KMAS (AM)
KMAS 1030 AM & 103.3 FM is a radio station broadcasting a variety music format licensed to Shelton, Washington, United States.
History
The station first signed on the air in September 1962. It was founded by Mason County Broadcasting Co. and originally broadcast on 1280 kHz as a daytime-only station with a power of 1,000 watts. The call letters KMAS were chosen to represent Mason County, and the station’s first studios were located at the Evergreen Mobile Home Park in Shelton.Delilah, a radio host who is now sydnicated across the United States, began her broadcasting career at KMAS in 1974 after being discovered by the station's owners during a local speech contest. At the age of 14, she provided school news and local reports for the station.
In 1984, the station underwent a technical change, moving from 1280 kHz to its current frequency of 1030 kHz. This move allowed KMAS to increase its signal coverage and eventually transition to 24-hour broadcasting, serving as the primary local news and information source for the South Sound region.
In 2007, the station was acquired by Olympic Broadcasting, and later by iFiber Communications, which integrated the radio station with its local cable news operations.
On January 3, 2012, KMAS changed their format from oldies to news/talk.
On January 12, 2016, KMAS rebranded to iFiberOne NewsRadio as a result of merging with local cable/fiber optic provider iFIBER Communications.
In 2021, Delilah, acting through her company Big Red Barn Communications, LLC, reached an agreement to purchase KMAS and its FM translator K277AE from iFiber One Network. The purchase price for the facility was reported to be $75,000. The acquisition marked a return to her roots in Shelton, and she expressed a desire to maintain the station's commitment to local news and community service. Under her ownership, the station transitioned to a classic hits and oldies format, often featuring her own syndicated programming during the evening hours.
The station is best known for its long-standing coverage of Shelton High School Highclimbers athletics. This includes live play-by-play broadcasts of varsity football, basketball, and baseball games. In addition to Shelton High, the station provides scores and updates for other local schools, including North Mason High School and Mary M. Knight High School.
Beyond high school sports, KMAS served as a local affiliate for professional regional teams. It has frequently carried Seattle Mariners baseball and Seattle Seahawks football games for listeners in the Shelton and Olympic Peninsula area.
Following the acquisition by Big Red Barn Communications, the station faced mounting operational costs that led to a reduction in local staff and programming hours. In early 2025, reports surfaced that the station was seeking new investment or a potential buyer to avoid a permanent shutdown. Delilah publicly acknowledged the difficulties of maintaining an independent AM station, citing a lack of local advertising support and the rising costs of utilities and licensing. Despite these setbacks, the station has attempted to stay on the air through automated programming and community fundraising efforts.