Question for you Yanks ;)

[chrisjk]

Why is it that seemingly all radio stations in the states are called a name that is 4 letters long and take the format ABCD?

I'm curious...can't you think of any proper names?

[Wynd]

I dunno. It's usually WXXX or KXXX. What are they over there?

[Cander]

Its just a standard naming convention to indentify radio stations.

[chrisjk]

Originally posted by Wynd
I dunno. It's usually WXXX or KXXX. What are they over there?

Could be anything, some i can think of...(mainly FM's at the end)

Southern FM
XFM
Ocean FM
WAVE 105
Capital FM
Radio 1 (and 2,3,4 and 5 Live)
Kiss 100
Mercury

many more I don't know...

[spetnik]

These laws are governed by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). Every station has what is called a 'Call-Sign'. This is usually four digits, but in rare cases (e.g. WGN in chicago) it is 3. The first character in the call-sign is either a 'K' or a 'W', depending on location (West of the Missippi is 'K', East is 'W'). Some examples:

KLOU 103.3 FM, ST LOUIS, MO
KMOX 1120 AM, ST LOUIS, MO
KSLZ 107.7 FM, ST LOUIS, MO
WFLZ 93.3 FM, TAMPA BAY, FL
WGN 720 AM, CHICAGO, IL
WINS 1010 AM, NEW YORK, NY
WABC 770 AM, NEW YORK, NY
WPLJ 95.5 FM, NEW YORK, NY
WCBS 880 AM, NEW YORK, NY

and thats just a few

[spetnik]

Wynd, ur from western illinois, huh?

[CiberTHuG]

Yeah, unlike you wild hethens in for'un lands, we have an FCC. They regulate radio call letters.

There some international convention, some treaty that has rationed out call letters kind of like IP address. America owns all of K, W, and parts of M, N, and some others. Anyway, radio and TV stations are limited to four letters, and the Ws are east of the Mississippi and the Ks are west.

There are two exceptions that I know of, WACO in Waco, Texas, and KARE in Kare, Maine. Here in Raleigh we have WRAL and WRDU (RDU is the three letter airport code for Raleigh-Durham Inter'l).

Ham radio operators get sequences that are longer than four characters, but still start with K, W, M, N, and the others that America has part of.

[chrisjk]

unlike you wild hethens in for'un lands, we have an FCC

We're not quite wild hethens as we do have air wave regulatory committies!!

Well that explains it, but they could still think of some interesting names rather than just their call-sign. A station that comes up with an original name in an area that is flooded with KXXX or whatever would be bound to attract more attention to itself.

[barrk]

KLOS is the classic rock in LOS Angeles.
KGON is the classic rock in OreGON.

There is a little logic involved......not much.....but we are just Yanks you know....cut us some slack.

[chrisjk]

Originally posted by barrk
but we are just Yanks you know....cut us some slack.

Well.....okay

[CiberTHuG]

Originally posted by chrisjk

Well that explains it, but they could still think of some interesting names rather than just their call-sign. A station that comes up with an original name in an area that is flooded with KXXX or whatever would be bound to attract more attention to itself.

Well, stations in America are required to broadcast their call signs every so often (just like Ham Radio operators), but they still have cute names for themselves.

WDCG 105.1FM Raleigh is known simply as G105.
WHTZ 94.1FM Winston-Salem is Hitz 94.
WRAL 101.5FM Raleigh is known as Mix 101.5. They are owned by a company that has several 'Mix' stations in different markets.
There is a Raleigh station call Sunny 93. I forget its call letters.
'Course, then there is WRDU 106.1 FM Raleigh, which has quite an attitude, being the only Triangle station with a Classic Rock format and carrying John Boy and Billy in the morning. They don't need a cute name. They are WRDU, and they will come to your house and kick your ass if you forget it. Very much so a hard-baked kind of station. And they aren't bad, as along as you don't mind listening to Pink Floyd once an hour with other classic rock groups.

[barrk]

KLOS plays Led Zepplin every other song but you get used to it. I cycle between that and the alternative station so I don't get too sick of Zep.

[CiberTHuG]

Oh, also, there is a KING FM in Seattle. 'Least there used to be. Seattle is located in King county, Washington.

[chrisjk]

Originally posted by CiberTHuG
Well, stations in America are required to broadcast their call signs every so often (just like Ham Radio operators), but they still have cute names for themselves.

I didn't know they had names as well. That's okay then! Just you only ever hear the XXXX. There's a banner ad at the top of these pages that had an XXXX station name (that's what sparked the original question) but no mention of cute name. Also on the Simpsons, the station is KBBL. Oh well...

[Jethro]

Must be a bummer for XXX being XXXX.

We follow Brit naming conventionds

Today Fm <- sucks
2UE <- redneck radio
Triple J <- rocks, if you like alternative music
Nova <- Just started
Triple M <- they just try to hard to be cool, and fail
2GB <- probably good on the way to bowls or something

etc etc etc etc

Haven't come across any Sex FM yet, but l guess it is a visual or participant sport anyway

[spetnik]

Originally posted by Jethro
Haven't come across any Sex FM yet, but l guess it is a visual or participant sport anyway

Well, the call-signs in US also apply wor Television. (WABC in NY, KPLR in St Louis)

[Ianpbaker]

Originally posted by chrisjk

Southern FM

DOn't even go there mate. In one of my previous cars I had an old non-digital radio. The dial got jammed on that station and after about a week of it , I didn't even turn it on

[Skitchen8]

up here in upstate NY we have WAAL which is known as the whale... sorta makes sense

[chrisjk]

Originally posted by Ianpbaker


DOn't even go there mate. In one of my previous cars I had an old non-digital radio. The dial got jammed on that station and after about a week of it , I didn't even turn it on

I know of it, they're only the ones I know. Wave 105 is good early morning and late evening (classics!), that comes from Fareham but you can just about get it as far as Worthing.

[Ianpbaker]

the problem with southern FM, is that they try to be funny and play games like Radio 1, but are just damn annoying. Just think yerself your lucky that you can't get arrow fm, which is hasting's local radio, I want to slit my wrists after 15mins of that

[parksie]

Wyvern over here is quite good (if you like inane chatter at 7am)

[barrk]

Originally posted by parksie
(if you like inane chatter at 7am)

I log in here every weekday morning at 7am for just that!!!!

[CiberTHuG]

Originally posted by barrk


I log in here every weekday morning at 7am for just that!!!!

I've always wondered if I could be a DJ.

[barrk]

I suffer from occasional bouts of sanity and rational thought so I know I could never be a morning talk radio DJ.

[parksie]

[Jethro]

Originally posted by Ianpbaker


DOn't even go there mate. In one of my previous cars I had an old non-digital radio. The dial got jammed on that station and after about a week of it , I didn't even turn it on

Isn't that always the way after the honeymoon period in a relationship is over. Then you have to think up new ways of uising your........................................

[Ianpbaker]

Originally posted by Jethro


Isn't that always the way after the honeymoon period in a relationship is over. Then you have to think up new ways of uising your........................................

Blah,Blah,Blah