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Iowa Connoisseur-owned Newton/Grinnell stations are gone?
- Thread starter grich
- Start date
I saw the FB post from former KRIT Energy 106.7 PD/Morning's Jamie Grout.
KGRN was owned for many years by legendary broadcaster/sportscaster Frosty Mitchell. There is an interesting story of how he came to own KGRN involving a non compete from a Des Moines radio station (it may have been KIOA AM) and a 50 mile radius with Grinnell being just outside of that limit.
KGRN was owned for many years by legendary broadcaster/sportscaster Frosty Mitchell. There is an interesting story of how he came to own KGRN involving a non compete from a Des Moines radio station (it may have been KIOA AM) and a 50 mile radius with Grinnell being just outside of that limit.
Since Connoisseur is known for selling a lot of its small town outlets to local managers, I'm betting they tried but couldn't find a local buyer for the Grinnell/Newton stations. I find that somewhat surprising, especially with the Newton stations being fairly close (within listening distance) of Des Moines.
Connoisseur Media Shuts Down Four Station Iowa Cluster
After shutting down its two stations in Fairfield IA in April, Connoisseur Media has now ceased operations at its four
radioinsight.com
I don’t. Grinnell is under 10,000 people, has a college and that’s about it, and Newton is basically a suburb of Des Moines with a racetrack. If it was just the FM side of the AM/FM combo, the standalone FM and the website, maybe it would be worth it. But you’d still be competing with all the Des Moines stations and various music streaming apps for listeners. Even Des Moines AMs & FMs have gone off air in recent years (KBGG 1700/101.3, just for one example).
When I was there in April, downtown Grinnell seemed to be thriving, doing better than many other Iowa towns with around the same population. I don't know, though, how many of those businesses would have been interested in advertising on stations that Alpha had gutted and turned into robotic jukeboxes. Connoisseur doesn't appear to have been interested in the rebuilding job that would have been necessary for those stations to amount to anything.
If you're referring to Prairie Meadows racetrack and casino, that's in Altoona, not Newton.
The Iowa Speedway is located in Newton.
Newton once had a claim to fame as the home of Maytag appliances. Population is currently around 16,000.
Newton once had a claim to fame as the home of Maytag appliances. Population is currently around 16,000.
The proximity to Des Moines is most of the problem. Anyone in Des Moines will listen to the bigger local stations, and most people in Grinell and Newton will also listen to the bigger market sound of the Des Moines stations.
Just to back up what David’s saying, I lived in Des Moines and Iowa City for several years and never once listened to any of the Grinnell or Newton stations in question driving back and forth on I-80 to visit relatives in western Iowa.
Although not all Des Moines stations sound great or bigger market, KOEZ’s stream still has overmodulated and staticy liners and traffic reports from Kate Garner.
Although not all Des Moines stations sound great or bigger market, KOEZ’s stream still has overmodulated and staticy liners and traffic reports from Kate Garner.