The history and expansion of WHO Broadcasting Company from its beginnings on April 10th 1924 as a 5,OOO watt radio station is a fascinating story. It is a story that reflects a growth in staff size, facilities and the very best in broadcasting service to the public. One striving for continued quality and responsibility in its programming.

WHO was originally owned by the Bankers Life of Des Moines when radio was still considered novel, with stations broadcasting without individual identification. Eventually, the station was asked to choose call letters. “WHO” was chosen by the company’s manager in response to inquiries of “Who is this?” and “Who are we listening to?” In 1930, Colonel B. J. Palmer, noted for his progressive thinking, purchased WHO Radio and plans were made for expansion. In 1933, WHO was granted an increase in its operating power to 50,000 watts, making it one of the few stations in the country with such a vast coverage area. The extension in power enabled WHO to reach the entire Middle West and far beyond. Mail was received from Maine and Louisiana, remarking how clearly the signal was received.

To better reach the needs of its far-reaching audience, the WHO Radio News Bureau was created, bringing a professionally-staffed, fully-equipped news department to the public in 1935. Because 25% of all Grade A farmland was served by WHO’s extended signal, the station then established the country’s first farm news department. Although it started as an experiment in 1936, the Farm Service Department quickly became a model for others in the radio broadcast industry.

Early listeners to WHO Radio were tapping their feet to the Iowa Barn Dance Frolic, a local program of music and comedy on Saturday nights. WHO’s first Sports Director, future President Ronald Reagan, did play-by-play broadcasts of University of Iowa football games from 1932 to 1937, as well as “re-creations” of baseball games from within the studios. On the scene reports from newsmen Jack Shelley and Herb Plambeck during World War II, brought first-hand accounts to the homes of thousands. And the origination of “National Soil Conservation Days” provided listeners with agricultural updates and know-how.

After more than 90 years of service, WHO Radio continues to maintain its high standards, with comprehensive, award-winning news coverage and programming. 21 updated farm reports are heard daily, and listeners are able to hear discussions with guests and experts. Increased sports coverage, ranging from high school and college athletics to professional, brings the best in sports to our listeners.

In 1948, WHO was joined by its “sister” station, WHO-FM. Broadcasting on the FM band, the station offered high school sporting events, updated newscasts and music. As times changed, so did the role of FM stations. In 1973, new all-stereo equipment replaced the old and the station changed its call letters to KLYF and began broadcasting “beautiful music” or “elevator music.”

On April 26, 1954, WHO-TV was authorized to telecast on Channel 13 with maximum power. Since its beginning, the station has been affiliated with the NBC network. Early viewers saw local live programming featuring many of their radio favorites. Slim Hayes, Jack Shelley, Bill Austin, the Buckaroos, and Herb Plambeck. “Romper Room” with Miss Nancy and Duane Ellett and Floppy kept the youngsters entertained. Network programming was primarily in the evening, and offered viewers such shows as “Groucho,” “Dragnet,” and the “NBC News” with Chet Huntley and David Brinkley.

As equipment became more sophisticated, the public was able to see events of national interest. WHO-TV’s first remote broadcast was on August 10th 1954, from West Branch Iowa, where former President Herbert Hoover celebrated his 80th birthday. The program was fed through WHO equipment to the NBC network.

Improving and extending the broadcast signal to a larger area then became a goal. In 1972, a new 2000 foot tower and transmitter were constructed in Alleman, Iowa. The new equipment projected WHO-TV’s coverage to a 90-mile radius of Des Moines in central Iowa.

Numerous awards have been received by the WHO-TV news teams, but perhaps the most noteworthy was the coveted George F. Peabody Award in 1976, when our photographer was able to capture the formation and patterns of two tornadoes on film, which had never been done before. More recently, the station earned Emmy awards in 2005 and 2007 for “Best Evening Newscast” and a national Edward R. Murrow award in 2007 for “Best Newscast.”

Weather in the Midwest is volatile and often life-threatening. WHO-TV was the first station in the state with live color radar in the mid-80’s. Today, the station boasts the most powerful Doppler radar in the state at one million watts and a team of five fulltime certified meteorologists.

As part of WHO-TV’s commitment to technology, the station was the first in central Iowa to use videotape for faster coverage of breaking news and the first in the state with a “Live” microwave truck. This technology enabled reporters to transmit their stories live from the scene to the studios and out to the public…a novelty then but essential today.

With an eye to the future, property at 1801 Grand was purchased and groundbreaking ceremonies held on April 10, 1981. Our beautiful three story structure, containing more than 65,000 square feet of office and studio space on 2.5 acres of land, housed WHO Broadcasting Company and the corporate offices for its parent company, Palmer Communications, Incorporated until 1996.

In 1996, The New York Times Company purchased WHO-TV 13 from Palmer Communications Inc. Radio stations WHO AM and KLYF-FM were sold to Jacor Communications in 1997which was then sold to Clear Channel Communications. In 2005, Clear Channel outgrew the space available at 1801 Grand Avenue and move to new studios just 3 blocks away at 2141 Grand Ave.

On May 7, 2007, WHO-TV 13 was acquired by Local TV LLC, a broadcast holding company created in 2007 to acquire nine heritage television stations in eight mid¬sized markets. Local TV is owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners, management and a consortium of bankers and high yield lenders.

On May 20, 2010, WHO-TV transitioned to WHO-HD becoming the first commercial television station in the state to make the conversion to total high-definition. While other stations dabbled in select programs, commercials and news reports in HD, Channel 13 invested 2 million dollars in a total plant overhaul to broadcast every element in crystal clear high definition. Other stations wouldn’t make that investment until 2012.

In 2013, WHO-HD made another significant investment to protect central Iowa viewers from severe weather with the installation of the country’s first television S-Band radar. Dubbed MegaDoppler-S, this new technology operates in less crowded spectrum (S-Band) that had been reserved for the government and military. Operating in the S-Band makes seeing storms at long range much more accurate even if another storm is blocking the signal. Combined with the latest digital encoding and mapping, we’re able to better detect snow, hail and sleet and better track storms to give those in the path earlier warning.

In December 2013, WHO-TV 13 was acquired by Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) home to a diverse portfolio of television and digital properties driven by quality news, entertainment and sports programming. Tribune Media is comprised of Tribune Broadcasting’s 42 owned or operated local television stations reaching more than 50 million households, national entertainment network WGN America, whose reach is approaching 80 million households, Tribune Studios, and a variety of digital applications and websites commanding 60 million monthly unique visitors online,

In its vast 60 plus years, WHO-HD 13 takes pride in its past and is committed to providing the best broadcast service possible in years to come.