History KYW (AM)

1 history

1.1 origin in chicago (1921)
1.2 move philadelphia (1934)
1.3 kyw cleveland/wrcv philadelphia (1956-1965)
1.4 return philadelphia (1965)
1.5 adoption of all-news format

history
origin in chicago (1921)

in november 1920, westinghouse electric & manufacturing company established first broadcasting station, kdka, located in plant @ east pittsburgh, pennsylvania, in order promote sale of radio receivers. initial station proved successful, in 1921 company developed plans set additional stations in major population centers, including, in addition kyw, wjz in newark, new jersey (now wabc in new york city), , wbz, in springfield, massachusetts, , in boston.

miss forster singing [a lullaby] audience of hundred thousand (1922)

the station first licensed on november 15, 1921 chicago s first broadcasting station, randomly assigned call letters of kyw. jointly operated westinghouse , commonwealth edison, westinghouse later taking on sole operator. through financial support of samuel insull, , cooperation of mary garden, director general of chicago opera company, kyw s initial broadcasts consisted of opera company s entire six-day-a-week winter season schedule. ten microphones installed across chicago civic auditorium stage, equipment switching between them needed. after close of opera season, kyw installed studio in commonwealth edison building, , began producing additional programming. fall of 1922 station operating twelve hours day.

in 1927, westinghouse affiliated 4 radio stations (kyw, kdka in pittsburgh, wbz in springfield, massachusetts , wbza in boston) national broadcasting company s (nbc) nbc-blue network, originated station wjz in new york city, had been transferred westinghouse radio corporation of america (rca) in 1923. westinghouse had been founding partner of rca, nbc s original parent company.

in 1923, westinghouse established station, kfkx in hastings, nebraska, located near center of country. station designed serve dual purpose, of providing agricultural service, , testing practicality of using shortwave transmitters link radio networks, kfkx receiving of programming shortwave kdka in pittsburgh. in 1928 project abandoned, although announced kfkx programming being consolidated kyw, resulted in creation of dual call letter assignment of kyw-kfkx. kfkx quietly dropped call sign in 1933.

move philadelphia (1934)

under provisions of federal radio commission s (frc) general order 40, sweeping reallocation of station frequency assignments implemented on november 11, 1928. kyw assigned clear channel frequency of 1020 khz, assignment caused 2 major problems. kyw s signal on new frequency experienced difficulties in covering entire city of chicago, , relay transmitter, kywa, set in late 1928, although deleted no longer needed spring of 1930. second issue that, under provisions of davis amendment , 8 clear channel frequencies allocated each of 5 national regions. chicago located in region 4, while reallocation provisions had reserved 1020 khz use in region 2, grouping of mid-atlantic states. westinghouse fought long legal battle attempting keep kyw operating on 1020 in chicago, agreed move station region 2 location, settling on philadelphia.

after broadcasting last program in chicago on december 2, 1934, kyw gave debut philadelphia program next day, utilizing studios , sales operations of wcau. move made kyw easternmost u.s. radio station call sign beginning k . kyw became city s nbc-blue network affiliate – affiliation lasted 20 years – supplanting wfi , wlit (which merged wfil in 1935). in 1938 kyw s studios located @ 1619 walnut street in center city.

on march 29, 1941, kyw s clear channel assignment shifted 1020 1060 khz, current frequency, part of nationwide adjustment of assignments engineered north american regional broadcasting agreement. in 1942, federal communications commission (fcc) compelled rca divest of 1 of 2 radio networks. prior divestiture of nbc-blue network (which became american broadcasting company), kyw, along other westinghouse radio stations, became affiliated nbc-red network, predecessor of modern-day nbc.

kyw acquired television counterpart when westinghouse bought wptz (channel 3) – nation s third commercial television station , nbc s second television affiliate – in 1953.

kyw cleveland/wrcv philadelphia (1956-1965)

in june 1955, westinghouse agreed trade kyw , wptz nbc, in exchange nbc s wtam-am-fm , wnbk television properties in cleveland, ohio. westinghouse received $3 million in cash compensation. main impetus trade nbc s desire acquire owned-and-operated tv station in fourth-largest american television market. nbc had receive waiver swap because kyw , nbc radio s new york city flagship, wrca (now wfan) both clear channel stations; @ time, fcc did not allow common ownership of clear-channel stations overlapping nighttime coverage. after clearing final regulatory hurdles, swap went effect on january 22, 1956.

on february 13, nbc renamed kyw in philadelphia wrcv (for rca-victor record label), while westinghouse changed call letters of new cleveland station wtam kyw. westinghouse-nbc station swap, , subsequent reversal 9 years later, resulted in 2 alternate ways recount kyw s history. in records of fcc, station in philadelphia on 1060 khz merely underwent 2 call letter , ownership changes, taking place in 1956 , 1965. kyw histories follow path of call letters, , refer kyw moving philadelphia cleveland in 1956, returning philadelphia 9 years later.

based on responsibilities nbc-owned outlet, wrcv carried of nbc s network programming, such weekend monitor. philadelphia radio legend hy lit briefly worked @ wrcv during first year, hosting local rock-and-roll program , adult standards show nbc network. eventually, wrcv adopted big band format featuring swing music popular during pre-rock era.

return philadelphia (1965)

almost after nbc-westinghouse trade finalized, westinghouse complained fcc , united states department of justice had been coerced making station swap, including threat nbc revoke westinghouse s nbc-tv affiliations, , lengthy investigation launched. in september 1959 justice department issued decision which, in part, instructed nbc divest wrcv-am-tv end of 1962. several months later in 1960, nbc announced trade wrcv stations rko general in exchange company s boston outlets, wnac-am-fm-tv. proposed station swap held 4 years until fcc issued final decision in august 1964, when commission renewed nbc s licenses wrcv radio , television, on condition 1956 station swap westinghouse reversed. rko general contested fcc s decision, gave efforts , bowed out of competition. following year of appeals nbc, westinghouse regained control of wrcv-am-tv on june 19, 1965 , subsequently restored kyw call letters radio station (the television station became kyw-tv @ point).

adoption of all-news format

on september 21, 1965, shortly after westinghouse regained control of 1060 am, newly revived kyw dropped nbc radio affiliation , became 1 of first stations in country adopt all-news format. newsman steve porter read first newscast, had been edited fred b. walters, former harrisburg bureau chief , eventual executive editor. new format part of ongoing process @ westinghouse broadcasting. 5 months earlier company had converted wins, kyw s new york sister station since 1962, top-40 format all-news. third conversion made 3 years later @ westinghouse-owned station, kfwb in los angeles. westinghouse trio of all-news stations made numerous contributions developing all-news format.

the former kyw building on independence mall east, used station 1972 2007. building has since been demolished , replaced national museum of american jewish history.

in 1972 kyw moved new studios in independence mall east, @ fifth , market streets, remain next 35 years.

kyw has long been major factor in philadelphia radio market, although audience has naturally reduced due decline of whole. kyw-tv took advantage of radio station s popularity incorporating version of kyw s musical sounder news themes 1991 2003. in addition, television simulcast of 5 a.m. 8 a.m. block entitled kyw newsradio 1060 morning aired on sister station wpsg (channel 57) in 2000s, adapting kyw s clock television. though popular alternative national morning shows, effects of vertical integration , new affiliation traffic pulse saw control of program shift kyw-tv, , became new program called wake upnews, featuring standard local morning news format heavy focus on traffic until 2009, when became standard extension of kyw-tv s 5 a.m. 7 a.m. show.

in 1995 westinghouse electric announced purchase of cbs, , upon completion kyw became sister station long-time rival, cbs-owned wgmp (1210 am, wpht). station, under original wcau call letters, had attempted during late 1970s compete kyw all-news programming, failed, eliminating format after three-year effort.

from 1986 1998, kyw used c-quam stereo system, abandoned system time of cbs-westinghouse merger , went standard monophonic am. station has been using hd radio digital system created ibiquity since september 2007 after initial testing period.

in march 2007, studios moved 1 half-block 400 market street in center city philadelphia, allowed construction of national museum of american jewish history. in march 2014, relocated 1555 hamilton street in philadelphia, joining kyw-tv on 6th floor. referred on-air cbs broadcast center .

in november 2017, cbs radio merged entercom, based in suburban bala cynwyd , had never owned station based in home market. transaction separated kyw television counterparts, , marked first time since establishment kyw has not been owned direct descendent of westinghouse.