Iowa KDPS Des Moines for sale

[Mark Roberts]

According to a silent STA filing, the Des Moines school district is putting KDPS(FM) up for sale. KDPS, "Edge 88.1", states in its request that the broadcasting instructor in charge of the station is retiring. The district's chief information officer will be responsible for handling the sale of KDPS. The radio station is based at the Central Campus (high school) just west of downtown Des Moines. It's been on the air since April 1, 1952, always at the same location, which once was the Des Moines Technical School. That also was once the site of educational TV station KDPS-TV, channel 11, beginning in 1959. KDPS-TV became the flagship station for what's now Iowa PBS in April 1, 1969 when the state began building a public TV network.

In recent years, KDPS broadcasting activities seemed rather diminished, with automated programming taking up most of the broadcast day, but it was on the air 24/7 and has decent coverage of the more urbanized parts of the Des Moines metro.

I was last in Des Moines three weeks ago; I guess I should have taken a new aircheck or two, but didn't, due to time and other constraints (I have others).

If Iowa Public Radio isn't able to acquire the station, which would be a great addition to its Studio One service that's currently on a Des Moines translator, I have no doubt it will end up with a religious operator. Problem is, there are plenty of those in and near Des Moines already.

 

[radiofan2023]

If Iowa Public Radio isn't able to acquire the station, which would be a great addition to its Studio One service that's currently on a Des Moines translator, I have no doubt it will end up with a religious operator. Problem is, there are plenty of those in and near Des Moines already.

Would KFMG or Ron Sorenson be in a position to buy it? It would be a huge upgrade for them.

 

[radiorobert]

It will certainly be an opportunity for someone. I can think of at least a few entities that could go for it.

IPR with Studio One as was mentioned.

Also Positive Impact Media KPUL (Pulse 101.7) could go for it to expand their Christian Rhythmic CHR signal and have more primary metro coverage.

And yes Sorenson could do it too although his foundation might have to pony up more money and maintain those bigger facilities on the tower. Whether they/he can do that or not I don't know.

It could use a new transmitter which might help it actually cover its predicted signal pattern area which is currently falls short of obviously due to age.

 

[Mark Roberts]

Would KFMG or Ron Sorenson be in a position to buy it? It would be a huge upgrade for them.

And yes Sorenson could do it too although his foundation might have to pony up more money and maintain those bigger facilities on the tower. Whether they/he can do that or not I don't know.

Sorenson is in his mid-to-late 70s, so he may not even want to take on such a project. But he's done far more challenging things before, so who knows?

I'm pretty sure that self-supporting tower on Grand was built for the TV station, which would mean it's more than 65 years old. Channel 11 decamped for the tall Alleman tower early in 1972. So it's hard to say what kind of maintenance has been done on the tower since then.

It could use a new transmitter which might help it actually cover its predicted signal pattern area which is currently falls short of obviously due to age.

When I've airchecked the station, I've been downtown, so no problem there! I haven't tried it in West Des Moines, where I end up spending a good part of time (family).

 

[Mark Roberts]

According to a silent STA filing, the Des Moines school district is putting KDPS(FM) up for sale. KDPS, "Edge 88.1", states in its request that the broadcasting instructor in charge of the station is retiring. The district's chief information officer will be responsible for handling the sale of KDPS. The radio station is based at the Central Campus (high school) just west of downtown Des Moines. It's been on the air since April 1, 1952, always at the same location, which once was the Des Moines Technical School. That also was once the site of educational TV station KDPS-TV, channel 11, beginning in 1959. KDPS-TV became the flagship station for what's now Iowa PBS in April 1, 1969 when the state began building a public TV network.

I need to make a correction: the original KDPS radio station location was a few blocks away from where it is now though still west of downtown; it moved to 18th & Grand at the same time as the TV station was built in 1958-59. That also appears to be when the present KDPS self-supporting tower was built.

 

[radiorobert]

When I've airchecked the station, I've been downtown, so no problem there! I haven't tried it in West Des Moines, where I end up spending a good part of time (family).

When I have listened a few rare times in recent years it seems to get rough on a car radio around Ankeny, depending. Thats well within the 60 dbu and over area. It just depends. Again, its very likely an old antenna that's seen better days.

Also the audio is muffled and older. So some new equipment will certainly be in order.

 

[RF101]

Today is the last day for KDPS 88.1 Des Moines.

The official press-release from the Des Moines Public Schools is here:

DMPS Begins Sale Process for KDPS Radio Station - Des Moines Public Schools

Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) has begun the process of selling KDPS (88.1 FM), the student-run radio station based at Central Campus. The move comes after a comprehensive review of the educational media landscape, current operational demands, and ...

www.dmschools.org

DMPS Begins Sale Process for KDPS Radio Station


Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) has begun the process of selling KDPS (88.1 FM), the student-run radio station based at Central Campus. The move comes after a comprehensive review of the educational media landscape, current operational demands, and the district’s future priorities.

KDPS has served as a unique part of DMPS for more than 60 years, offering students hands-on experience in radio broadcasting and contributing to the cultural and educational fabric of the community. However, maintaining a radio station comes with significant technical and regulatory requirements, responsibilities that have largely been carried out by dedicated teaching staff, including a teacher who is retiring, in addition to their core duties.


“We are grateful to the educators and staff who have kept KDPS running throughout the decades,” said Dr. Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. “As we look to the future, we are hopeful in finding a partner to take over KDPS who will continue and enhance the station’s role in the community.”


DMPS has partnered with Media Brokers, a firm specializing in broadcast media sales, to oversee the sale of KDPS. The station has been formally appraised, listed for sale, and is now being actively marketed to potential buyers. While the district is aiming for a timely transaction, it recognizes there may be a transition period in order to meet all regulatory requirements set forth by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).


The decision to sell KDPS comes at a time of evolution for the district’s communications curriculum. In recent years, Central Campus has shifted its focus toward more contemporary media platforms—such as podcasting and streaming—tools that better reflect today’s industry standards and listener interests. These formats also provide greater flexibility and are more cost-effective for the school to maintain compared to traditional broadcast radio.


“In a time when educational resources must be aligned with student needs and future-ready skills,” added Roberts, “this decision allows us to refocus staff time and district resources on emerging priorities while ensuring KDPS can continue to serve the Des Moines community under new stewardship.”
The last day KDPS will be on the air is Thursday, June 5. More information about the sale process will be shared as it progresses.


Wednesday, June 4th, 2025


----------------------------
Furthermore:

Here is the latest from the Des Moines Register on the KDPS sale:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2025/06/05/des-moines-public-schools-ends-radio-station-kdps-881-fm-dmps/84007792007/

 

[radiorobert]

I read in another article they are already close to finalizing with a buyer. Any idea who it is? (I realize it cant literally be revealed.)

 

[RF101]

Probably a religious group if it already went to a broker.

 

[JJSPC]

Nothing filed with the commission yet.

 

[radiorobert]

It was alluded to in a quote in the WHO-TV article that they believed they had a 'winner' and hoped to make an announcement soon. Not finalized yet though.

 

[Gregg.]

Iowa Public Radio has several services that might be hard to hear on FM in the Des Moines market.

There's the "News" network, on 640 WOI Ames, 5,000 watts days and 1,000 watts nights, about 30 miles north of Des Moines. The News network is also on 910 WSUI Iowa City, 5,000 watts days and 4,000 watts nights, about 40 miles east of Des Moines. But the full time news service is not on FM in Des Moines.

Then there's the "Classical" network, on translator 97.7 K249EJ but it's only 250 watts. There are also Classical network stations in the far suburbs of Des Moines, 105.9 KICP in Patterson and 96.3 KICL in Pleasantville. But again, hard to hear in Des Moines. (IPR switched a classical station closer to Des Moines to AAA recently.)

There's the Adult Alternative "Studio One" but this network needs a station in Des Moines the least. It is on 90.1 WOI-FM Ames, which is 100,000 watts, about 30 miles to the north. But WOI-FM divides its time between NPR news shows and music. WOI-FM has a translator in Des Moines but that's only 140 watts. And IPR recently converted a station in Mitchellville, just outside Des Moines, 88.9 KKSO, to Studio One full time.

I'm sure Iowa Public Radio would love to have 88.1 for its news or classical service. But these days, donations to most public radio outlets are down, along with underwriting. In this environment, it may be hard to justify the purchase of another station.

 

[radiofan2023]

Iowa Public Radio has several services that might be hard to hear on FM in the Des Moines market.

There's the "News" network, on 640 WOI Ames, 5,000 watts days and 1,000 watts nights, about 30 miles north of Des Moines. The News network is also on 910 WSUI Iowa City, 5,000 watts days and 4,000 watts nights, about 40 miles east of Des Moines. But the full time news service is not on FM in Des Moines.

Then there's the "Classical" network, on translator 97.7 K249EJ but it's only 250 watts. There are also Classical network stations in the far suburbs of Des Moines, 105.9 KICP in Patterson and 96.3 KICL in Pleasantville. But again, hard to hear in Des Moines. (IPR switched a classical station closer to Des Moines to AAA recently.)

There's the Adult Alternative "Studio One" but this network needs a station in Des Moines the least. It is on 90.1 WOI-FM Ames, which is 100,000 watts, about 30 miles to the north. But WOI-FM divides its time between NPR news shows and music. WOI-FM has a translator in Des Moines but that's only 140 watts. And IPR recently converted a station in Mitchellville, just outside Des Moines, 88.9 KKSO, to Studio One full time.

I'm sure Iowa Public Radio would love to have 88.1 for its news or classical service. But these days, donations to most public radio outlets are down, along with underwriting. In this environment, it may be hard to justify the purchase of another station.

IPR knows what they're doing in terms of what they put on each signal. None of them are hard to hear in Des Moines or anywhere else if you listen online. Their website has a whole section dedicated to it:

Listening Digitally

Want to know how to listen online to Iowa Public Radio? It's easy - get the info you need here.

www.iowapublicradio.org

Also I still hope Sorenson/KFMG buys this signal.

 

[radiorobert]

My money is on Pulse 101.7 if I had to guess as being the likely buyer given the brokership. Or some Air1 option.

IPR likely wouldn’t have been able to act fast enough on their system of purchasing and budgeting.

 

[Mark Roberts]

IPR knows what they're doing in terms of what they put on each signal. None of them are hard to hear in Des Moines or anywhere else if you listen online. Their website has a whole section dedicated to it:

Listening Digitally

Want to know how to listen online to Iowa Public Radio? It's easy - get the info you need here.

www.iowapublicradio.org

Also I still hope Sorenson/KFMG buys this signal.

In fact, I would pay far more attention to the IPR website than to whatever Gregg Period has cooked up, for his post has a substantial amount of misinformation. Several points:

KKSO has a translator in Des Moines at 94.1 for Studio One full-time, added this year.

WOI(AM) does not have a translator in Des Moines. WOI-FM does, for its HD-2 channel, which provides IPR Classical in addition to the various rimshots. The main WOI-FM programming, News & Studio One, doesn’t need a translator in Des Moines. It’s on the Alleman tower, and has been since 1971, which covers Des Moines way more than adequately.

The News network is on AM only. News & Studio One broadcasts Studio One 7 pm-12 midnight weekdays, noon-midnight weekends, and overnights. At those times the AM-only News network broadcasts reruns of various programs that were on the News and News & Studio One networks earlier in the day, or broadcasts the BBC World Service.

Again, all this is on the IPR website, which has coverage maps, station lists, and complete schedules. Online listening is easy as well. They don’t even play annoying games with constantly shifting URLs, so you can put the streams in your favorite player.

The WOI(AM) nighttime signal is receivable in Des Moines, though with some noise.

Where IPR over-the-air FM coverage for full-time Studio One could use some shoring up is West Des Moines, which is sprawling even more than Houston. But options there are limited. Classical from KICP (105.9) should be mostly OK in WDM.

And, yeah, at an emotional level, it would be cool if Ron Sorenson got a hold of 88.1 but he’s in his 70s and may not want to take on a project that would involve a substantial rebuild. I would root for IPR but we shall see.

 

[Kent]

There's the "News" network, on 640 WOI Ames, 5,000 watts days and 1,000 watts nights, about 30 miles north of Des Moines. The News network is also on 910 WSUI Iowa City, 5,000 watts days and 4,000 watts nights, about 40 miles east of Des Moines. But the full time news service is not on FM in Des Moines.

One small correction: WSUI 910 is 80-100 miles, not 40, east of Des Moines. Des Moines and Iowa City/Cedar Rapids have very little overlap between them. Most of it is on AM, and the FM stations from each usually make it about 2/3 of the way between them. I spent a few weeks of the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college in Cedar Rapids, and I didn't have much luck getting anything other than WHO from Des Moines there. Seems like WOI and KWMT were also there in the car, but only in the car. I was told you could occasionally get 100.3, then KLYF, in Cedar Rapids, but I never had any luck with it. Seems like I got 103.3 and 107.5 a little in the car, but the out of market FM's I got there tended to be Davenport/Quad Cities, and I only got three or four of those with any reliability.

Ironically, when I moved to central Missouri to go to college at MU, I lived a few miles north of the Columbia city limits near Finger Lakes State Park. I got more Des Moines stations there than I ever did those few weeks in Iowa.

 

[radiorobert]

Last night the Des Moines School Board approved selling KDPS to Community Broadcasting, Inc. better known as 'Bott Radio Network' for $175,000. Bott will be able to broadcast from the existing site via an agreement for up to 2 years before they have to either negotiate another agreement or move the transmitter offsite.

The sale does not include any of the existing KDPS broadcast equipment. Given this, it sounds like Bott will be installing its own antenna and Transmitter separately to be on site for at least a couple years.

 

[Mark Roberts]

Thanks for the update. I was afraid something like that would happen. In my opinion, Bott is second only to VCY for sheer awfulness. Bott is a competent broadcaster, so I'll give them credit for that.

At this point, will there be any religious broadcasters that aren't in Des Moines?

 

[radiorobert]

I think we are covered as far as the main National Christian Talk networks unless there are a couple I am not thinking of. This includes the main Class signals and any translators. Truth Networks used to be in the market but sold to VCY.

We still don't have certain music networks.

I figured a religious broadcaster would pick it up. I was hoping it would be Positive Impact Media. (Pulse 101.7) It would have given them a better signal and they are a local organization. Christian Rhythmic CHR.

 

[Ryan Williams]

I wonder if the crowded market of religious networks is one of the reasons the sales price seems depressed based on population covered.

It is curious that K-Love/Air didn't seem to make a run at 88.1.