-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
KYW-AM ... How did an AM Radio Station on the East Coast acquire call letters?
- Thread starter joshzz
- Start date
Someone on R-I posted some time ago there was a period of time when there was no geographic demarcation for calls (or else they weren't rigidly enforced, or someone made a mistake). Hence a few 'eastern' stations with a 'K' call.
Here is another link: http://earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm
Here is another link: http://earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm
K
KBland
Guest
I would think someone will post better details than I recall, but there was a trade of sorts. Sometime in the 1960s, and it had something to do with Group W Westinghouse making an acquisition, what was WRCV-TV, channel 3 in Philly became a tv station in Cleveland, and what was KYW in Cleveland became Channel 3, and Newsradio 1060 in the Delaware Valley.
The comment citing pre dating of FCC call laws may well be valid, but it was not relavant to this particular situation. I am positive of that.
The comment citing pre dating of FCC call laws may well be valid, but it was not relavant to this particular situation. I am positive of that.
And, likewise, a few in the west with W-calls. WOAI in San Antonio, TX WACO in Waco, TX and WHO in Des Moines, IA.
C
ccuphl
Guest
josh said:Help me history buffs. How did an AM Radio Station in Philadelphia, PA acquire call letters reserved for stations West of the Mississippi?
The KYW call letters were originally in Chicago back in 1921 - which, in the K---/W--- world, was in the western part of the country (pre-Mississippi River divide). Through a series of moves and ownership changes, etc., KYW settled in Philadelphia in 1965.
I believe the YW stands for "Young Warrior," a war reference.
ccuphl said:
Yes, KYW did start in Chicago, but Chicago was never west of the K/W dividing line. Before the Mississippi River did the dividing, it was the eastern borders of New Mexico/Colorado/Wyoming/Montana.
See http://earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm. I think this is the authoritative source for early radio regulatory policies. KYW is one of the three stations for which White has not been able to determine how they got a K call.
(the other two being KQV Pittsburgh and KSD St. Louis, issued at a time when the dividing line was not yet the Mississippi River)
KDKA - Pittsburgh?
Goat Rodeo Cowboy said:
There are more than those three. In the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex alone, there are three: WFAA, WBAP, and WRR. (WRR wins two prizes--a W call west of the Mississippi AND a three-letter call.) Similarly, KYW and KQV win two prizes each. There are also several W calls in Oklahoma, although I don't know if these are current: WNAD in Norman and WBBZ in Ponca City. Texas has at least a few more than those I listed--KUT is alive and well on FM in Austin and the WTAW calls may still be around, although I don't think they are still in College Station. The New Orleans and Minneapolis-St Paul markets may or may not have several more--possibly because some communities actually sit athwart the River (that is, the River may run through them--or over them when it floods;>(. For example, KSTP is licensed to St Paul; isn't St Paul on the east side of the River? And WCCO is licensed to Minneapolis; isn't Minneapolis on the west side of the River? Anyhow, I strongly doubt that my list is complete.
There are many K/W call and three letter K/W call assignment exceptions. Here are just a few more cool ones.
KTGG-AM 1540 kHz
Spring Arbor, Michigan
WHB-AM 810 kHz
Kansas City, Missouri
WOC-AM 1420 kHz
Davenport, Iowa
WOI-AM 640 kHz
Ames, Iowa
WHO-AM 1040 kHz
Des Moines, Iowa
WMT-AM 600 kHz
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
WDBQ-AM 1490 kHz
Dubuque, Iowa
WJOD-FM 103.3 MHz
Asbury, Iowa
WLLR-FM 103.7 MHz
Davenport, Iowa
WSUI-AM 910 kHz
Iowa City, Iowa
KTGG-AM 1540 kHz
Spring Arbor, Michigan
WHB-AM 810 kHz
Kansas City, Missouri
WOC-AM 1420 kHz
Davenport, Iowa
WOI-AM 640 kHz
Ames, Iowa
WHO-AM 1040 kHz
Des Moines, Iowa
WMT-AM 600 kHz
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
WDBQ-AM 1490 kHz
Dubuque, Iowa
WJOD-FM 103.3 MHz
Asbury, Iowa
WLLR-FM 103.7 MHz
Davenport, Iowa
WSUI-AM 910 kHz
Iowa City, Iowa
DToTheJ said:
Which was actually its original callsign.
Someone mentioned Oklahoma...how did anyone forget WKY in Oklahoma City?
Or, WIL in St. Louis?
How about WDAY (radio and TV) in Fargo, North Dakota?
Just a few to add...I'm done
Or, WIL in St. Louis?
How about WDAY (radio and TV) in Fargo, North Dakota?
Just a few to add...I'm done
Rollo-Smokes said:
Good ones.
And WACO, Waco, Texas. Here's an interesting Call Letter Wiki.
As to KYW, was that not a result of an NBC-Westinghouse deal that saw the KYW (Westinghouse) Philadelphia TV-AM properties swapped for the WNBK-TV (NBC) WTAM AM-FM properties?
Westinghouse took the KYW call sign to the AM and TV properties in Cleveland. After the FCC reviewed the deal and mandated a reverse-swap of the properties involved, Westinghouse brought KYW back to the Philadelphia TV and AM properties. One of the more interesting deals in the history of call letters and station transactions.
As to KYW, was that not a result of an NBC-Westinghouse deal that saw the KYW (Westinghouse) Philadelphia TV-AM properties swapped for the WNBK-TV (NBC) WTAM AM-FM properties?
Westinghouse took the KYW call sign to the AM and TV properties in Cleveland. After the FCC reviewed the deal and mandated a reverse-swap of the properties involved, Westinghouse brought KYW back to the Philadelphia TV and AM properties. One of the more interesting deals in the history of call letters and station transactions.
Sam Lit said:
That was a fluke from the last twenty or so years as the call letters were sequentially issued. The story goes a clerk mistook "MI" as Minnesota instead of Michigan. Neither the station or commission had a problem so the call letters remained.
JimPastrick said:
Yes and no. Yes the swap took place (1955, I think) and was reversed about five years later, but I believe it was reversed by the courts--not by the FCC. But before the swap, the KYW calls had been in Philadelphia for MANY decades and they got to Philadelphia from Chicago, where they started out. At that time (probably in the 1920s), it was the FCC (or maybe its predecessor, the FRC) that mandated the move of the station (at least that's the way I heard it). The Commission wanted to break up duopolies and Westinghouse owned another station in Chicago, although I don't know which station. I know that, at one time, Westinghouse owned WIND, but whether it owned WIND when KYW was forced to move to Philadelphia, I can't say. I suspect that back when KYW was forced to move, Westinghouse owned some other Chicago station (WMAQ?) that had better facilities than WIND.
By the fall of 1921, the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company had inaugurated broadcasting services through KDKA/Pittsburgh, WBZ/Springfield, Massachusetts and WJZ/Newark, New Jersey.
November 11, 1921, Westinghouse would set up a new broadcasting station, the first station in the Chicago area, KYW.
The original transmitter for the new station, KYW, was located on the elevator penthouse on the top of the Edison Building and the studio was located six floors below, on the 16th floor. The operating frequency was 560 kc.
In June 1924, the KYW frequency was changed to 1020 kc and the results were disastrous. In many places in Chicago, the KYW signal could not be received, fortunately the station was permitted to change back to a lower frequency, 570 kc.
In 1925 KYW moved to the roof of the Congress Hotel and a high powered (20 Kw) transmitter was installed. This was the first water cooled transmitter in the mid-west area.
In 1923, Westinghouse had installed a transmitter with call letters KFKX in Hasting, Nebraska to relay KDKA programs and also to originate some programs for the local area. In 1927, KFKX operations in Hastings were discontinued and the license moved to Chicago where KYW and KFKX shared time. (The move of KFKX to Chicago was made in anticipation of the upcoming 1928 frequency reallocation). Finally the Commission is effect said "quit kidding yourselves, which license do you want?" So the KFKX license was deleted.
See Picture here
In the November 11, 1928 frequency reallocation, KYW was again assigned to 1020 kc with the same disastrous effect on the station's coverage in Chicago. To improve coverage in the Chicago area, a 500 watt synchronized booster station KYWA was installed on the roof of the Edgewater Beach Hotel. This improved the coverage in the North Side area but did not help the main problem so plans were made to move KYW to a new site out in the country, near Wheaton, Illinois.
The 1020 kc frequency assigned to KYW in the 1928 frequency reallocation had been, in the Davis amendment (the Davis amendment divided the country into five zones with all available broadcast frequencies divided equally among the five zones) assigned to the third zone, as well as new applicants applied for the 1020 kc frequency creating an almost continuous legal battle for KYW to protect its frequency assignment.
Finally, in 1932, KYW applied to the Commission to move to Philadelphia. The application was granted on October 27, 1933.
See Picture here
The new KYW transmitter for the Whitemarsh Pennsylvania location (suburban Philadelphia, where they are today) was the first all AC operated high powered transmitter, no rotating equipment except water pumps for circulating cooling water for the power tubes. The antenna, a four tower array consisting of steel poles mounted on wood sub-bases was the first directional antenna designed to suppress sky-wave radiation while providing the required horizontal directional pattern.
As part of the move of KYW from Chicago to Philadelphia, arrangements had been for WCAU personnel to handle the program and sales operations of KYW and for Westinghouse personnel to take care of all technical operations. The KYW studios were located in the WCAU building on Chestnut Street.
In May, 1938, KYW studios were moved into the KYW Building at 1619 Walnut Street and NBC took over the programming and sales operations.
On January 16, 1941, the power of KYW was increased from 10 kw to 50 kw and March 29, 1941 there was a frequency reallocation in which KYW's frequency was changed from 1020 kc to 1060 kc.
In 1949, the present directional antenna system consisting of two IDECO 450 foot steel towers which had better radiation efficiency than the shorter steel poles, was installed
In 1956, under pressure from RCA and the threat to pull their NBC affiliation from Westinghouse owned WRCV TV/Philadelphia, Westinghouse and RCA swapped their Philadelphia and Cleveland stations. Subsequently KYW/1060 moved to 1100/Cleveland replacing WTAM, and WRCV TV replaced WNBK TV/Cleveland.
RCA's NBC had made several offers over the years for the Philadelphia stations, but Westinghouse said no each time. After being rebuffed by Westinghouse on several occasions, NBC threatened to drop its affiliation from WPTZ-TV and Westinghouse's other NBC television affiliate, WBZ-TV in Boston, unless Westinghouse agreed to the trade. According to many sources, another factor in NBC's changed attitude was Westinghouse's decision to affiliate recently-purchased KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh with CBS, even though KDKA radio had been an NBC affiliate for over 30 years.
1060/Philadelphia is renamed WRCV (renamed for the RCA Victor record label), and WPTZ is renamed WRCV TV.
NBC discovers Rock n Roll, and Hy Lit, and acquires him from 1340/WHAT for 1060/WRCV in Philadelphia.
1956 - Rock and Roll is Here to Stay.
“Yes my friends, I’m here to say, Rock and Roll is here to stay.”
…….“Calling all my beats, beards, Buddhist cats, big time spenders, money lenders, tea totallers, elbow benders, hog callers, home run hitters, finger poppin’ daddy’s, and cool baby sitters. For all my carrot tops, lollipops, and extremely delicate gum drops. It’s Hyski ‘O Roonie McVouti ‘O Zoot calling, up town, down town, cross town. Here there, everywhere. Your man with the plan, on the scene with the record machine.”
Hy Lit drives the beginning of the Rockin’ soulful explosion of the Sound of Philadelphia, playing a major role exposing surprising new talent, artists and groups and bringing many the recognition for what they are now.
"In 1956, I began as air talent on 1060/WRCV (Now KYW) in Philadelphia, After being hired away from 1340/WHAT Radio, which had become a resounding rating success. Therefore taking the growing Hy Lit Rock 'en Roll Kingdom' Show to the 10:30pm-2am time slot, on the 50,000-watt clear channel, 1060/WRCV frequency.
NBC at the time also required me to do an additional show called 'Sinatra and Company', in the early evening, under the name Johnny Dollar. All this to compliment the NBC radio network feeds featuring news on the top & bottom of every hour. Ironically, Sinatra and Company became a ratings success, as well as the Rock 'en Roll Kingdom, which was primarily doo-wop & soul (known as race music at the time). After a few months and instant rating success, in the true spirit of NBC, the big wigs from New York traveled to Philadelphia to see why this local phenom was so popular, not only in Philadelphia but also as far away as Boston late at night, where Rock & Roll was initially banned. (Sky wave on the 50,000-watt 1060kc B-1 clear status channel actually worked when the ground system was maintained). NBC, not quite up to date on the growing trends, concluded that the Rock & Roll Kingdom should add some Sinatra & Company. It just so happened that WIBG had called me day's earlier, requesting my presence."
**1060/WRCV was NBC owned and operated, and therefore carried the ‘NBC Radio Network’ with local cut-ins, similar to what network morning news shows resemble today. Most daytime programming was news, issue or feature oriented. The two music shows Hy hosted were part of only a handful of long form programming segments that originated from Philadelphia that otherwise were not covered by the network. ‘Sinatra & Company ’ was heard on the network in selected NBC radio markets as the local news segments concluded. Whereby the network affiliate would announce: "We take you now to Philadelphia for Sinatra and Company, with your host, Johnny Dollar".
More Hy Lit history here hylitradio.com/index.php?page=6
In 1956 RCA instituted a major upgrade of the WRCV AM/TV transmission facilities.
However, almost immediately after the trade was finalized, Westinghouse complained to the FCC and the United States Department of Justice about NBC's extortion. After a thorough investigation and a protracted legal battle lasting nine years, on June 19, 1965, by action of the Department of Justice and by order of the Federal Communications Commission ordered the swap reversed and didn't allow NBC to realize any profit on the deal. Westinghouse, upon regaining control of WRCV-AM-TV switched 1060 back to KYW AM and channel 3 back to KYW-TV. Westinghouse's took over a transmitter facility far superior to the one it relinquished in 1956. KYW-TV also moves Mike Douglas and news anchor Tom Snyder among others to Philadelphia along with the call letters.
See QSL here
See Picture here
On September 21, 1965, shortly after Westinghouse regained control of KYW, it dropped its NBC radio affiliation and converted the station into one of the first all-news stations in the country.
In January, 1968, a new Continental Electronics air cooled 50 kw transmitter was installed replacing the original water cooled transmitter installed in 1934.
In 1972, KYW moved its studios to the Independence Mall East location in Philadelphia.
In April 2007, KYW AM moved to studios at 400 Market Street Philadelphia. KYW is located on the 10th floor.
November 11, 1921, Westinghouse would set up a new broadcasting station, the first station in the Chicago area, KYW.
The original transmitter for the new station, KYW, was located on the elevator penthouse on the top of the Edison Building and the studio was located six floors below, on the 16th floor. The operating frequency was 560 kc.
In June 1924, the KYW frequency was changed to 1020 kc and the results were disastrous. In many places in Chicago, the KYW signal could not be received, fortunately the station was permitted to change back to a lower frequency, 570 kc.
In 1925 KYW moved to the roof of the Congress Hotel and a high powered (20 Kw) transmitter was installed. This was the first water cooled transmitter in the mid-west area.
In 1923, Westinghouse had installed a transmitter with call letters KFKX in Hasting, Nebraska to relay KDKA programs and also to originate some programs for the local area. In 1927, KFKX operations in Hastings were discontinued and the license moved to Chicago where KYW and KFKX shared time. (The move of KFKX to Chicago was made in anticipation of the upcoming 1928 frequency reallocation). Finally the Commission is effect said "quit kidding yourselves, which license do you want?" So the KFKX license was deleted.
See Picture here
In the November 11, 1928 frequency reallocation, KYW was again assigned to 1020 kc with the same disastrous effect on the station's coverage in Chicago. To improve coverage in the Chicago area, a 500 watt synchronized booster station KYWA was installed on the roof of the Edgewater Beach Hotel. This improved the coverage in the North Side area but did not help the main problem so plans were made to move KYW to a new site out in the country, near Wheaton, Illinois.
The 1020 kc frequency assigned to KYW in the 1928 frequency reallocation had been, in the Davis amendment (the Davis amendment divided the country into five zones with all available broadcast frequencies divided equally among the five zones) assigned to the third zone, as well as new applicants applied for the 1020 kc frequency creating an almost continuous legal battle for KYW to protect its frequency assignment.
Finally, in 1932, KYW applied to the Commission to move to Philadelphia. The application was granted on October 27, 1933.
See Picture here
The new KYW transmitter for the Whitemarsh Pennsylvania location (suburban Philadelphia, where they are today) was the first all AC operated high powered transmitter, no rotating equipment except water pumps for circulating cooling water for the power tubes. The antenna, a four tower array consisting of steel poles mounted on wood sub-bases was the first directional antenna designed to suppress sky-wave radiation while providing the required horizontal directional pattern.
As part of the move of KYW from Chicago to Philadelphia, arrangements had been for WCAU personnel to handle the program and sales operations of KYW and for Westinghouse personnel to take care of all technical operations. The KYW studios were located in the WCAU building on Chestnut Street.
In May, 1938, KYW studios were moved into the KYW Building at 1619 Walnut Street and NBC took over the programming and sales operations.
On January 16, 1941, the power of KYW was increased from 10 kw to 50 kw and March 29, 1941 there was a frequency reallocation in which KYW's frequency was changed from 1020 kc to 1060 kc.
In 1949, the present directional antenna system consisting of two IDECO 450 foot steel towers which had better radiation efficiency than the shorter steel poles, was installed
In 1956, under pressure from RCA and the threat to pull their NBC affiliation from Westinghouse owned WRCV TV/Philadelphia, Westinghouse and RCA swapped their Philadelphia and Cleveland stations. Subsequently KYW/1060 moved to 1100/Cleveland replacing WTAM, and WRCV TV replaced WNBK TV/Cleveland.
RCA's NBC had made several offers over the years for the Philadelphia stations, but Westinghouse said no each time. After being rebuffed by Westinghouse on several occasions, NBC threatened to drop its affiliation from WPTZ-TV and Westinghouse's other NBC television affiliate, WBZ-TV in Boston, unless Westinghouse agreed to the trade. According to many sources, another factor in NBC's changed attitude was Westinghouse's decision to affiliate recently-purchased KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh with CBS, even though KDKA radio had been an NBC affiliate for over 30 years.
1060/Philadelphia is renamed WRCV (renamed for the RCA Victor record label), and WPTZ is renamed WRCV TV.
NBC discovers Rock n Roll, and Hy Lit, and acquires him from 1340/WHAT for 1060/WRCV in Philadelphia.
1956 - Rock and Roll is Here to Stay.
“Yes my friends, I’m here to say, Rock and Roll is here to stay.”
…….“Calling all my beats, beards, Buddhist cats, big time spenders, money lenders, tea totallers, elbow benders, hog callers, home run hitters, finger poppin’ daddy’s, and cool baby sitters. For all my carrot tops, lollipops, and extremely delicate gum drops. It’s Hyski ‘O Roonie McVouti ‘O Zoot calling, up town, down town, cross town. Here there, everywhere. Your man with the plan, on the scene with the record machine.”
Hy Lit drives the beginning of the Rockin’ soulful explosion of the Sound of Philadelphia, playing a major role exposing surprising new talent, artists and groups and bringing many the recognition for what they are now.
"In 1956, I began as air talent on 1060/WRCV (Now KYW) in Philadelphia, After being hired away from 1340/WHAT Radio, which had become a resounding rating success. Therefore taking the growing Hy Lit Rock 'en Roll Kingdom' Show to the 10:30pm-2am time slot, on the 50,000-watt clear channel, 1060/WRCV frequency.
NBC at the time also required me to do an additional show called 'Sinatra and Company', in the early evening, under the name Johnny Dollar. All this to compliment the NBC radio network feeds featuring news on the top & bottom of every hour. Ironically, Sinatra and Company became a ratings success, as well as the Rock 'en Roll Kingdom, which was primarily doo-wop & soul (known as race music at the time). After a few months and instant rating success, in the true spirit of NBC, the big wigs from New York traveled to Philadelphia to see why this local phenom was so popular, not only in Philadelphia but also as far away as Boston late at night, where Rock & Roll was initially banned. (Sky wave on the 50,000-watt 1060kc B-1 clear status channel actually worked when the ground system was maintained). NBC, not quite up to date on the growing trends, concluded that the Rock & Roll Kingdom should add some Sinatra & Company. It just so happened that WIBG had called me day's earlier, requesting my presence."
**1060/WRCV was NBC owned and operated, and therefore carried the ‘NBC Radio Network’ with local cut-ins, similar to what network morning news shows resemble today. Most daytime programming was news, issue or feature oriented. The two music shows Hy hosted were part of only a handful of long form programming segments that originated from Philadelphia that otherwise were not covered by the network. ‘Sinatra & Company ’ was heard on the network in selected NBC radio markets as the local news segments concluded. Whereby the network affiliate would announce: "We take you now to Philadelphia for Sinatra and Company, with your host, Johnny Dollar".
More Hy Lit history here hylitradio.com/index.php?page=6
In 1956 RCA instituted a major upgrade of the WRCV AM/TV transmission facilities.
However, almost immediately after the trade was finalized, Westinghouse complained to the FCC and the United States Department of Justice about NBC's extortion. After a thorough investigation and a protracted legal battle lasting nine years, on June 19, 1965, by action of the Department of Justice and by order of the Federal Communications Commission ordered the swap reversed and didn't allow NBC to realize any profit on the deal. Westinghouse, upon regaining control of WRCV-AM-TV switched 1060 back to KYW AM and channel 3 back to KYW-TV. Westinghouse's took over a transmitter facility far superior to the one it relinquished in 1956. KYW-TV also moves Mike Douglas and news anchor Tom Snyder among others to Philadelphia along with the call letters.
See QSL here
See Picture here
On September 21, 1965, shortly after Westinghouse regained control of KYW, it dropped its NBC radio affiliation and converted the station into one of the first all-news stations in the country.
In January, 1968, a new Continental Electronics air cooled 50 kw transmitter was installed replacing the original water cooled transmitter installed in 1934.
In 1972, KYW moved its studios to the Independence Mall East location in Philadelphia.
In April 2007, KYW AM moved to studios at 400 Market Street Philadelphia. KYW is located on the 10th floor.
Correction:
In 1956, under pressure from RCA and the threat to pull their NBC affiliation from Westinghouse owned WRCV TV/Philadelphia, Westinghouse and RCA swapped their Philadelphia and Cleveland stations. Subsequently KYW/1060 moved to 1100/Cleveland replacing WTAM, and WNBK TV/Cleveland was renamed KYW TV.
In 1956, under pressure from RCA and the threat to pull their NBC affiliation from Westinghouse owned WRCV TV/Philadelphia, Westinghouse and RCA swapped their Philadelphia and Cleveland stations. Subsequently KYW/1060 moved to 1100/Cleveland replacing WTAM, and WNBK TV/Cleveland was renamed KYW TV.
Thanks, Sam!
A fine dissertation, Sam.
- Status