Des Moines-Ames News: Local TV, Radio and Newspapers
The latest headlines from Des Moines-Ames's own TV stations, newspapers and radio newsrooms, updated through the day. Further down: which channel each network is on and every station licensed in the Des Moines-Ames, IA market.
Latest Des Moines-Ames news
- 'The honor of a lifetime' | Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn retiring
- Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn announces retirement plan
- Iowa high school cross country: Assignments for state meet qualifying races Wednesday, Thursday
- West Des Moines man charged in alleged $2 million Ponzi scheme
- Candidates for soil and water commission list priorities
- Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn to retire
- Pastor’s Corner-Think before you speak
- Unopposed candidates seek votes
- World Food Prize’s 40th Borlaug Dialogue pairs hunger talks with record meal effort
- E-scooters zoom around campus, raising concerns about safety
- New Simpson College policy changes social event operations
- How to watch No. 15 Iowa and Minnesota battle for Floyd of Rosedale
More Des Moines-Ames headlines (18)
- Student Development: Moving forward without Matt Hansen
- Tailgates, football and more: Recap of Simpson College 2026 Homecoming
- An inside look at the $20 million Italian American Cultural Center
- Farmers hustle to get in harvest amid news of federal diesel price relief program
- How to watch: Iowa State visits No. 25 Arizona in Big 12 matchup
- Miller-Meeks, Bohannan debate ahead of much-watched race in Iowa's 1st Congressional District
- Production differential holding steady at water department
- 6 Iowa trails to receive over $2.5 million through state program
- Daily Horoscope Oct. 21: Different paths
- Iowa State student’s attorney explains reasoning behind CyRide lawsuit
- Meet Chief of Staff and Policy Advisor Tim Day
- 2026 Norman Borlaug Lecture: From the seed up
- Indianola tax abatement program to end in 2027
- Rotary Club of Indianola plants new trees to restore shade at Little League ball fields
- Chariton JV2 football team defeats Van Meter on Homecoming
- Chargers rout Woodward-Granger on Senior Night
- New AD Jared Benko brings revenue-generating experience to ISU
- Iowans head to early voting precincts as absentee ballot deadline passes
Headlines and links come from each outlet's own news feed; the story opens on the outlet's website. Updated Oct 21, 1:15 pm EDT.
The Des Moines-Ames, IA TV market has 9 full-power stations in FCC records. Here is which channel each network is on, who holds each license, and what viewers say about them.
What channel is ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS in Des Moines-Ames?
- ABC: WOI-DT on channel 5 (Ames)
- CBS: KCCI on channel 8 (Des Moines)
- NBC: WHO-DT on channel 13 (Des Moines)
- FOX: KDSM-TV on channel 17 (Des Moines)
- PBS: KDIN-TV on channel 11 (Des Moines); KTIN on channel 21 (Fort Dodge)
- The CW: KCWI-TV on channel 23 (Ames)
All full-power stations in the Des Moines-Ames market
| Network | Station | Channel | RF | City of license |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | WOI-DT | 5 | 5 | Ames, IA |
| CBS | KCCI | 8 | 8 | Des Moines, IA |
| NBC | WHO-DT | 13 | 13 | Des Moines, IA |
| FOX | KDSM-TV | 17 | 16 | Des Moines, IA |
| PBS | KDIN-TV | 11 | 11 | Des Moines, IA |
| PBS | KTIN | 21 | 25 | Fort Dodge, IA |
| The CW | KCWI-TV | 23 | 23 | Ames, IA |
| ION | KFPX-TV | 39 | 36 | Newton, IA |
| Independent | KDMI | 56 | 19 | Des Moines, IA |
Channel is the virtual channel your TV shows; RF is the frequency the station transmits on. A channel scan on your TV picks up changes after a station moves frequency.
Where to find MeTV, Antenna TV and other networks in Des Moines-Ames
Digital subchannels carry 29 more networks over the air in this market, free with an antenna:
| Network | Channel |
|---|---|
| Antenna TV | 13.3 (WHO-DT) |
| Busted | 39.6 (KFPX-TV) |
| Catchy Comedy | 45.1 (KDIT-CD) |
| Charge! | 17.3 (KDSM-TV) |
| Comet | 17.2 (KDSM-TV) |
| Court TV | 39.2 (KFPX-TV) |
| Cozi TV | 13.2 (WHO-DT) |
| Dabl | 45.6 (KDIT-CD) |
| GETV | 23.5 (KCWI-TV) |
| Game Show Central | 39.7 (KFPX-TV) |
| Grit | 5.3 (WOI-DT) |
| HSN | 39.8 (KFPX-TV) |
| Heroes & Icons | 8.3 (KCCI) |
| Ion Mystery | 39.4 (KFPX-TV) |
| Ion Plus | 39.5 (KFPX-TV) |
| Laff | 39.3 (KFPX-TV) |
| MeTV | 8.2 (KCCI) |
| MeTV Toons | 45.4 (KDIT-CD) |
| Movies! | 45.2 (KDIT-CD) |
| Nosey | 8.5 (KCCI) |
| Outlaw | 5.8 (WOI-DT) |
| Oxygen | 23.3 (KCWI-TV) |
| Quest | 23.2 (KCWI-TV) |
| Roar | 17.4 (KDSM-TV) |
| Start TV | 45.3 (KDIT-CD) |
| Story Television | 8.4 (KCCI) |
| The Nest | 5.4 (WOI-DT) |
| True Crime Network | 5.2 (WOI-DT) |
| WEST | 45.5 (KDIT-CD) |
Low-power and Class A stations in the Des Moines-Ames market
| Network | Station | Channel | City of license |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catchy Comedy | KDIT-CD | 45 | Des Moines, IA |
News, talk and public radio in the Des Moines-Ames area
| Frequency | Station | Format | City of license |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88.9 FM | KKSO | Adult album alternative | Mitchellville, IA |
| 90.1 FM | WOI-FM | News; adult alternative | Ames, IA |
| 640 AM | WOI | Public radio; news-talk | Ames, IA |
| 1040 AM | WHO | News Talk Information | Des Moines, IA |
| 1400 AM | KVFD | Talk | Fort Dodge, IA |
| 1430 AM | KASI | Talk radio | Ames, IA |
Music, sports and other radio in the Des Moines-Ames area
See all 21 stations
| Frequency | Station | Format | City of license |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88.1 FM | KICB | Alternative | Fort Dodge, IA |
| 89.3 FM | KJMC | Urban Adult Contemporary | Des Moines, IA |
| 92.1 FM | KUFX | Active rock | Fort Dodge, IA |
| 93.3 FM | KIOA | Classic hits | Des Moines, IA |
| 94.5 FM | KKEZ | Hot adult contemporary | Fort Dodge, IA |
| 94.9 FM | KGGO | Classic rock | Des Moines, IA |
| 97.3 FM | KHKI | Country | Des Moines, IA |
| 98.3 FM | KWQW | Top 40 | Boone, IA |
| 100.3 FM | KDRB | Adult hits | Des Moines, IA |
| 101.7 FM | KPUL | Christian contemporary hit radio | Winterset, IA |
| 102.5 FM | KSTZ | Hot adult contemporary | Des Moines, IA |
| 104.1 FM | KOEZ | Soft adult contemporary | Ames, IA |
| 105.1 FM | KCYZ | Hot AC | Ames, IA |
| 105.5 FM | KIHS | Catholic radio | Perry, IA |
| 107.5 FM | KKDM | Contemporary Hit Radio; HD2: Sports radio (KXNO simulcast); HD3: Contemporary Christian (K-Love) | Des Moines, IA |
| 540 AM | KWMT | Classic country | Fort Dodge, IA |
| 940 AM | KPSZ | Christian talk and teaching | Des Moines, IA |
| 1150 AM | KDLX | Regional Mexican | Des Moines, IA |
| 1350 AM | KRNT | Sports | Des Moines, IA |
| 1460 AM | KXNO | Sports radio | Des Moines, IA |
| 1490 AM | KXLQ | Regional Mexican | Indianola, IA |
NOAA Weather Radio in the Des Moines-Ames area
| Frequency | Call sign | Transmitter | NWS office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 162.550 MHz | WXL57 | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines, IA |
| 162.400 MHz | WXK84 | Fort Dodge, IA | Des Moines, IA |
Local newspapers in the Des Moines-Ames area
8 newspapers are based in communities in this TV market.
| Newspaper | Based in | Type | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State Daily | Ames, IA | Student newspaper | 1890 |
| The Tribune | Ames, IA | Local newspaper | 1997 |
| The Des Moines Register | Des Moines, IA | Daily newspaper | 1849 |
| The Grand Views | Des Moines, IA | Student newspaper | 1949 |
| The Messenger | Fort Dodge, IA | Daily newspaper | 1856 |
| The Indianola Independent Advocate | Indianola, IA | Independent local newsroom | |
| The Simpsonian | Indianola, IA | Student newspaper | |
| Newton Daily News | Newton, IA | Biweekly newspaper | 1902 |
Obituaries in the Des Moines-Ames area
Death notices and obituaries from 8 local newspapers; each link opens the paper's own obituaries page.