feedback.pdxradio.com forums › feedback.pdxradio.com forums › History › Portland Area Original Call Letter Meanings
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motozak3.
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AuthorPosts
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July 23, 2009 at 6:37 am #149
oregonradioguy
ParticipantEugene
KPNW – Pacific Northwest
KUGN – Eugene (city where located)
Albany
KHPE – K-Happy (now goes by Hope 1079)
Newport
KNPT – Newport (city where located)
San Francisco
KSFO – SFO is the airport call sign
K101 – their location on the FM dial
KFOG – named for the “fog” of San Francisco
July 23, 2009 at 6:40 am #150semoochie
ParticipantI’m with Craig Walker on this one: It was my understanding that the calls were chosen for Country/Western with the added advantage of relating to the company name.
July 23, 2009 at 6:44 am #151pdxgary98
ParticipantAs I understood the company name and the format of KKCW so I to agree with Craig and semoochie… so don’t try to stump the jock.
July 23, 2009 at 8:25 am #152silverdollar
ParticipantI’m with Craig Walker on this one: It was my understanding that the calls were chosen for Country/Western with the added advantage of relating to the company name.
From what I was told the format was going to be CW until the day it went on the air and it changed to Love Songs…
July 23, 2009 at 9:44 am #153Craig_Adams
ParticipantThanks everyone for your input.
The KKCW vote continues. So far it’s 2 for Columbia Wallamette and 2 for Country Western.
johnf: I will make a correction on the KZRI calls.
kjunguy: There are at least an additional 40 some calls from the Portland area that were assigned to stations that were Construction Permits and never used on the air. KJUN was on the air, although briefly in Portland, so I’m going to make an exception since it was a one time unique listening event. What do the calls stand for?
July 23, 2009 at 12:12 pm #154littlesongs
ParticipantGreat research Craig!
The pot reference is funny, but not entirely accurate. KBOO was named for something more innocent and far less subversive: Halloween.
“Its call letters, K-“BOO” were chosen because the incorporation papers were signed on Halloween.”
July 23, 2009 at 1:20 pm #155Craig_Adams
ParticipantLittlesongs: I too first heard the Halloween story. Then while talking to former K-Boo people during that period, I found out there was a deeper meaning. Something not talked about publicly in an earlier time. My information comes from the K-Boo website. Check it out:
July 23, 2009 at 3:03 pm #156Listener_Pete
ParticipantIt’s not an offical source, but Wikipedia says: In 1984, KKCW intended to sign on with a country format. The C and W in the call letters stood for country and western, but music stations KUPL and KWJJ beat them to the punch.
July 23, 2009 at 3:17 pm #157littlesongs
ParticipantCraig, I stand corrected. Forgive me for repeating a meme that I heard years ago. (I knew about the connection to Lorenzo Milam, but I don’t remember this “Berkeley Boo” story being referenced in “Sex & Broadcasting” — a book everybody in public and community radio should read at least once.) I ought to pester Gray Haertig for some more history next time we work together. Have you had a chance to shoot the bull with Foggy? If not, you two should definitely get together!
July 23, 2009 at 4:27 pm #158Craig_Adams
ParticipantI’ve known Gray for years. He’s been a great source of information. Just saw him at the KOIN Sylvan transmitter get together, when they were getting ready to turned off the analog signal, next morning.
July 24, 2009 at 1:30 am #159silverdollar
ParticipantIn 1984, KKCW intended to sign on with a country format. The C and W in the call letters stood for country and western, but music stations KUPL and KWJJ beat them to the punch.
This is the story I was told at a family reunion.
July 24, 2009 at 1:32 am #160Listener_Pete
ParticipantYou have a family, Trixter? 😉
July 24, 2009 at 1:32 am #161silverdollar
ParticipantA couple…
😉
July 24, 2009 at 2:00 am #162kjunguy
ParticipantCraig,
KJUN stood for Cajun. These call letters were previously used in Puyallup for a country station. If KJUN had not been moved to the Portland area it would have been used for a country station in Tillamook.
July 24, 2009 at 2:03 am #163Craig_Adams
ParticipantThanks!
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