KCHA (AM)

KCHA (1580 kHz) is an oldies formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Charles City, Iowa, serving Charles City & Floyd County as well as North Central and North Eastern Iowa. KCHA is owned and operated by North Iowa Broadcasting, LLC. It was first licensed on December 13, 1949.

KCHA
Broadcast areaCharles City, Iowa, Floyd County, IA
Frequency1580 kHz
BrandingFabulous 1580 & 103.3
Programming
FormatOldies
AffiliationsCBS News Radio
Ownership
Owner
  • North Iowa Broadcasting, LLC
  • (Coloff Media, LLC)
KCFI, KCHA-FM, KCZE, KLKK, KSMA-FM, KIOW, KHAM, KCVM, KCNZ, KMCH-FM
History
First air date
December 13, 1949
Technical information
Facility ID41102
ClassD
Power500 watts day
10 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
43°03′05″N 92°40′00″W
Translator(s)103.3 K277DM (Charles City)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitekchaam.com

Deadly Tornado

KCHA was noted for its role during the May 15, 1968 tornado that tore through Charles City, destroying over half the town and killing 13 residents and injuring hundreds. One of the largest twisters ever recorded in the state, the storm destroyed much of the downtown – 256 businesses and 1,250 homes. KCHA was warning people of the incoming storm when the tornado struck.[1] After power was knocked out, station personnel installed an emergency generator at the transmitter site on Stony Point Road and was back on the air later that evening.

Transmission Location

The KCHA transmitter is located on Stony Point Road in Charles City, right off Business 218 near K-Mart.

Programming

The station broadcasts an oldies format.

KCHA also produces a special themed weekend on the weekends.

Broadcast Signal

The KCHA signal stretches from Forest City to West Union and Austin, Minnesota south to Waterloo during the day. At night, the signal covers Floyd County, IA.

References
  1. "A moment frozen in time: Forty years later, residents still vividly remember the day Charles City was nearly blown away", Charles City Press, May 15, 2008.
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