KPUL (101.7
MHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...
, "Pulse 101.7") is a
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
CHR (Top 40) formatted FM radio station
Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...
. It is
licensed
A license (or licence) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit).
A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another party (licensee) as an element of an agreeme ...
to
Winterset, Iowa
Winterset is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Iowa. The population was 5,353 at the time of the 2020 census.
Winterset is part of the Des Moines metropolitan area. It is the birthplace of actor John Wayne.
History
Winterset ...
, with studios located on 335th Street in
Waukee. It is one of only a few independent stations in the
Des Moines metropolitan area
The Des Moines metropolitan area, officially known as the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is located at the confluence of the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River. Des Moines serves as the capital of the U.S ...
radio market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area (DMA), television market area, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television and radio station offerings, and may also incl ...
.
The
transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications, a radio transmitter or just transmitter is an electronic device which produces radio waves with an antenna (radio), antenna. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which i ...
is off Quail Ridge Lane in Winterset. In
Ames
Ames may refer to:
Places United States
* Ames, Arkansas, a place in Arkansas
* Ames, Colorado
* Ames, Illinois
* Ames, Indiana
* Ames, Iowa, the most populous city bearing this name
* Ames, Kansas
* Ames, Nebraska
* Ames, New York
* Ames, Ok ...
, the station can also be heard on 25
watt
The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer. The watt is named after James Wa ...
translator station
A broadcast relay station, also known as a satellite station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator (U.S.), re-broadcaster (Canada), repeater (two-way radio) or complementary station (Mexico), is a broadcast transmitter which repeats (or tran ...
K238AN at 95.5 MHz.
History
KBBM
The FCC issued a construction permit for station KTDG on May 7, 1990. The station was not put on the air though until June 1, 1992 as KBBM. The station had no locally produced content. It used 24-hour news feeds from
CNN Headline News
HLN is an American basic cable network. Owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, the network primarily carries true crime programming.
The channel was originally launched on January 1, 1982 by Turner Broadcasting as CNN2 (later renamed Headline News ...
and
CNNfn
CNNfn (fn = financial news) was an American cable television news network operated by the CNN subsidiary of the media conglomerate Time Warner from December 29, 1995, and of AOL Time Warner until December 15, 2004. The network was dedicated to co ...
, positioning itself as "Des Moines Business Station."
The format was never a ratings winner and was only heard for a little over a year before KBBM was sold.
Q99.5 KZZQ
In March 1993 the station was purchased by Positive Impact Media Inc., a non profit group. The station's initial purpose was to rebroadcast the programming of a
Christian contemporary music
Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and s ...
(CCM) station in the
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a region of cities (originally four, see History) in the U.S. states of Iowa and Illinois: Davenport and Bettendorf in southeastern Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in northwestern Illinois. These cities are t ...
. But within a few months KBBM found itself in need of its own programming due to the failure of the Quad Cities station. The station switched its format to
Christian CHR
Christian contemporary hit radio (sometimes abbreviated as Christian CHR) is a radio format that is common in the United States and Australia focusing on playing current and recent music as determined by the contemporary Christian music Top 40
I ...
and rebranded itself as Q99.5 KZZQ, or "The Q". It were the first station to bring Christian CHR to Des Moines, and was successful in attracting listeners and receiving support through donations and advertising throughout the first decade.
In 2004, KZZQ had competition for the first time as the
University of Northwestern – St. Paul
University of Northwestern (UNW) is a private Christian university in Roseville, Minnesota.
History
It was established in 1902 as ''Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School'' by William Bell Riley, a pastor at First Baptist Churc ...
purchased two local stations,
KNWI
KNWI, (107.1 FM, "Life 107.1") is a Contemporary Christian radio station, licensed to Osceola, Iowa and serving the Des Moines metropolitan area. It is owned and operated by University of Northwestern – St. Paul in Roseville, Minnesota, a reli ...
Life 107.1 and
KNWM
KNWM (96.1 FM) is a Christmas music formatted radio station licensed to Madrid, Iowa and serving Ames, and the northern Des Moines suburbs. It is owned and operated by University of Northwestern – St. Paul in Roseville, Minnesota, a religious un ...
Life 96.1. It programmed the stations with
Christian AC Christian adult contemporary, also known as Christian AC or CAC, is a radio format. In the United States, Christian adult contemporary radio stations cater to a mostly adult audience and are similar to mainstream adult contemporary stations in that ...
. Although they also suffer from weak signals, together Life 107.1 and Life 96.1 cover much of the market. This was something KZZQ struggles to do with its lower power (6,000 watts) and a transmitter located southwest of Des Moines. Due to increased competition from Life 107 and other stations entering the market, and staff turnover, listenership continued to decline and it became apparent a change was required.
Pulse 99.5 KPUL
After several days of
stunting in February 2008, the station was re-branded KPUL "Pulse 99.5." The new format became an experimental mix of CCM and
CHR–Pop in an effort to reach more people through a hybrid format. The new format proved to be a more aggressive change than listeners in the area were ready for.
After a few months under the new format, Pulse 99.5 re-adjusted its format to a mix of Christian CHR, Rock, and positive mainstream hits.
Pulse 101.7
On October 6, 2010, the station announced an "upgrade" involving changing its frequency to 101.7 FM and a rebranding to Pulse 101.7.
[Your Pulse Upgrade]
, retrieved October 13, 2010. These upgrades involved other area radio stations (
KTIA-FM and
IPR).
The
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...
(FCC) approved the changes in the Fall of 2014.
The target date for the move to 101.7 FM was March 31, 2015, and after a delay due to weather, the tower upgrades were made on April 14, 2015. The station retained the same format that it most recently used as "Pulse 99.5". "Pulse 101.7" also retained the same coverage pattern as that of the former 99.5 range across Des Moines and south Central Iowa.
Translators
References
External links
KPUL Official Website*
Online streamingCallsign history2008 Des Moines Ratings
{{Religious Radio Stations in Iowa
PUL
Contemporary Christian radio stations in the United States
Radio stations established in 1992
PUL