Programs from NPR and other public radio networks include Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, 1A and Marketplace.

Weekend music shows include The Thistle & Shamrock, Afropop Worldwide, American Routes, World Cafe and Hearts of Space.

KIOS was primarily intended as a teaching tool for students in Omaha high school broadcasting courses.

The original KIOS format primarily consisted of daytime educational programs for use as classroom instruction in Omaha city schools.

For hands-on experience, student training switched to a new carrier current station inside Technical High School in 1977.

[13] Before NPR started offering Morning Edition, KIOS aired a local classical music wake-up program hosted by longtime Omaha broadcaster Frank Bramhall.

[14] In the early 1980s, general manager Frank Coopersmith proposed changes in programming that included big band music as KIOS saw a decline in its ratings.

[15]: 85  Listeners and members of the station's community advisory board protested the reshuffle as moving KIOS-FM away from its information and education mission.

[16] Coopersmith was fired in 1984 in what he alleged was a political move to replace employees seen as close to the recently dismissed superintendent of Omaha schools.

In 1985, an agreement was made among the three NPR-aligned stations serving Omaha and Council Bluffs: KIOS-FM, KVNO and 89.7 KIWR, owned by Iowa Western Community College.