KISU

Description

KISU radio first went on the air June 4th, 1999. When it first hit the airwaves, KISU barely made a ripple in the local radio market, broadcasting at only 450 watts. But since that day in June, KISU has grown in a lot of different ways. After just five months on the air, KISU's original general manager left, and long-time eastern Idaho radio veteran Jerry Miller was hired. In 2004 KISU increased its power from 450 watts to 4500 watts, and in April of 2008, KISU went on the air in Idaho Falls on translator K217EJ, broadcasting at 91.3 FM! The station now also consistently ranks high in local listener ratings survey, drawing more listeners than many local, more-established commercial radio stations!

When KISU first went on the air, all of its programming came from outside sources like National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and many independent program distributors. But in the spring of 2000 KISU reached a milestone when ISU student Jeremy Petersen aired KISU’s first-ever locally produced program, a music show titled “In House”. Since that first taste of local programming hit the airwaves, KISU has added many other locally-produced programs, and now provides local and regional news throughout the day, as well. And today, Petersen has moved on to provide the same excellent radio at Oregon Public Radio in Portland. In the mid 90’s KISU also went online, making it possible for people outside the listening area to listen to the station at any time through their computer. That became particularly important as KISU has also become the home for broadcasts of ISU women’s soccer, volleyball and basketball.

In 2008, KISU FM expanded with a stronger signal into the Idaho Falls, Idaho market by going on-air with a new translator at 91.3 FM, and in 2012 KISU erxpanded its signal throughout the Upper Snake River Valley by going on-air at 88.1 FM with a new translator in Rexburg.