KDWA (1460 AM/97.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a hyperlocal News/Talk format, licensed to Hastings, Minnesota. The station is currently owned by K & M Broadcasting, Inc. and features national news programming from the USA Radio Network at the top of each hour. Locally, KDWA is especially known for its coverage of local news and high school sports for both Hastings and Prescott.

KDWA
Frequency1460 kHz
BrandingKDWA AM 1460/FM 97.7
Programming
FormatTalk/Personality
AffiliationsUSA Radio Network
Ownership
OwnerK & M Broadcasting, Inc.
KQPR
History
First air date
October 24, 1963
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID32986
ClassD
Power1,000 watts day
41 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
44°44′14″N 92°49′42″W / 44.73722°N 92.82833°W / 44.73722; -92.82833
Translator(s)97.7 W249DK (Hastings)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitekdwa.com

History

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KDWA began broadcasting on October 24, 1963. It was founded by John McKane, a former editor for the Hastings Star Gazette. The station's first news director, Dave Baudoin, became the majority co-owner in 1968.[2]

In 1971, KDWA was allowed to broadcast at night, at a reduced wattage output. Previously, the station (like many AM stations at the time) would sign on at sunrise and sign off at sunset.

In 1991, Dan Massman bought the station for $150,000. The following year, he moved it to its current location on Highway 61 in downtown Hastings.

While KDWA is primarily a talk station, a weekly Top 40/EDM show was DJ'd by Reggie Bauer beginning in 2011 and ending in 2015.[3] Bauer later went on to work as a manager for KDWA's sister station, Power 96 in Albert Lea, Minnesota.[4]

On March 25, 2016, KDWA began simulcasting on an FM translator at 97.9 MHz.[5] However, on May 4 they moved down to 97.7 to avoid interference with a low-power station in Lakeville.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KDWA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Hastings: Independent radio station KDWA marks 50 years on air". 28 October 2013.
  3. ^ https://www.facebook.com/NewGenRadioKDWA [user-generated source]
  4. ^ "Reggie Bauer on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-27.[user-generated source]
  5. ^ KDWA-AM 1460/97.7 FM [@KDWA1460] (March 25, 2016). "First Day of a New Era #KDWANowOnFM. Listen on 97.9!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ KDWA-AM 1460/97.7 FM [@KDWA1460] (May 4, 2016). "Make note, KDWA Listeners, that KDWA-FM has moved from 97.9 to 97.7FM effective at Noon, today! This will clear up afternoon interference" (Tweet). Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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