Broadcast area | Des Moines metropolitan area |
---|---|
Frequency | 102.5 MHz (HD Radio) |
Branding | Star 102.5 |
Programming | |
Format | Hot adult contemporary |
Subchannels | HD2: 93.7 The Outlaw (Classic country) |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
KAZR, KIOA, KOEZ, KPSZ, KRNT | |
History | |
First air date | 1970 | (as KRNT-FM)
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Stars", as in "Superstars" |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 58541 |
Class | C |
ERP | |
HAAT | 384 meters (1,260 ft) |
Translator(s) | HD2: 93.7 K229CC (Des Moines) |
Links | |
Webcast | |
Website |
|
KSTZ (102.5 FM, "Star 102.5") is a commercial FM radio station in Des Moines, Iowa. The station airs a hot adult contemporary radio format. KSTZ is part of Saga Communications' Des Moines Radio Group, with studios located on Locust Street in Des Moines.
KSTZ has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 92,000 watts (100,000 watts with beam tilt). The transmitter is located off Ankeny Boulevard (U.S. Route 69) near Alleman. [1] KSTZ broadcasts in the HD Radio format. The HD2 subchannel carries a classic country format known as "93.7 The Outlaw - Legends and Young Guns", which is also relayed on 250-watt translator station K229CC, at 93.7 MHz. [2]
The station signed on the air in 1970 as KRNT-FM. [3] It was the FM counterpart to KRNT (AM 1350). Both stations were owned by the Cowles family, publishers of the Des Moines Register . During those early years, Drake-Chenault's automated "Hit Parade" format was aired.
In 1974, the station became KRNQ ("Q-102"). [4] That year, Cowles sold KRNQ and KRNT (AM) to Stauffer Communications of Topeka, Kansas. The two stations were sold to Saga Communications in August 1988. KRNQ was originally an automated Top 40 station. In January 1976, KRNQ began airing American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, and then Shadoe Stevens, until April 1989. In 1984, the automation ended and the station began using local DJs. By the end of the 1980s, KRNQ was at or near the top of the local Arbitron ratings.
In 1991, due to Saga's desire to reach older listeners, Q102's youthful Top 40 format was changed to a slightly older hot adult contemporary format and was known as "Q102/KRNQ, Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites". KRNQ promised to play no rap (even though it was rarely played on the station after Saga's purchase in 1988) and no hard rock, both of which were very much a part of popular music at the time. This format change left Des Moines with no contemporary hits outlet for nine years, until KKDM's flip from Alternative to Top 40/CHR in 1999. KRNQ became KSTZ on June 25, 1993. [5] [6] (The KRNQ call letters are now used for a station in Keokuk, Iowa.)
When the station re-imaged itself to adult contemporary on June 21, 1993, the positioning statement the station used was "Superstars of the 70s, 80s and 90s" (with the 'STZ' in the call letters forming an abbreviation for 'stars'). [7] The station later switched to "The Best Variety of the 80s, 90s and Today." In 2001, the station began using the current positioning statement of "Today's Best Variety", returning to a hot AC direction. With KKDM becoming more of a factor since its 1999 debut, KSTZ has adjusted its playlist and adopted an adult top 40 format by adding a limited amount of adult-friendly rhythmic music with artists such Rihanna and The Black Eyed Peas in the mix.
Each Fall since 2005, the station has given away designer purses with the "Pick Your Purse" contest. Listeners enter on the station's website, then listen for their name to be read on the air. Once it is read, the listener has 10 minutes to call the station to claim the prize. The winner is allowed to pick from a selection of purses available on the station's website. [8]
Listeners compete to guess the identity of a specific sound aired on the station. Correct guesses are awarded a cash prize and generally qualify for an opportunity to win a car. [9]
One of the station's longest running promotions, listeners write in asking for whatever they would want for holidays. Selected winners are called by station personalities and awarded prizes. [10]
In 2013, a Christmas Wish was received by the station from Brenda Schmitz. Brenda wrote the Christmas Wish in August 2011, [11] one month before she died from ovarian cancer at the age of 46. She asked her friend to send her wish to the radio station once her husband, David, had found a new partner to help take care of their four sons. The wish went viral around the world and was picked up by many news outlets including CNN, [12] Yahoo!, [13] The Huffington Post, [14] and Mashable, [15] among others. The wish was for David and his new wife to take their sons to Disney World in Florida as well as other gifts for the family.
KDRB is a commercial FM radio station in Des Moines, Iowa. It airs an adult hits radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia. Its slogan is "We Play Everything." KDRB is the flagship station for Iowa State University sports.
WLKO is a commercial radio station licensed to Hickory, North Carolina, and serving the Charlotte metropolitan area. It airs an adult hits radio format that leans toward classic hits. For much of November and December, it switches to Christmas music. It is owned by iHeartMedia, with studios on Woodridge Center Drive, just off the Billy Graham Parkway, near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
KCCI is a television station in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, affiliated with CBS. Owned by Hearst Television, the station maintains studios on Ninth Street in downtown Des Moines and a transmitter in Alleman.
WIOQ is a commercial radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station broadcasts a top 40 radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia. The studios and offices are on Presidential Boulevard in Bala Cynwyd. The station carries a mixture of local programming and nationally syndicated shows, including Elvis Duran and the Morning Show.
KCYZ is a commercial FM radio station in Ames, Iowa, broadcasting to the Des Moines metropolitan area. KCYZ airs a hot adult contemporary radio format branded as "Now 105.1". KCYZ is owned by iHeartMedia with the license held by Citicaster Licenses LP. The studios and offices are on Main Street in Ames. KCYZ is Ames' FM home for Iowa State Cyclones college football and men's basketball, simulcasting with sister station KASI 1430 AM.
KAZR is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Pella, Iowa, and serving the Des Moines metropolitan area. It is owned by Saga Communications, and is operated as part of its Des Moines Radio Group, with studios located on Locust Street in Des Moines. KAZR airs a mainstream rock radio format, known as "Lazer 103.3".
WLMG is a commercial radio station licensed to New Orleans, Louisiana. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format. From mid-November to December 25 each year, it switches to all-Christmas music. The station's studios and offices are located at the 400 Poydras Tower in New Orleans' downtown district.
Midwest Communications, Inc. is a Wausau, Wisconsin–based radio broadcasting company. It owns 82 radio stations located primarily within the Midwest United States, in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Illinois and Wisconsin. The company is a family-owned business and is headed by the Wright family.
KXNO is a commercial AM radio station in Des Moines, Iowa. KXNO is owned by iHeartMedia, and airs a sports radio format. KXNO's studios are located in Des Moines, while its 3-tower transmitter array is located on Northeast Broadway Avenue near Capitol Heights.
WNAX is a radio station in Yankton, South Dakota, currently owned by Saga Communications, Inc., which broadcasts a news/talk format.
KPSZ is a commercial radio station in Des Moines, Iowa. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Des Moines Radio Group. KPSZ's studios and offices are located on Locust Street in Des Moines along with Saga's other local stations. KPSZ broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. National religious leaders heard on KPSZ include Adrian Rogers, David Jeremiah, Joyce Meyer and Jim Daly. Using a brokered programming model, hosts buy blocks of time on KPSZ and may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries.
KWKY is an AM radio station broadcasting a Catholic talk and teaching format. Its city of license is Des Moines, Iowa, and is owned by St. Gabriel Communications, through licensee Trinity Communications, Inc. Most of the schedule is nationally syndicated shows from EWTN Radio and Ave Maria Radio.
KDGE is an iHeartMedia adult contemporary commercial radio station dually licensed to both Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas. Star 102.1 switches programming to Christmas music during the months of November and December.
KRNT is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Serving the Des Moines, Iowa, United States, area, the station is owned by Saga Communications through licensee Saga Communications of Iowa, LLC; it operates as part of Saga's Des Moines Radio Group.
KXNO-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Ankeny, Iowa, and serving the Des Moines radio market. It airs a sports radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia. The station's studios are located on Grand Avenue in Des Moines, and its transmitter is located on Northeast 66th Avenue in Ankeny.
KKDM is a commercial radio station in Des Moines, Iowa. The station airs a top 40 (CHR) radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. KKDM uses the KISS-FM branding used by many iHeart CHR/Top 40 stations. It carries the syndicated Elvis Duran and the Morning Show from co-owned Premiere Networks.
KIOA is a commercial radio station in Des Moines, Iowa. It is owned by Saga Communications, operating as part of its Des Moines Radio Group, and airs a classic hits radio format. The station's studios are located at 1416 Locust Street along with Saga's other Des Moines stations. The transmitter is located off 24th Street SE, near 6th Avenue SE, in Altoona.
KBIQ, known as "Q102.7", is a Christian adult contemporary radio station broadcasting at 102.7 FM. The station serves the Colorado Springs, Colorado, area of the United States, and can be heard as far north as Denver and Arvada. The station is owned by the Salem Media Group.
KOEZ is a commercial radio station broadcasting a soft adult contemporary music radio format, switching to Christmas music for part of November and December. Licensed to Ames, Iowa, the station serves the Des Moines metropolitan area. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Des Moines Radio Group. The station's studios are located on Locust Street in Des Moines, while its transmitter is located near Woodward.
K260AM is a contemporary hit radio station serving the Des Moines, Iowa, area of the United States. It broadcasts at 99.9 on the FM dial and on HD Radio subchannel KIOA 93.3-HD2. The station is owned by Saga Communications as part of its Des Moines Radio Group; its studios are located in Des Moines along with Saga's other Des Moines stations. The station is also a reporter in Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems' overall Top 40 panel due to being a contributor on the BDS Rhythmic Top 40 panel.