As one of Des Moines' oldest radio stations, KRNT has a unique history. We will mark our 69th anniversary March 17, 2004, and as we reach that milestone, we take a look back at the "great memories" from those years.

March 17, 1935. That was the day that the story of KRNT started. KRNT (whose call letters reflected its owner, Register 'N Tribune) became the Columbia (CBS) affiliate in Des Moines. KRNT's first studios were shared with their sister station, KSO, and were located at the Register and Tribune building in Des Moines. The shared studios and transmitter sites were temporary arrangements. At 10:20 on the night of KRNT's launch, a special program was broadcast from the Chicago studios of Columbia to mark the addition of KRNT as a network affiliate.

As KRNT continued to broadcast from the Register and Tribune building, new transmitters (pictured, left) were ready for operation in early 1936. At that time, broadcast quality telephone lines linked KRNT and KSO with WMT of Cedar Rapids, so each station could share locally produced programs.

April 9, 1937, KRNT was permitted to operate with 5,000 watts of power during the day and 1,000 watts at night. KRNT also moved to its current 1350 AM frequency on this day. Three years later, KRNT obtained permission to operate at 5,000 watts at night. The change to the 5,000 watt night broadcast occurred February 26, 1942. With that change came yet another new transmitting and tower facility. The latest facility (pictured, right) was constructed on the southeast side of Des Moines at SE 22nd and Park near the river.

KRNT remained the Columbia affiliate in Des Moines, while sister KSO was the Blue Network (ABC) affiliate. Studios remained in the Register and Tribune building, until the two stations broke up in 1944.

Due to revisions in FCC regulations, one owner could not own two AM frequencies in the same market. This meant the sale of KSO to Murphy Communications. Following that sale, the licensee of KRNT was changed. Effective October 23, 1944, the owner of KRNT was Cowles Broadcasting Company. Cowles would continue to be the owner of KRNT until the station was sold to Stauffer Communications, Inc. in 1974.

KRNT dropped its affiliation with Columbia in December 1944 and became the Des Moines affiliate for the Blue network (Now ABC). KRNT returned to the CBS Radio Network on June 15, 1951. It continues to be a CBS affiliate.

In 1946, KRNT purchased the Shrine auditorium (built in 1927 by the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine Temple of Des Moines) for $150,000.00