KKDM-HD3
- “Effect Radio Network” on K206BW/89.1
Stations that carry a mix of teaching, preaching, and music include:
- “Hope 940” (KPSZ), the only commercially-operated Christian radio format in the market
- Family Radio on KDFR/91.3
- VCY America on KVDI/99.3
Stations that are primarily teaching and preaching include:
- Iowa Catholic Radio on KIHS/105.5 and KQBV/88.5
- CSN Radio on K215FN/90.9
- Faith Radio on K264CD/100.7 and KNWI-HD2
- LifeTalk Radio on KPOG-LP/102.9
RELATED: Des Moines Radio Stations
This item was first posted Sept. 6 and was updated Sept. 8. It was corrected Oct. 24 to indicate the current slogan for KPSZ.