KIAI
Radio station in Mason City, Iowa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
KIAI (93.9 FM) is a commercial radio station that serves the Mason City, Iowa micropolitan area. The station is owned by Connoisseur Media, through licensee Alpha 3E Licensee LLC,[2] and broadcasts a country music format. KIAI's studios are located on Yorktown Pike in eastern Mason City.
| |
| Broadcast area | Mason City, Iowa micropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 93.9 MHz |
| Branding | 93.9 The Country Moose |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Country music |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | 1985 |
Former call signs | KNIQ (1985–1991) |
Former frequencies | 93.5 MHz (1985-1992) |
Call sign meaning | Iowa |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 30115 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 241 m (791 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°10′5.6″N 93°6′3.9″W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
The station's transmitter and broadcast tower are located four miles east of Mason City along 280th Street in rural Cerro Gordo County. According to the Antenna Structure Registration database, the tower is 244 m (801 ft) tall with the FM broadcast antenna mounted at the 229 m (751 ft) level.[3] The calculated Height Above Average Terrain is 241 m (791 ft).
History
B-Y Communications, the owner of KGLO (1300 AM), received approval for a construction permit for an FM station on 93.5 MHz in December 1984.[4] The station received the KNIQ call letters on April 9, 1985. When KNIQ signed on in November 1985, it aired a Top 40/CHR format as "Q93." KNIQ was sold to James Ingstad Broadcasting in March 1990.[5] In September 1991, the station flipped to its current country format as "The Country Moose." On October 4, 1991, KNIQ changed callsigns to KIAI, and the station moved to its current 93.9 FM frequency in 1992.[6]
James Ingstad Broadcasting sold KIAI to Cumulus Broadcasting in 1998.[7] Two years later, Clear Channel Communications bought the station.[8] In 2007, Clear Channel sold the station to Three Eagles Broadcasting.[9][10][11] In 2014, KIAI was sold to Digity, LLC. Two years later, Alpha Media acquired Digity, LLC, including KIAI, for $264 million.[12][13]
In May 2024, morning show host Britt Bailey was let go from the station due to nationwide staffing cuts initiated by Alpha Media. In addition, other on-air staff were relegated to off-air roles, and the station went jockless. On June 5, KIAI began airing programming from Westwood One's "Mainstream Country" format.[14][15][16] KIAI was the North Iowa affiliate of "The Big Time" with Whitney Allen that aired in evenings, "After Midnite" with Granger Smith, Z-Max Racing Country on Sunday mornings, and Country Top 40 with Fitz on Sunday evenings.
In May 2025, Connoisseur Media announced its intent to acquire Alpha Media.[17] The FCC approved the sale on August 13, 2025, and the sale was consummated on September 4.[18]
