K260AM ("Hits 99.9") 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 (KSTZ, KIOA, KAZR, KOEZ, KRNT and KPSZ). 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.[2]

K260AM
Translator of KIOA 93.3-HD2
Broadcast areaDes Moines, Iowa
Frequency99.9 MHz
BrandingHits 99.9
Programming
FormatContemporary hit radio
Ownership
Owner
  • Saga Communications
  • (Saga Communications of Iowa, LLC)
KAZR, KIOA, KOEZ, KPSZ, KRNT, KSTZ
History
First air date
2011
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID152401
ClassD
ERP250 watts
HAAT299.4 m (982 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°35′04″N 93°38′07″W / 41.584486°N 93.635332°W / 41.584486; -93.635332
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitehits999fm.com

Station history

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The station signed on as a translator for KSTZ in September 2011, but after it was announced that rhythmic contemporary-formatted KZHZ ("Hits 105.9") was sold to Iowa Public Radio a month earlier, Saga Communications quietly acquired the format and intellectual property from Connoisseur Media (KZHZ's parent company) and announced on October 25, 2011, that it would relaunch the format on both KIOA-HD2 and on translator K260AM, on the closing of KZHZ's sale to IPR.[3] "Hits 99.9" officially signed on the air on October 27, after stunting with kissing sound effects, poking fun at competitor KKDM "Kiss 107.5", which has aired a mainstream Top 40/CHR format since 1999. Since 2011, the station has shifted its rhythmic format to a more mainstream Top 40/CHR direction. As of 2021, in addition to competing against KKDM, it also competes with Cumulus Media’s KWQW. No personalities are heard on the station.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for K260AM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ BDS monitored radio panel update
  3. ^ "Hits Moving In Des Moines" from Radioinsight (October 25, 2011)
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See also

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List of FM broadcast translators used as primary stations