Wikipedia

KQED-FM

KQED-FM and KQEI-FM
Broadcast area
Frequencies
BrandingKQED
Programming
FormatPublic radio and talk
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerKQED Inc.
History
First air date
  • KQED-FM: April 5, 1963 (1963-04-05)
  • KQEI-FM: February 21, 1992 (1992-02-21)
Former call signs
  • KQED-FM: KXKX (1963–1969)
Call sign meaning
Quod Erat Demonstrandum "That which is demonstrated" (Latin phrase used in math research)
Technical information[1][2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID
  • KQED-FM: 35501
  • KQEI-FM: 20791
Class
  • KQED-FM: B
  • KQEI-FM: A
ERP
  • KQED-FM: 110,000 watts
  • KQEI-FM: 3,300 watts
HAAT
  • KQED-FM: 387 meters (1,270 ft)
  • KQEI-FM: 108 meters (354 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
Translator(s)See below
Repeater(s)See below
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.kqed.org

KQED-FM (88.5 MHz) is a noncommercial educational radio station licensed to San Francisco, California, United States, that is the primary National Public Radio (NPR) member station for the San Francisco Bay Area. It is simulcast on KQEI-FM (89.3 FM), licensed to North Highlands, California, United States, and serving the Sacramento metropolitan area. Owned by KQED Inc. alongside KQED (channel 9), the station's studios are located on Mariposa Street in San Francisco's Mission District. KQED-FM's transmitter is sited along Radio Road, atop San Bruno Mountain, in Brisbane; KQEI-FM's transmitter is located on Sorento Road in Elverta.

KQED-FM is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the United States,[3] and often ranks first in the Nielsen ratings for the San Francisco radio market.[4] KQED's local programming includes Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal, The California Report and Tech Nation. In addition to standard analog transmission, KQED-FM is carried on Comcast digital cable channel 960, broadcasts in HD Radio, and is available online, including via iHeartRadio.

History

[edit]

Prior KXKX-FM 97.3 MHz (1952–1956) is unrelated.

KXKX

[edit]

The San Francisco Theological Seminary, a Presbyterian group, began broadcasting with station KXKX in April 1963.[5] The new 110,000-watt station signed on two years after the seminary received a construction permit from the FCC in August 1961.[6] In addition to Christian radio programming, the station's subcarrier broadcast theology courses to receivers at 44 Bay Area churches.[7]

When agencies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) could no longer support the station, KXKX signed off at midnight on the evening of June 29, 1967.[8]

KQED-FM

[edit]

In July 1968, the San Francisco Theological Seminary filed to sell KXKX to the Bay Area Educational Television Association, owner of public television station KQED (channel 9).[6] The station returned to the air as KQED-FM in mid-1969, originally using the studios at 286 Divisadero Street inherited from the seminary.[6] The founding manager was Bernard Mayes, who later went on to be executive vice president of KQED television and also co-founder and chairman of NPR.

The first programming of KQED-FM included news, '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 network affiliates of National Public Radio, one of five in California. It aired 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.

One of the most famous programs to have been broadcast on KQED was An Hour with Pink Floyd, a 60-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.[9] 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

[edit]

In 2003, KQED Radio expanded to the Sacramento metropolitan area by purchasing KEBR-FM on 89.3 MHz. The station is licensed to the suburban community of North Highlands. It signed on the air on February 21, 1992.[10]

KEBR-FM 89.3 was originally owned by Family Radio, a Christian broadcaster based in Oakland at the time.[11][12] The KEBR-FM call letters and format moved to a more powerful FM station on 88.1 MHz in Sacramento. KQED Radio changed the call sign on 89.3 FM to KQEI-FM. It became a full-time simulcast of KQED-FM in San Francisco.

Locally-produced shows

[edit]

In 2023, KQED acquired Snap Judgment and Spooked podcasts.[13]

Programming

[edit]

In addition to local programming, KQED-FM carries content from major public radio distributors such as NPR, the Public Radio Exchange and American Public Media, with the BBC World Service heard late nights.

Translators

[edit]

In addition to the main station, KQED-FM is relayed by these stations and translators to widen its broadcast area.

Broadcast translators for KQED-FM
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
K201BV 88.1 FM Benicia-Martinez, California 35499 4 112 m (367 ft) D 38°0′24.7″N 122°8′37.8″W / 38.006861°N 122.143833°W / 38.006861; -122.143833 LMS
K202CT 88.3 FM Santa Rosa, California 81204 10 308 m (1,010 ft) D 38°30′30.7″N 122°39′44.9″W / 38.508528°N 122.662472°W / 38.508528; -122.662472 LMS
KQED-FM1 88.5 FM San Francisco, California 789869 450 449 m (1,473 ft) D 37°52′56.5″N 122°13′15.1″W / 37.882361°N 122.220861°W / 37.882361; -122.220861 LMS
KQED-FM2 88.5 FM Alamo, California 789877 140 471 m (1,545 ft) D 37°48′56.7″N 122°3′44.8″W / 37.815750°N 122.062444°W / 37.815750; -122.062444 LMS
KQED-FM3 88.5 FM Pleasanton, California 789882 70 409 m (1,342 ft) D 37°44′20″N 121°59′42.5″W / 37.73889°N 121.995139°W / 37.73889; -121.995139 LMS
KQED-FM4 88.5 FM Concord, California 789889 75 299 m (981 ft) D 37°55′56.5″N 122°7′24.1″W / 37.932361°N 122.123361°W / 37.932361; -122.123361 LMS
KQED-FM5 88.5 FM San Francisco, California 791427 300 125 m (410 ft) D 38°1′16.5″N 121°59′16.1″W / 38.021250°N 121.987806°W / 38.021250; -121.987806 LMS

KQED and KQEI also broadcast using HD Radio technology.[14][15][16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KQED-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KQEI-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "About KQED: KQED Public Radio". KQED. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  4. ^ "Nielsen Audio Ratings". Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  5. ^ "New Radio Station Opens". The Daily Republic. Fairfield, California. April 5, 1963. p. 9. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c "History Cards for KQED-FM". Federal Communications Commission. (Guide to reading History Cards)
  7. ^ "Seminary Plans Theology By TV". Independent-Journal. February 26, 1965. p. 20. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  8. ^ "Final Sign-Off Tonight for Station KXKX". San Francisco Examiner. June 29, 1967. p. 21. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  9. ^ 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 September 5, 2012.
  10. ^ North Highlands: KEBR-FM, Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000 page D-53. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Kearns, Jeff (March 6, 2003). "Radio clash". NewsReview.com. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  12. ^ Larson, Mark (February 7, 2003). "NPR outlets face off as KQED buys local station". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  13. ^ Khalid, Amrita (August 8, 2023). "KQED acquires studio behind Glynn Washington's Snap Judgment". The Verge. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  14. ^ "HD Radio station guide for San Francisco, CA". Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016. HD Radio Guide for San Francisco
  15. ^ "USA: California: Radio Station Market List -- RadioStationWorld.com". radiostationworld.com.
  16. ^ "Stations".