KSSK-FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | Honolulu, Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 92.3 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | "AM 590 & 92-3 KSSK" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KUBT, KUCD, KDNN KHVH, KIKI | |
| History | |
First air date | December 30, 1976 |
Former call signs | KULA (1976–1987) KXPW (1987–1989) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 594 meters (1949 feet) |
Transmitter coordinates | 21°23′49″N 158°5′58″W / 21.39694°N 158.09944°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live HD2: Listen Live |
| Website | KSSK FM92.3 and AM590 |
| Frequency | 590 kHz |
|---|---|
| Branding | "AM 590 & 92-3 KSSK" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KUBT, KUCD, KDNN KHVH, KIKI | |
| History | |
First air date | May 11, 1922 |
Former call signs | KGMB (1922–1980)[1] |
Former frequencies | 1320 kHz (1922–1940)[1] |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| Power | 7,500 watts full-time |
Transmitter coordinates | 21°19′26″N 157°52′32″W / 21.32389°N 157.87556°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | KSSK FM92.3 and AM590 |
KSSK-FM (92.3 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Waipahu, Hawaii, and serving the Honolulu media market. It is simulcast on AM 590 kHz KSSK, which is licensed to Honolulu. KSSK-AM-FM are owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and the stations air an adult contemporary radio format. The stations' studios are located in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu, the KSSK-AM transmitter is located a mile from the studios, and the KSSK-FM transmitter is near Akupu, Hawaii. Like other iHeartMedia adult contemporary stations in many markets, KSSK-AM-FM play all Christmas music beginning each year in mid-November, returning to its normal format on December 26.
The stations are home to the popular "Perry & the Posse" morning show. They are also heard on Oceanic Time Warner Cable digital channel 867 for the entire state of Hawaii,[2] via the DishHD satellite TV service in Taiwan,[3] and also USEN's Sound Planet satellite radio service in Japan.[4]
The stations use the slogan, "Hawaii's Favorite." Nielsen consistently ranks KSSK-AM-FM as Honolulu's most listened-to radio station. KSSK's jingle melody was adapted from that of WPLJ in New York City. KSSK-AM-FM used WPLJ's jingle packages until TM Century created a jingle package for KSSK, known as "Big Time Honolulu."
KSSK is Hawaii's AM primary entry point station for the Emergency Alert System, with KRTR-FM providing PEP capabilities on FM.
History
590 AM
The AM side of the stations first signed on the air on Friday, May 11, 1922 as KDYX.[5] The governor of Hawaii was the first to greet the audiences. Along with KDYX, rival AM station KGU signed on the same day.[6] KSSK's rise to the top in the Honolulu market started when the station's call sign was KGMB.
Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, KGMB had been asked to broadcast music in order to provide long-range guidance to a flight of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses on their way to Hawaii from the mainland. Ironically, the Japanese aircraft picked up the same broadcasts and used them for guidance while they approached the islands. During the attack, KGMB dispatched reports to CBS Radio, which in turn were cited on-air by John Charles Daly, who anchored the network's coverage of that day's news.
The AM station was home to Hal J. Akuhead Pupule Lewis, better known as Aku. Upon Aku's passing in 1983, the station (now known as KSSK) moved afternoon personality Michael W. Perry to the morning slot and paired him with morning show substitute (while Aku was ill), Larry Price, a former National Football League player and head coach of the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team. The pairing was known as "Perry & Price".
92.3 FM
On December 30, 1976, FM station 92.3 KULA first signed on.[7] It was the sister station to AM 940 KAHU (now KKNE). KULA was an automated radio station playing Top 40 music provided by TM Programming. Its daily operations were run by one of its only two employees: Kawika Maszak, who programmed the automation computer to play commercial breaks.
In 1979, Heftel Broadcasting purchased the station, pairing it with 590 KSSK, which Heftel had owned since 1965.[8] The company was owned by Cecil Heftel, a Hawaii businessman and one-time congressman. Heftel moved the station's studios to Honolulu and ended the automation, hiring a staff of DJs. The format later switched to soft adult contemporary using the slogan "Light Rock, Less Talk." In the late 1980s, KULA moved back to Top 40, becoming KXPW "Power 92," under long time Top 40 programmer, Jay Stone (now deceased). Power 92 later switched its moniker to "92X," with Brad Barrett as program director.
In 1993, New-Tex Communications bought both 590 KSSK and 92.3 KXPW for $7.5 million.[9] At the time, 590 KSSK was the market's #1 station and the new owners wanted to capitalize on that success, especially as music listening was shifting to FM. KXPW became KSSK-FM, moving back to an adult contemporary sound and simulcasting part of the day with KSSK, including the top-rated "Perry & Price" morning show. Eventually the simulcast became a 24-hour operation.
In 2000, Clear Channel Communications acquired KSSK-AM-FM. In 2014, the company was renamed iHeartMedia, Inc.
Current on-air staff
As of April 16, 2009, current staff who also have their own blogs on KSSK include:[10]
Notable former on-air staff
 |
 |
Some notables who have passed through KGMB/KSSK include:
- Earl McDaniel (General Manager credited with putting the station on top)
- Hal Aku Lewis (deceased)
- George "Granny Goose" Groves
- Don Lamons
- Dave Lancaster
- Susan Cruz (who was actually Noland Cruz though while on air as Susan Cruz, he was never a female impersonator. The only link to being female was his name that was given to him by the General Manager)
- Ruth Ann "Hana Ogi" Ogata
- Shawn Sweeny
- Cliff Richards (deceased)[11]
- Myk Prosatiowell
- Mike Murray
- Harvey Weinstein (deceased)[12]
- Kimo Kahoano
- Jim Peters
- Jim Collins
- Shawnee (Smith)
- Noel Grey
- Terry Rosati (News)
- Terry Rosati
- Alan Zukercorn
- Wild Bill Logan
- Steve Carpenter
- Michael Shishido
- Maxwell the night guy (kris sereno)
- Erika Engle (news)
- Dave Curtis (news)
- Maureen Borromeo(Pescaia)-(news)
- Brad Barrett, Director of Programming
- Dick Wainwright
- Denny McPhee
- Jim Erickson
- Lisa D
- Steve Kelly
- Jim Parker
- Skip Baszler
References
- ^ a b "FCC History Cards for KSSK(AM)".
- ^ Digital Cable Program Guide / Lineups Archived 2011-02-25 at the Wayback Machine - Oceanic Time Warner Cable (accessed March 20, 2011)
- ^ lyngsat.com's dish hd listing (accessed May 31, 2011)
- ^ lyngsat.com's sound planet listing (accessed May 31, 2011)
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-56
- ^ The Early History of Radio In Hawaii
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-57
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1986 page B-79
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1995 page B-113
- ^ KSSK website
- ^ "Hawaii Radio & Television Guide Archive". Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ "Honolulu FM radio pioneer dies". starbulletin.com archives. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
External links
- KSSK FM92.3 and AM590 website
- Perry and Price
- Facility details for Facility ID KSSK ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID KSSK ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database