KDKA (AM)

KDKA (AM) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and owned by Audacy, Inc. Broadcasting at 1020 kHz with a dominant clear-channel signal, it is widely recognized as a pioneer in radio broadcasting. The station's inaugural broadcast on November 2, 1920, featuring returns from the Harding-Cox presidential election, is historically cited as the beginning of licensed commercial broadcasting. For over a century, KDKA has been a cornerstone of Pittsburgh media, primarily airing a news/talk format.

History

The station's origins trace to the engineering work of Dr. Frank Conrad, a researcher for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, who conducted experimental broadcasts from his Wilkinsburg garage as 8XK. Recognizing the potential for a regular broadcast service to stimulate receiver sales, Westinghouse established KDKA, receiving its license from the Department of Commerce just days before its famed election night broadcast from a shack atop the Westinghouse plant in East Pittsburgh. In 1923, KDKA constructed one of the first dedicated radio broadcasting facilities, the "KDKA Radio Central" building in Forest Hills. The station was a founding member of the NBC Blue Network and later affiliated with the CBS Radio Network, a relationship that lasted for decades. Ownership passed through Group W (Westinghouse Broadcasting) and later CBS Corporation before its acquisition by Entercom, which later rebranded as Audacy, Inc.. Landmark broadcasts have included coverage of the World Series, the Armistice Day ceremony for the Unknown Soldier, and the Johnstown flood of 1936.

Programming

KDKA operates with a full-service news/talk format, providing extensive local news coverage, traffic, and weather alongside nationally syndicated talk programs. Its schedule features long-running local talk shows discussing Pennsylvania politics and community issues, complemented by syndicated hosts from the CBS News Radio network. The station maintains a major commitment to Pittsburgh sports, serving as the flagship broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team and carrying games for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football and basketball teams. Special programming includes election night coverage, holiday broadcasts, and call-in shows during major regional events, maintaining its legacy as a primary information source for Western Pennsylvania.

Technical information

KDKA transmits with 50,000 watts by day and 26,000 watts at night from a multi-tower directional array located in Allison Park. Its transmitter site, using a guyed mast radiator, is designed to protect the signal of co-channel station KXDD in Yakima, Washington. Operating on a clear-channel frequency designated for Pittsburgh, the station's powerful signal provides reliable daytime coverage across much of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Ontario, with significant nighttime reach across the Eastern United States. The station is also heard on HD Radio via its digital subchannel and is simulcast on FM translator W261AX at 100.1 MHz in Pittsburgh.

Notable on-air staff

Throughout its history, KDKA has been home to numerous influential broadcasters. Legendary personalities include newsman Bill Burns, sportscaster Bob Prince (the "Voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates"), and talk host John Cigna. Contemporary notable figures include morning news anchor Larry Richert, longtime talk show host Marty Griffin, and sports director Colin Dunlap. The station has also served as a launching pad for national figures, such as television journalist Catherine Crier and sports broadcaster Myron Cope, famed for his work with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Awards and recognition

KDKA has received many accolades, including multiple Marconi Awards for "Legendary Station" from the National Association of Broadcasters. The station's news department has earned numerous Associated Press awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in journalism. In 1994, the original KDKA transmitter was designated a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The station's pioneering election night broadcast is commemorated at the Smithsonian Institution, and KDKA is enshrined in the National Radio Hall of Fame.

Category:Radio stations in Pittsburgh Category:Clear-channel stations Category:1920 establishments in Pennsylvania