Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 9, 2026

KAUS (AM)

KAUS is an AM radio station that broadcasts a news/talk format. Licensed to Austin, Minnesota, United States, the station serves the Mower County area. The station is owned by Connoisseur Media, through licensee Alpha 3E Licensee LLC.

Last revised
Jul 9, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
325 w
Citations
3
Source
Wikipedia ↗
KAUS
Broadcast area
Mower County, Minnesota
Frequency1480 kHz
Programming
FormatNews/talk
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
May 30, 1948 (1948-05-30)
Technical information1
Licensing authority
FCC
50677
ClassB
Power1,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
43°37′19.9″N 92°59′26.7″W / 43.622194°N 92.990750°W / 43.622194; -92.990750
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.myaustinminnesota.com

KAUS (1480 kHz) is an AM radio station that broadcasts a news/talk format. Licensed to Austin, Minnesota, United States, the station serves the Mower County area. The station is owned by Connoisseur Media, through licensee Alpha 3E Licensee LLC.

History

KAUS began broadcasting May 30, 1948, on 1480 kHz with 1 kW power (full-time). It was a Mutual affiliate, owned by Cedar Valley Broadcasting Company, Incorporated. Studios were at 405 North Main Street.2

KAUS' transmitter site is adjacent to its studios south of Austin. It originally began broadcasting with the call letters of KAAL and housed the earliest incarnation of the television station known today as KAAL (formerly KAUS-TV) in its rural Austin studios. KAUS AM had been on the air since at least the mid 1960s with a pop/top 40 format and the TV station was KMMT, an ABC affiliate.

Previous logo source ↗

Personalities

Bob Abbott was host of the "1480 Club" from 1948 to 1952.3

The radio station's notable personality is "Champagne" Duane Germaine whose tenure at the station has surpassed all others.

References

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for KAUS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "Youngdahl, Andersen, Adams, Rolfson, Swenson, Lidstone, Schultz, McCarthy All to Speak on KAUS Opening Day". Austin Daily Herald. Austin, Minnesota. May 29, 1948. p. 2. Retrieved January 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 9.
External links