KDKA gained a television sister station in late 1954, when Westinghouse purchased WDTV (channel 2) from the DuMont Television Network for a then-record price of $9.75 million. In 1956 newsman Bill Steinbach began his 36-year career at the station — within 10 years he was the anchor of the award-winning 90-to-6 news program. Early programming often featured live musical performances by a band composed of Westinghouse employees. [56] At 7 a.m. on November 2, 1934, the station's 14th birthday, KDKA inaugurated new studios in the Grant Building. The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on the 17th; the merger marked the first time since its establishment that KDKA has not been owned by a direct descendant of Westinghouse.[71][72][73][74][75]. Then it was Bob Logue, followed by Gary Dickson. Two and a half years later, in April 1968, Jack Bogut moved from Salt Lake City to become the KDKA morning host, a position he held for 15 years. It was decided to test the practicality of using shortwave transmissions for distributing programming originating at KDKA. When one uses the word airhead they could interchange it with Elizabeth Day. [63] Broadcasting-Telecasting described the new arrangement as "combined facilities" similar to what Westinghouse had established at its Boston stations, WBZ and WBZ-TV.[64]. Hosts . (A license class dating back to 1912, not all Limited Commercial stations were authorized to make broadcasts.) Baudino and Kittross argued that this post-World War I gap disqualified KCBS from "oldest station" consideration, something neither KQW nor KCBS has agreed with, as program schedules for KQW appearing in 1925 included the slogan "Pioneer Broadcasting Station of the World",[91] and in 2009 KCBS celebrated its 100th birthday with a yearlong series of events throughout the Bay Area, including the public dedication of a plaque commemorating the "Centennial Celebration of the World's First Broadcasting Station". Are you looking for weekend hosts as well? This led to modern studio design, including walls covered with noise-absorbing material, initially "monks cloth" (which turned out to be a fancy name for burlap).[43]. [60] The television station was renamed KDKA-TV on January 31, 1955. Yunz guys's OLD!! For some years announcer Sterling Yates, also a musician, played hip, progressive jazz on a Sunday morning broadcast. The station's programming is also carried over KDKA-FM's 93.7 HD2 digital subchannel,[2] and is simulcast on translator station W261AX (100.1 FM).[3]. This Westinghouse broadcast was not unique — that evening at least three other stations made audio transmissions of election returns, including the Detroit News' "Detroit News Radiophone" service,[33] a temporary arrangement made by the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch in conjunction with William E. Woods of the Benwoods Company, "manufacturers and distributors of wireless outfits",[34] and the Buffalo Evening News, over an amateur station operated by Charles C. Klinck, Jr.[35] Later station publicity proclaimed that Westinghouse's election night broadcast "was a national sensation, acclaimed by newspapers all over the country",[4] however a comprehensive review of contemporary newspapers determined that reports, although positive, actually appeared only in a few local papers, thus it "was not an immediate 'sensation' and that the fame of this event developed over time with later celebratory accounts". [82] However, research has uncovered several challenges to this broad declaration. Baudino and Kittross also concluded that there was no significant link between the daily broadcasts introduced on August 20, 1920 by the Detroit News' "Detroit News Radiophone", as amateur station 8MK, and its subsequent transformation into WBL and later WWJ, something with which the newspaper stoutly disagreed: for example, in a 1934 advertisement, WWJ, still owned by the Detroit News, declared itself "America's Pioneer Broadcasting Station". However, because of the competitive advantage RCA had in international and marine communications, initially there appeared to be limited opportunities available to Westinghouse. Herrold's San Jose broadcasts had been suspended due to the World War I prohibition of civilian radio stations, and he did not return to the airwaves until May 1921. Mar 4 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM EST. 122 talking about this. He and Donald G. Little had primary responsibility for constructing a 100 watt vacuum-tube transmitter, scaling up Conrad's previous 50 watt radiotelephone transmitter design. From 1941 to 1959, the Farm Hour was built around farm reports along with music by Slim Bryant and his Wildcats, who eventually became the top local country music act in the Pittsburgh area. The station provided its first remote broadcast on January 2, 1921, airing a religious service from Calvary Episcopal Church. abuser of guitars. [65], On July 23, 1982, KDKA claims to have become the world's first radio station to broadcast in AM stereo although experimental AM stereo broadcasts were conducted as early as the 1960s on Mexico's XETRA 690.[66]. Anyway we used the station's listen line to do the hookup and the audience loved it. Prior to World War I, Frank Conrad had operated an experimental radiotelegraph station, with the callsign 8XK. The program was broadcast over shortwave to the Far North during the winter months, when mail service was impossible, and consisted of personal messages to RCMP officers, missionaries, trappers, and others from family and friends, music, and news. On February 2, 2017, CBS agreed to merge CBS Radio with Entercom, currently the fourth-largest radio broadcaster in the United States; the sale will be conducted using a Reverse Morris Trust so that it will be tax-free. KDKA became affiliated with the Blue network, and with this change began selling airtime: up until now, the station had been commercial-free. By now, KDKA had become a full service adult contemporary radio station. Following the October departure of controversial host Wendy Bell, former local TV anchor Rick Dayton takes the reigns weekdays from 3-6pm.. Having spent a few years in Pittsburgh working with KDKA … Perry Marshall followed. KDKA radio is now 100 years old! Art Pallan, hired away from WWSW, and Bob Tracey became household names, playing the popular music of the day. Previous spark gap transmitters could only be used to transmit the dots-and-dashes of Morse code. Listeners put a face to that distinctive southern drawl in the early ’70s. PHILADELPHIA, PA – December 1, 2020 – Entercom welcomes news veteran Rick Dayton as afternoon drive host for KDKA News Radio (KDKA-AM/100.1-FM), the authoritative news and talk voice of Pittsburgh. [37], The election night broadcast was transmitted on a wavelength of 550 meters (545 kHz). A final frequency change took place in March 1941, under the provisions of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, as KDKA's clear channel assignment was shifted from 980 to 1020 kHz. KDKA Radio 100th Anniversary; Watch: KDKA Radio Live Video; Shows. It was only KDKA's second, November 7, 1921 license, that included a reference that it would be used for broadcasting in addition to company-wide point-to-point communication. Later publicity stated that KDKA was now broadcasting on 330 meters (909 kHz), and in the fall of 1921 all the Westinghouse broadcasting stations began using 360 meters (833 kHz). However, KDKA happened to receive its assignment during a short period during which land stations were being issued call letters from a sequential block of "K" call letters that had previously been assigned only to ship stations. During the war, Westinghouse received government contracts to develop radio transmitters and receivers for military use. Impressed with the success Rege Cordic was having at WWSW, KDKA hired him away, and Cordic started his KDKA run on Labor Day, 1954. The effort to establish Westinghouse's radio industry presence was led by company vice president H. P. In the summer of 1969, KDKA debuted overnight talk with Jack Wheeler, launching an anything-goes talk show that ran from midnight to 6 a.m. six nights a week. KDKA (1020 kHz AM) is a Class A (clear channel) radio station, owned and operated by Entercom and licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1958 a plaque was installed on the university campus crediting "9XM-WHA" as "The Oldest Station in the Nation", including the statement that the station began "broadcasting on a regular schedule in 1919". In 1923 the Department of Commerce stated that "The first broadcasting license was issued in September, 1921",[77] a reference to the September 15, 1921 Limited Commercial license issued to WBZ in Springfield, Massachusetts, which appears to be the first to state that the station would be used exclusively for broadcasting, transmitting on 360 meters, which would become the standard "entertainment" wavelength designated by the December 1, 1921 regulations. The morning show featured less music and an increased news and commercial content. I'm nearly 60 and didn't start listening to the "Blowtorch" until about 6-8 yrs. The copy of the initial KDKA license on file at the National Archives has a handwritten notation "First broadcasting licensee" written across the front, but this appears to have been added at a later date. KDKA's participation included six theaters where attendees were charged admission to hear the reports. In July 2017, Pintek took a leave of absence to receive treatment for pancreatic cancer. By the end of the decade, the musical and comedy team of Buzz Aston and Bill Hinds, billed as "Buzz & Bill", aired. What was on after midnight when party line was on? Just curious. Trying to achieve a consensus on KDKA's precise status as a broadcasting pioneer, especially in relation to other, earlier stations, has been a source of disagreement for nearly a century. Operating with a transmitter power output of 50,000 watts, the station can be heard during daylight hours throughout central and western Pennsylvania, along with portions of the adjacent states of Ohio, West Virginia and New York, plus the southernmost part of the Canadian province of Ontario. It appears that Westinghouse officials were initially unaware that, in addition to Frank Conrad's 8XK, other stations had been making regular news and entertainment broadcasts. He anchored the KDKA news for 36 years. In 1955, the station began regular broadcasts of Pirate baseball games, a partnership that ended in 2006, but was restarted in 2012 when KDKA-FM began carrying the games. "[10], An application, signed by H. P. Davis, was submitted to the Eighth District Radio Inspector, S. W. Edwards in Detroit, who forwarded it to Washington, and on October 27, 1920, Westinghouse was issued a Limited Commercial station license, serial #174, with the identifying call letters of KDKA. [76] As a translator station, W261AX's signal broadcasts at a lower power than KDKA's AM transmitter, and primarily serves Allegheny County.[76]. It's always been a board with a variety of topics. ... 3-4 pm. Thanks. Mike Pintek, longtime reporter and talk show host on KDKA Radio, died early Wednesday after battling cancer for more than a year. Revel and Roost 242 Forbes Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Its nighttime signal covers much of eastern North America. Additionally, KDKA Radio lost one of its longtime hosts when John Shumway recently left the station. [78], The best known priority dispute has been between KDKA and WWJ in Detroit, Michigan, a controversy in which some neutral observers have carefully tried to avoid being entangled. KDKA overnight hosts. [36] Although the election night broadcast was only heard by about 1,000 people, KDKA would eventually gain national prominence once it began to offer an extensive range of programming. He died on September 12, 2018. However, Westinghouse moved aggressively to establish itself as a national and international provider of radio communication. By 1960, KDKA added more rock and roll music, as competitor KQV made ratings gains. Moving the performers outdoors eliminated the echoing, so a tent was erected on the building roof, and for a time concerts were performed from this location. Prior to the sale KDKA swapped affiliations with KQV to become affiliated with the NBC-Red network. ", "WDTV (TV) Pittsburgh Changes Call to KDKA-TV", "KDKA Move to New Quarters Becomes Effective Today", "KDKA-AM-TV to Consolidate By May 1, H. C. Lund Says", "KDKA Radio's Mike Pintek Dies At Age 65", "First bids on CBS Radio selloffs due today", "Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio", "End Of An Era As Industry Bids Goodbye to CBS Radio", "CBS Sets Radio Division Merger With Entercom", "CBS and Entercom Are Merging Their Radio Stations", "KDKA turns 100, looks forward with FM signal", "Westinghouse Exits From NAB With All Five of Its Stations", "Will Give Concert by Wireless Telephone", "Going Forward with Radio" as presented by KDKA, "Broadcasting's Oldest Stations: An Examination of Four Claimants", "The News Radiophone To Give Vote Results", "WWJ, 'The World's First Radio Station': A History", "Flickriver: Photoset 'KCBS Centennial Celebration - 11 June 2009' by randomcuriosity", "Is Short-wave Relaying a Step Toward National Broadcasting Stations? KDKA radio remained affiliated with NBC radio until the network purchased WJAS in 1957 in order for WJAS's owners to gain a 50% ownership stake in WIIC-TV (now WPXI) with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Your posting privileges also give you the opportunity to start fascinating threads instead of whining about existing ones. In September 1920, a newspaper report noted that "a new high-power station, to operate under a special or commercial license, is being installed at the Westinghouse plant in East Pittsburgh. After 11 years of providing early morning entertainment, Rege Cordic moved to KNX in Los Angeles. Trish Beatty did some of the weekend overnight shifts after KD dropped the music format. [20] H. P. Davis saw this advertisement and immediately recognized the "limitless opportunity" of adding radio receivers to the lines of appliances sold to the general public by Westinghouse,[21] and in order to create demand for the receivers, he decided that Westinghouse should provide regular programming as an incentive for persons considering a purchase. KDKA (1020 kHz AM) is a Class A (clear channel) radio station, owned and operated by Entercom and licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Its studios are located at the combined Entercom Pittsburgh facility in the Foster Plaza on Holiday Drive in Green Tree, and its transmitter site is at Allison Park.The station's programming is also carried over KDKA-FM's 93.7 HD2 digital … Early Wednesday after battling cancer for more than a year ] in the early ’ 70s pick choose!, hired away from WWSW, and Red Apple Media CEO John hosts... 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