KRNI
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KRNI
| logo =
| city = Mason City, Iowa
| area = Northern Iowa
| branding =
| frequency = {{Frequency|1010|kHz}}
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1948|3|1}}
| format = News and Information
| language =
| power = 760 watts day
16 watts night
| licensing_authority = FCC
| class = D
| facility_id = 69035
| coordinates =
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|KSMN (1948–1985)|KLSS (1985–1990)}}
| former_frequencies =
| network = Iowa Public Radio (News and Information)
| owner = Iowa Public Radio, Inc.
| sister_stations =
| webcast = {{listenlive|https://iowapublicradio.org}}
| website = [https://iowapublicradio.org/ IowaPublicRadio.org]
}}
KRNI (1010 AM) is a non-commercial, listener-supported public radio station licensed to Mason City, Iowa, and serving Northern Iowa. It is owned by Iowa Public Radio, Inc., and carries the network's "News and Information" service, along with flagship station WOI 640 Ames and WSUI 910 Iowa City. KRNI is a member station of National Public Radio (NPR) and also carries programs from the Public Radio Exchange (PRX) and American Public Media (APM). The BBC World Service is heard overnight.
By day, KRNI is powered at 760 watts. But it reduces power to 16 watts at night. It broadcasts from a single tower with a non-directional signal. The transmitter is east of Mason City. Even with its modest power, the region's flat land and near-perfect ground conductivity allow KRNI to provide at least secondary coverage to most of north-central Iowa and parts of southern Minnesota in the daytime. At night, it must protect from interference two Canadian Class A stations on 1010 AM, CFRB in Toronto and CBR in Calgary, rendering KRNI's 16 watts all but unlistenable, even in Mason City.
History
===Overview===
KRNI was established as KSMN, the second local station in Mason City, in 1948. KSMN provided news and, ultimately, country music until it was switched to a simulcast of KLSS (106.1 FM), the FM station previously started by KSMN, in 1985. When the owners of KLSS-AM-FM acquired another AM station in 1990, this station was spun off.
It was donated to the University of Northern Iowa, which converted it into a public radio station as a simulcast of its main station, KUNI. It remained a public radio station after Iowa's state universities merged their radio operations into IPR in 2004.
=Early years=
The Mohawk Broadcasting Company, led by Robert Carson, incorporated in 1947{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96648903/mohawk-broadcasting-company-of-mason-cit/|date=July 8, 1947|page=8|title=Mohawk Broadcasting Company of Mason City Files for Incorporation|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022}} and filed for and received a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to build a new radio station on 1010 kHz. It would operate with 1,000 watts as a daytimer, required to go off the air at night. The application was filed on October 30.{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=44682 |title= History Cards for KRNI|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards)
Construction began before year's end at a former schoolhouse three miles east of town on U.S. Route 18.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96649066/station-ksmn-to-be-on-air-early-in-48-i/|date=January 1, 1948|page=11|title=Station KSMN to Be on Air Early in '48 in Mason City|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022}} KSMN signed on the air on {{Start date and age|1948|3|1}}.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96649328/ksmn-to-go-on-air-monday-as-2nd-operatin/|date=February 27, 1948|page=2|title=KSMN to Go on Air Monday as 2nd Operating Station|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022}} The call letters were said to stand for "Sports Music News".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96649426/ksmn-mason-citys-new-1000-watt-statio/|date=February 24, 1948|page=2|title=KSMN, Mason City's New 1,000 Watt Station, On The Air Soon|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022}}
The station suffered a devastating fire to its transmitter site, causing $35,000 in damage, on the night of January 29, 1951. The heat was so intense that the keys melted off typewriters and the entire plant was a total loss, though the studios were not, having previously been moved to the Weir building in downtown Mason City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96649641/35000-fire-razes-ksmn-station-broadca/|date=January 30, 1951|page=1|title=$35,000 Fire Razes KSMN Station: Broadcasts May Resume Wednesday|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022}} The station was back in service three days later thanks to emergency equipment provided by transmitter manufacturers and other Iowa radio stations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96649817/ksmn-back-on-air-thursday/|date=January 31, 1951|page=2|title=KSMN Back on Air Thursday|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022}}
In 1952, KSMN principals formed the Twin States Television Corporation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96649932/television-firm-here-incorporated/|date=August 12, 1952|page= 20|title=Television Firm Here Incorporated|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022}} The group then filed for channel 3, which had been allotted to Mason City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650136/application-for-mason-city-television-st/|date=August 26, 1952|page=1|title=Application for Mason City Television Station Filed|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211254/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650136/application-for-mason-city-television/|url-status=live}} This application, however, conflicted with one by Mason City station KGLO; Twin States withdrew its application in October 1953, allowing for the construction of KGLO-TV (now KIMT) on the channel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650224/kglo-gets-tv-construction-permit-progra/|date=October 14, 1953|page=1|title=KGLO Gets TV Construction Permit: Programs Expected by Summer, Competing Group Withdraws Bid|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211326/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650224/kglo-gets-tv-construction-permit/|url-status=live}}
Mohawk Broadcasting sold KSMN in 1956 to Land o' Corn Broadcasters, owned by Charles V. Warren, for $115,000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650407/station-ksmn-purchased-for-115000/|date=April 10, 1956|page=1|title=Station KSMN Purchased for $115,000|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211253/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650407/station-ksmn-purchased-for-115000/|url-status=live}} Warren then sold the company to Red Blanchard and Harry Campbell in 1959 for $140,000; by this time, KSMN had additional studios in Hampton and Clear Lake.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650561/140000-price-two-chicago-men-purchase/|date=December 11, 1958|page=1|title=$140,000 Price: Two Chicago Men Purchase KSMN|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211323/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650561/140000-price-two-chicago-men/|url-status=live}}{{r|hc}} While Blanchard moved to Mason City, he continued to host the weekly WGN Barn Dance show in Chicago, commuting 800 miles round-trip in his own aircraft each week; he noted that it only took him 30 minutes longer to get to the studio in Chicago than it did when he lived in Berwyn, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, and that he had fun making the journey.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650930/red-blanchard-commutes-from-iowafor-fun/|date=January 21, 1962|page=8:6|first=Larry|last=Wolter|title=Red Blanchard Commutes from Iowa—for Fun!|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211300/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96650930/red-blanchard-commutes-from-iowafor/|url-status=live}}
=Talley and Hedberg ownership=
Blanchard and Campbell sold KSMN to Hayward Talley of Litchfield, Illinois, trading as the North Central Iowa Broadcasting Company,{{r|hc}} in 1963. The sale was made because of the increasing demands on Blanchard as an entertainer, with more public appearances and a planned color television broadcast of the Barn Dance.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96651377/blanchard-campbell-sell-ksmn-to-talley/|date=June 24, 1963|page=1|title=Blanchard, Campbell sell KSMN to Talley|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211259/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96651377/blanchard-campbell-sell-ksmn-to-talley/|url-status=live}} An editor's note in the Globe-Gazette newspaper accompanying an editorial written by Blanchard to bid the town farewell noted that he had become "one of Mason City's most popular personalities".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96651572/guest-editorial-chuckles-to-remember-re/|date=November 30, 1963|page=9|title=Guest editorial: Chuckles to remember Red Blanchard by|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211315/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96651572/guest-editorial-chuckles-to-remember/|url-status=live}}
Under Talley, KSMN filed in 1966 to add an FM station; however, it could not build it at its AM transmitter site due to short-spacing to another station in Waterloo.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96651793/ksmn-fm-request-submitted/|date=November 8, 1966|page=17|title=KSMN FM request submitted|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211301/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96651793/ksmn-fm-request-submitted/|url-status=live}} The new station was approved in May 1967 and planned to broadcast KSMN during daytime hours while extending its service at night.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652061/ksmn-given-fm-permit/|date=May 12, 1967|page=20|title=KSMN given FM permit|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211312/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652061/ksmn-given-fm-permit/|url-status=live}} KLSS (106.1 FM) debuted on November 1 of that year.{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1970/1970-BC-YB.pdf#276|work=Broadcasting Yearbook|date=1970|title=KLSS|page=B-76|via=World Radio History|access-date=2022-02-28|archive-date=2022-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220192129/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1970/1970-BC-YB.pdf#276|url-status=live}}
In 1984, Talley sold KSMN and KLSS to Hedberg Broadcasting of Blue Earth, Minnesota.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652813/klss-ksmn-sold/|date=February 29, 1984|page=18|title=KLSS, KSMN sold|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211336/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652813/klss-ksmn-sold/|url-status=live}} KSMN initially retained its long-running country music format,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652998/new-owner-takes-over-radio-stations/|date=May 1, 1984|page=3|title=New owner takes over radio stations|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211331/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652998/new-owner-takes-over-radio-stations/|url-status=live}} but on March 4, 1985, this was abandoned and KSMN switched to simulcasting KLSS and its adult contemporary format, also adopting the KLSS call letters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96653109/klss-on-am-too/|date=March 1, 1985|page=3|title=KLSS on AM, too|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211314/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96653109/klss-on-am-too/|url-status=live}}
=Donation to public radio=
In 1990, Hedberg Broadcasting reached a deal to buy KRIB (1490 AM) for $250,000. The deal was of special significance to the company, as company founder Paul Hedberg had worked at KRIB as a teenager in the late 1950s. FCC rules of the time did not permit ownership of multiple AM or FM stations in the same area, so KLSS AM had to be divested.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652459/competitor-purchases-krib-radio/|date=April 11, 1990|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652558/ A2]|first=Steve|last=McMahon|title=Competitor purchases KRIB radio|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211313/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652459/competitor-purchases-krib-radio/|url-status=live}} It was donated to the University of Northern Iowa, which at the time had been providing a rebroadcast service of KHKE in Cedar Falls in the Mason City area via a low-powered translator.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652305/klss-donates-am-station-to-local-public/|date=July 22, 1990|first=Steve|last=McMahon|page=C13|title=KLSS donates AM station to local public radio|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211332/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96652305/klss-donates-am-station-to-local-public/|url-status=live}} Programming switched to a rebroadcast of KHKE in September 1990.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96653220/new-uni-operated-radio-station-begins-br/|date=September 9, 1990|page=D7|title=New UNI-operated radio station begins broadcasting|newspaper=The Courier|location=Waterloo, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211340/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96653220/new-uni-operated-radio-station-begins/|url-status=live}}
The transmitter, cited as having 10 years of service life remaining when Hedberg donated the facility to UNI,{{r|Glob900722}} was replaced in 1999 using federal grant monies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96653350/public-radio-receive-federal-grants-to-i/|date=October 1, 1999|page=B3|title=Public radio receive federal grants to improve services|newspaper=The Courier|location=Waterloo, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211315/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96653350/public-radio-receive-federal-grants-to/|url-status=live}}
In 2004, the radio services of the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa were amalgamated into Iowa Public Radio. KRNI was switched in 2011 to the news and information service of IPR.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96653642/ipr-makes-changes-in-programs/|date=June 26, 2011|page=16|title=IPR makes changes in programs|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228211316/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96653642/ipr-makes-changes-in-programs/|url-status=live}} Effective June 30, 2022, all three schools' station licenses were transferred to Iowa Public Radio, Inc.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://iowapublicradio.org/ Iowa Public Radio]
{{AM station data|69035|KRNI}}
{{clear}}
{{Mason City Radio}}
{{NPR Iowa}}
{{coord|43|08|31|N|93|06|40|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}