Why do Bay Area TV broadcasting stations start with a "K"?

Question

Why are Bay Area TV broadcast stations names start with a "K". For example you have KTVU, KRON, KPIX and KGO-TV. Is there a reason for it or not? I have always been fascinated by the names.

Answer 1

The dividing line is actually the Mississippi River, anything East of that starts with a W, except a station in Pittsburght, and everything West of that starts with a K, It might be interesting to know that in Canada, everything there starts with a C, except the far East, in some locations there, it starts with a V, also in Southern California, especially in San Diego, going South into Mexico, everything there starts with an X.

Answer 2

It has been years since I took a course in radio broadcasting, but if memory serves, radio call letters were determined by geography. Everything west of something (perhaps the Mississippi River?) started with a "k." I could be way out in left field, but I am pretty sure it is geography. A basic book on radio broadcasting at the library would tell you for sure.

Answer 3

Television call letters, which is what the station 'names' are called, followed the historical pattern of radio stations. Call letters beginning with W were east of the Mississippi and anything to the West began with K. There have been a few exceptions to this rule, perhaps most notably Philadelphia's KYW, an industry pioneer.

An interesting article on the subject:

http://itotd.com/articles/579/radio-call-letters/