Iowa Catholic Radio Adds Larger Des Moines FM Signal

One of Iowa Catholic Radio’s parent organizations is buying a larger FM station to add to its group of signals in the Des Moines area.

An asset purchase agreement filed with the FCC indicates Trinity Communications is buying KDLS-FM/105.5 (Perry-Des Moines) from Pedro Zamora’s Latin Broadcasting Corporation for $1.48 million.

With a 10kW/157m (class C3) facility transmitting from northwest of Des Moines, KDLS-FM’s “La Ley” is currently the highest-powered of three competing Spanish-language formats in the capital city. Its two competitors operate on AM stations with FM translators.

Trinity Communications owns KWKY/1150 (Des Moines) and shares common board membership with St. Gabriel Communications, which owns K233BT/94.5 (Des Moines), KIHS/88.5 (Adel), and KLOX/90.9 (Creston). The four stations simulcast as Iowa Catholic Radio. Its programming is also heard on low-power FM stations in Fairfield and Oskaloosa.

St. Gabriel Communications also has construction permits for new full-power FM stations in Albia, Mason City, Odebolt, and Spencer, IA, as well as Stanley, WI.