KQED-FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | San Francisco Bay Area (KQED 88.5) Sacramento (KQEI 89.3) |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 88.5 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | KQED |
| Programming | |
| Format | Public Radio |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Northern California Public Broadcasting |
| History | |
First air date | June 25, 1969 |
Former call signs | KXKX-FM |
Call sign meaning | Quod Erat Demonstrandum |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | KQED-FM: 35501 KQEI: 20791 |
| Class | KQED-FM: B KQEI: A |
| ERP | KQED-FM: 110,000 watts KQEI: 3,300 watts |
| HAAT | KQED-FM: 387 m (1,270 ft) KQEI: 108 m (354 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | KQED-FM:37°41′23″N 122°26′13″W / 37.68972°N 122.43694°W KQEI:38°42′38″N 121°28′54″W / 38.71056°N 121.48167°W |
| Repeater(s) | See below |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | KQED.org |
KQED-FM (88.5 FM) is an NPR-member radio station owned by Northern California Public Broadcasting in San Francisco, California. Its parent organization is KQED, Inc..
KQED-FM was founded by James Day in 1969 as the radio arm of KQED Television. The founding manager was Bernard Mayes who later went on to be Executive Vice-President of KQED TV and also co-founder and chairman of NPR (National Public Radio). KQED-FM was first located in a former church building where the Presbyterian church ran station KXKX-FM the licence of which was sold to KQED. The first programming of KQED-FM included news feeds from NPR, 'street radio' broadcast live from local street corners, drama and music. In its third year on the air, KQED-FM became one of the first 80 NPR affiliates—five of which were in California—to air the first edition of All Things Considered. Later, due to reduced funding, Mayes opened the air to 'Tribal Radio' - productions by local non-profit groups, some in their own languages. Today, KQED-FM is the most-listened to public radio station in the United States,[1] and as of the fall 2005 Arbitron ratings, the station ranks third in the San Francisco market.[2] In addition to local programming, KQED-FM carries content from major public radio distributors such as National Public Radio, Public Radio International, BBC World Service and American Public Media. Among the locally produced shows are Forum with Michael Krasny, The California Report, Perspectives and Pacific Time.
In addition to over-the-air broadcasts, KQED-FM audio is carried on Comcast digital cable channel 960 and is webcast with live streaming audio around the clock with Forum, and Pacific Time carried live with nationwide coverage on Sirius Satellite Radio. KQED also offers an extensive audio archive and podcasts of previous shows for download.
One of the most famous programs to have been broadcast on KQED was An Hour with Pink Floyd, a sixty-minute performance by Pink Floyd recorded in 1970 without an audience at the station's studio. The program was broadcast only twice—once in 1970, and once again in 1981.[3] The setlist included "Atom Heart Mother", "Cymbaline", "Grantchester Meadows", "Green Is the Colour", "Careful with That Axe, Eugene", and "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun".
Expansion into Sacramento
In 2003, KQED Radio expanded to the Sacramento area by purchasing KEBR-FM in North Highlands from Family Radio, a religious broadcaster based in Oakland.[4][5] The call letters were changed to KQEI, and it became a full-time satellite of KQED.
Additional frequencies
In addition to the main station, KQED-FM is relayed by these stations and translators to widen its broadcast area.
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KQEI-FM | 89.3 FM | North Highlands, California | 3,300 | A | ||
| K201BV | 88.1 FM | Benicia, California | 4 | D | ||
| K201BV | 88.1 FM | Martinez, California | 4 | D | ||
| K202CT | 88.3 FM | Santa Rosa, California | 10 | D |
KQED and KQEI also broadcast in HD Radio.[6][7][8]
References
- ^ "About KQED: KQED Public Radio". KQED. Retrieved 9 May 2009.
- ^ Ben Fong-Torres (12 March 2006). "Radio Waves". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
- ^ Povey, Glenn (2006). "The Sound of Music in My Ears 1970–1971". Echoes : The Complete History of Pink Floyd (New ed.). Mind Head Publishing. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-9554624-0-5. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ Kearns, Jeff (March 6, 2003). "Radio clash". NewsReview.com. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ Larson, Mark (February 7, 2003). "NPR outlets face off as KQED buys local station". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=4 HD Radio Guide for San Francisco
- ^ http://radiostationworld.com/locations/united_states_of_america/california/radio.asp?m=sac
- ^ http://hdradio.com/stations
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID KQED ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID KQEI ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database