Iowa Catholic Radio expands programming south to the state line

September 13, 2023

The Iowa Catholic Radio Network has expanded through a major acquisition of a 34,000-watt powerhouse station, 105.3FM based in Chariton.

Its 600-foot tower is situated just north of Rathbun Lake.

St. Gabriel Communications, the nonprofit parent of Iowa Catholic Radio, agreed May 24th to purchase the station from Iowa-based Honey Creek Broadcasting, LLC.

Catholic programming began airing on Sept. 1.

“A station of this quality is very difficult to come by,” said Matt Willkom, Director of Programming and Network Development for Iowa Catholic Radio. “Usually, an FM of this size will get gobbled up by a huge radio conglomerate with deep pockets.”

Willkom reached out to the owner of Honey Creek Broadcasting, who was willing to talk about a sale to another Iowa-based entity, Willkom said.

“This was not a gift. It was a strategic acquisition with the long-term goal of covering as much of the state as possible and shoring up some of the gaps in coverage even within the Des Moines metro area,” said Willkom. “That’s always been the calling that the board (of directors) has felt from the beginning.”

The former oldies station with the call letters KEDB now has a new identity as KIHC, with the IHC representing an abbreviation of Jesus’ name using Greek letters, also known as a Christogram. 

The acquisition expands the Iowa Catholic Radio Network’s reach well into the Davenport Diocese and the Diocese of Jefferson City, said Willkom. Cities within the expanded listening area include Albia, Centerville, Ottumwa, Indianola, Osceola, Leon, Knoxville, Pella, Bloomfield, and Unionville, Missouri.

Residents south of Des Moines will receive local forecasts and local events will be promoted, yet they’ll get most of the same programming as residents in the Des Moines metro area receive.