KYW-FM call letters?

[atthestars]

Out of curiosity, has KYW applied for KYW-FM calls for 103.9? Or does KYW-TV have the say in whether the FM has permission?

 

[radiodx10]

Hmm good question. You'd assume that KYW would want the KYW calls on all their stations, but seeing as how KYW-AM/WPHI is an NBC affiliate but KYW-TV is the CBS outlet, who knows.

Plus, can someone remind why that is? Why did 1060 go with NBC even though KYW is the CBS outlet?

 

[davideduardo]

Hmm good question. You'd assume that KYW would want the KYW calls on all their stations, but seeing as how KYW-AM/WPHI is an NBC affiliate but KYW-TV is the CBS outlet, who knows.

Plus, can someone remind why that is? Why did 1060 go with NBC even though KYW is the CBS outlet?

Radio and TV have separate owners.

 

[TheBigA]

Plus, can someone remind why that is? Why did 1060 go with NBC even though KYW is the CBS outlet?

Long story. KYW was owned by Westinghouse, a founding partner of NBC. So they had always been NBC until 1995. CBS had owned WCAU, but sold it, became a minority partner of KYW, and then Westinghouse and CBS merged. There was a complicated exchange that resulted in a change of affiliation.

When Entercom bought CBS Radio they bought the rights to use the call letters of co-owned radio-TV stations for a period of time.

 

[davideduardo]

Long story. KYW was owned by Westinghouse, a founding partner of NBC. So they had always been NBC until 1995. CBS had owned WCAU, but sold it, became a minority partner of KYW, and then Westinghouse and CBS merged. There was a complicated exchange that resulted in a change of affiliation.

Even longer story if you look at how Sarnoff (radio's "robber baron" in my book) and NBC played dirty with Westinghouse. They even, until the courts "fixed" it, forced Westinghouse to take Cleveland instead of Philly... KYW was used on Radio and TV there for quite a few years. The calls were at another Great Lakes location, too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KYW_(AM)

 

[AceBiscuits]

With the exception of WCBS and KCBS, Entercom has the rights to use any of the acquired CBS call letters (i.e. KYW, WBBM, WWJ, WJZ, etc.) in perpetuity. They may or may not be able to transfer the call letters or apply for them on a new station.

 

[TheBigA]

With the exception of WCBS and KCBS, Entercom has the rights to use any of the acquired CBS call letters (i.e. KYW, WBBM, WWJ, WJZ, etc.) in perpetuity. They may or may not be able to transfer the call letters or apply for them on a new station.

I have not seen the words "in perpetuity" anywhere. I'm pretty sure there's a time limit. There could be a possibility for renewal.

 

[DrAkbar]

KCBS and KFRC are in full simulcast as all news stations for the Bay area. Only once an hour do you hear the KFRC calls, and it hasn't hurt KCBS at all. I imagine it'll be the same set up for KYW.

 

[TheBigA]

KCBS and KFRC are in full simulcast as all news stations for the Bay area. Only once an hour do you hear the KFRC calls, and it hasn't hurt KCBS at all. I imagine it'll be the same set up for KYW.

Same situation in Chicago with WBBM & WCFS. WBBM-FM is a music station.

With KCBS and KFRC-FM, KCBS-FM is actually located in LA, not SF. So you have an AM in one city, and the FM in another.

 

[John1]

Guess it really doesn't matter officially if they just call it KYW 1060 & 103.9 & mumble the call letters at the TOH. Are they allowed to use a 3 call letter starting with K here? WIP was allowed to move the WIP calls to FM so I guess anything goes. There was a time the FCC was very protective of grandfathered 3 call letter stations.

 

[KeithE4]

The calls were at another Great Lakes location, too.

KYW started out in Chicago in 1921. The station moved to Philly in 1932, still on 1020.

 

[TheBigA]

Are they allowed to use a 3 call letter starting with K here?

Yes, because it's Grandfathered. And the FCC would allow them to apply for KYW-FM, but CBS would have to approve for trademark purposes.

 

[Bill_W]

Up in Boston, three stations use WBZ, and all three are owned by different companies. TV is still owned by CBS. AM is now owned by Iheart and FM is now owned by Beasley. Funny thing up there, WBZ-TV actually uses the WBZ call letters in identifying who they are. They did the CBS-4 thing for a little while and then reverted back to WBZ news for their newscasts. Iheart uses the WBZ call letters in their identification of 1030 AM as WBZ Newsradio. WBZ-FM identifies itself as the Sports Hub and only use the call letters at the top of the hour.

KYW-TV has been identifying itself as CBS-3 for a long time. They only use the KYW call letters at the top of the hour also. I wonder if CBS would even care if Entercom wanted KYW-FM on 103.9 FM since they don't identify their TV station with the call letters unlike their sister station in Boston.

 

[Kemosabe]

KYW-TV has been identifying itself as CBS-3 for a long time. They only use the KYW call letters at the top of the hour also.

KYW-TV is sui generis among the erstwhile Group W stations now owned by ViacomCBS. The others—WBZ-TV, WJZ-TV, KDKA-TV, and KPIX—all include call letters in their branding.

 

[Bill_W]

KYW-TV is sui generis among the erstwhile Group W stations now owned by ViacomCBS. The others—WBZ-TV, WJZ-TV, KDKA-TV, and KPIX—all include call letters in their branding.

Did all the other former Westinghouse TV stations flirt with the CBS-(insert analog # here) like WBZ did before reverting back to WBZ after buying CBS?

 

[AceBiscuits]

I have not seen the words "in perpetuity" anywhere. I'm pretty sure there's a time limit. There could be a possibility for renewal.

My wording was slightly off, but yes, CBS was more generous with calls that didn't include CBS.

From the SEC merger document:

... Except as otherwise set forth in Section 10.2, this Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and be in effect:

... until 20 years after the Effective Date with respect to the license to use the WCBS and KCBS Licensed Property for all uses including as and to the extent used as Trademarks and in the Radio Station Call Letters, Radio Station Branding and Domain Names; and perpetually with respect to the license to use the KDKA, WBBM, KYW, WBZ, WCCO, WJZ and WWJ Licensed Property for all uses including as and to the extent used as Trademarks and in the Radio Station Call Letters, Radio Station Branding and Domain Names (the applicable term that applies with respect to each such license set forth in this clause (a), the “Term”); ...

 

[AMRocks]

Maybe they could get the WKYW call letters from the station that currently has them. Would solve a lot of issues for them. I don't believe the station uses them as their regular identifier (other than top of the hour)

WKYW - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[fybush]

No reason to. The name of the station is "KYW." The ratings will be reported under a combined line as KYW. WPHI is just something that gets mumbled a few minutes before the hour. Changing that to mumbling "WKYW" would do.... what, exactly?