Radio and TV station call signs?

Question

Why do Western radio and TV stations start with the letter "K" and most Easern US stations start with the letter "W"? eg: KTVU and WNBC

Answer 1

Since Radio signals cross international borders, the international community divided up the letters for call signs for the various radio stations so you could tell what nation the station was in. The USA was assigned the letters "K" and "W".

The USA then went and divided the USA in half with the Mississippi River as the divider. Radio stations to the west got a "K" designation, to the east they got a "W" designation. Each state therefore has either a "K" or a "W" for almost all of its radio stations, except Minnesota, where the Mississippi starts, has a lot of both.

There are a few exceptions to the general rule but that is still pretty much how it works.

Answer 2

This comes up each and every so many times. there's a international settlement for such issues. Stations are giving call letters for id applications, and featuring ham radio operators. the U. S. initially took ok (do no longer understand why). it incredibly is why the oldest station, KDKA in Pittsburgh, has that initiate. maximum stations east of the Mississippi are a W, on a similar time as the ok's are west. yet ... there are some exceptions -- KYW in Philadelphia, WOAI in San Antonio, WBAP in Dallas, etc. Canada has many of the C's, mutually with CB, CK, CH, etc. Cuba has CM's. i think of Bonaire in the Caribbean has a great station referred to as PJB. etc.

Answer 3

if the station is east of the Mississippi river then it starts with a w. if it is west of the river then it starts with a k. there are some exceptions to this rule though and it is because they were in business before that rule came into effect.