This is the KCBS History section of
The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by: Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
last update: 10/29/09

A History of KCBS

KCBS traces its history from what is arguably one of the very first broadcast stations, Charles "Doc" Herrold's station. With a history stretching from 1909, this facility is almost 100 years old!

Call Letter Sequence:  FN è SJN è 6XE è 6FX è KQW è KCBS

 KQW = "King's Quickening Word" (meaning used first in 1925).

 Facility History:

 First Broadcast License: December 9, 1921 (License # 255)

First Broadcast:

      Prequel:  
          1909:   San Jose Calling
                 :   FN
          1913:   SJN
          1916:   6XE
          1916:   6FX
  
    Original:   833 kHz. at San Jose, CA as KQW.

          /  /25:   Power increased to 500 W.
         /  /27:   Moved to  900 kHz.
       5/3/27:   Moved to 1120 kHz.
       6/1/27:   Moved to 1010 kHz.
     1/29/35:   Power increased to 1 kW.
     11/6/39:   Power increased to 5/1 kW, DA-1.
       7/5/40:   Power increased to 5 kW, DA-1.
     3/29/41:   Moved to 740 kHz at 5/1 kW, DA-1.
       4/4/41:   Power increased to 5 kW, DA-1.
       1/1/42:   Joins CBS.
     8/19/48:   Granted CP for 560 kHz.
       4/3/49:   Calls changed to KCBS.
     9/14/51:   Power increased to 50 kW, DA-2 (Xmtr: GE BT-25-A).
     9/14/51:   Facility moved to San Francisco, CA
            /59:   Installed Continental 316B as backup xmtr.
         /  /68:   Begins all news format.
     3/15/74:   NOL for $2000 on 73.119 (b)(c).
            /76:   Installed Gates MW-50
       1/x/90:   Installed Harris DX-50.
      12/ /07:   Installed Harris 3DX-50

Ownership: 

    Original:  Charles "Doc" Herrold

     2/20/30:   Purchased by Fred Hart, manager.
       4/2/49:    Purchased by CBS (Westinghouse)