KPBS-FM

KPBS-FM / KQVO
Broadcast area	San Diego, California
Frequency	KPBS-FM: 89.5 MHz (HD Radio) ; KQVO: 97.7 MHz (HD Radio)
Programming
Format	Analog/HD1: Public Radio; HD2: Classical music; HD3: Groove Salad
Affiliations	NPR; American Public Media; PRI
Ownership
Owner	San Diego State University
History
First air date	1960 as KEBS
Call sign meaning	KPBS-FM: K Public Broadcasting Service; (affiliation of sister TV station); KQVO: unknown
Technical information
Facility ID	KPBS-FM: 58823; KQVO: 8175
Class	KPBS-FM: B; KQVO: A
ERP	KPBS-FM: 26,000 watts; KQVO: 6,000 watts
HAAT	KPBS-FM: 208.5 meters; KQVO: 93 meters
Links
Webcast	Listen Live; Classical San Diego Listen Live; PLS
Website	kpbs.org/radio/

KPBS-FM is a non-commercial public radio station licensed to San Diego State University, broadcasting in San Diego on 89.5 MHz, 89.1 MHz K206AC in La Jolla, and on 97.7 MHz KQVO in Calexico, Imperial County. The station is affiliated with National Public Radio, with programming consisting of news and public affairs. Beginning May 23, 2011, the station discontinued its classical music programming in the evening hours and moved music programming to an online stream.^[1]

The station first went on the air in 1960, being owned by what was then San Diego State College. KPBS changed its call letters from KEBS to KPBS-FM in 1970. It, along with KCRW Santa Monica and KQED-FM San Francisco, is one of California's longest-serving NPR affiliates, having announced its affiliation in the fall of 1969. As such, it was one of the first NPR affiliates to air All Things Considered when it premiered in 1971.

KPBS has three HD Radio channels. KPBS-HD1 is the main channel that airs NPR news and talk, much like the analog KPBS-FM; KPBS-HD2 airs "Classical San Diego", featuring music from the syndicated Classical 24 service; and KPBS-HD3 offers SomaFM's syndicated "Groove Salad" format.

The station offers a radio-reading service on one of the FM sidebands. This requires a special FM receiver.

On October 1, 2012, KPBS boosted its effective radiated power from 2,700 watts to 26,000 watts.

San Diego wildfires

During the October 2007 wildfires in the San Diego area, power was lost to the KPBS-FM/TV transmitter on Mount San Miguel.^[2]

Within three hours, alternative rock station KBZT agreed to air KPBS' wildfire coverage until the station could return to a backup operation from its studios on the San Diego State University campus, which occurred the next day. KPBS later restored full coverage from Mount San Miguel using a backup generator.