KALX
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(March 2008) |
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Broadcast area | San Francisco Bay Area |
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Frequency | 90.7MHz |
Programming | |
Format | College radio |
Ownership | |
Owner | University of California |
History | |
Call signmeaning | University of California [sic] |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 68999 |
Class | A |
ERP | 500watts |
HAAT | 238 meters (781 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 37°52′40″N122°14′44″W/ 37.87778°N 122.24556°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | KALX Online |
KALX(90.7FM) is anFMradio stationthat broadcasts from theUniversity of California, BerkeleyinBerkeley,California,United States.KALX, a community and student-run radio stationlicensedto the university, broadcasts instereowith 500wattsofpower.The station employs three full-time paid staff members, but is largely run by its nearly 300volunteers,including Berkeley students and other members of the local community. The station's studios are located at Social Sciences Building on campus.
History
[edit]The station originally began broadcasting in 1962, as acarrier currentstation. By 1966, KALX (then known as Radio KAL, thecall lettersbeing derived from Berkeley's nickname "Cal" ) had moved from Berkeley'sdormitoriesto Dwinelle Hall on campus, and Berkeley administrators began investigating the possibility of applying for abroadcast frequencyfor the station. KALX received its broadcast license and made its first FM broadcast, with 10 watts of power, in 1967. The studio in the basement of Dwinelle was modest, a small chamber sequestered off from a sizable library of albums.
In the 1970s, KALX was taken off the air for a short period by the faculty oversight Radio Policy Board after the station manager and friends had abused their use of university automobiles for private use and run up large bills for long distance phone calls to their contacts in Los Angeles and elsewhere. After an investigation, the station was put back on the air in 1975 under new management, led by Andrew Reimer who had previously been manager ofKUCI,the radio station at UC Irvine. The station progressed from a 10-watt part-time operation to continuous operation in 1977, to a higher transmitter site in theBerkeley Hillsin 1978.
KALX became the official radio station for theOakland Athleticsjust days before the season opener in April1978.Larry Baer,a juniorpolitical sciencemajorwho was the station's sports director andbusiness manager,negotiated the agreement with team ownerCharlie Finley.The situation was made possible because of the Athletics' subpar on-field performance and attendance and the uncertainty surrounding Finley's threats to move the ballclub toDenver.[2]Baer, who would later serve as aSan Francisco Giantsexecutive beginning in December 1992, was theplay-by-play announcer.[3]Sophomoremass communicationsmajorBob Kozbergand stationproducer/engineerSteve Blum also worked on the broadcasts.
The arrangement lasted only sixteen games. One month into the season, Finley decided to keep the Athletics in Oakland and awarded the broadcast rights toKNEW.[2][4]Nonetheless, the setup made the A's a laughingstock in the Bay Area. At the time, KALX only operated at 10 watts, rendering it practically unlistenable more than 10 miles fromOakland Coliseum.This led one fan to joke about the A's radio network stretching all the way to Hawaii by asking, "Honolulu?How abouthere?"[5]
In 1981, the station began a successfulfundraisingdrive to boost its power level to the present-day 500 watts, a level that was reached in 1982.[2]
As part of the A's 50th anniversary celebration in 2018, Baer was invited back to do play-by-play for one inning of an A's/Giants game.[6]
Format
[edit]KALX offers a diverse range of public affairs programming, and airs many kinds ofpublic service announcementsthroughout its daily broadcast.
Notable alumni
[edit]KALX has provided a training ground for numerous individuals who have had careers in music, television, and radio. These include:
- Stewart Copeland–The Police[7]
- Lisa Stark—ABC News[8]
- Sarah Wallace—WNBC, WABC-TV's EyeWitness News[9]
- Andrew Reimer—5aa[10]
- Kristen Sze—ABC7[11]
- John (Long John) Morehouse—past President Long Valley Communications, KALX, KZYX, KAVA, KMUD, KPHT-LP, KFTY-TV50, KRCB-TV22[12]
- Bob Sarlatte—Actor and sports announcer[13]
References
[edit]- ^"Facility Technical Data for KALX".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^abcThe Full and Unabridged History of KALX – KALX 90.7FM Berkeley.
- ^"San Francisco Giants: Front Office".sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.
- ^Fimrite, Ron. "They're Just Mad About Charlie,"Sports Illustrated,May 21, 1979.
- ^Smith, Curt(2001).Storied Stadiums.New York City: Carroll & Graf.ISBN0-7867-1187-6.
- ^Play-by-play. July 21, 2018.KGMZ-FM.
- ^"Biography".Off The Score.7 July 2023.
- ^"Lisa Stark".ABC News.13 April 2012.
- ^"Sarah Wallace joins WNBC after ending a 30-year run at WABC".NY Daily News.Retrieved2016-10-06.
- ^"radioinfo.au | Australia's leading site for broadcast professionals".radioinfo.au.29 February 2008.Retrieved2016-10-06.
- ^"Kristen Sze | ABC7 KGO News Team".ABC7 San Francisco.Retrieved2016-10-06.
- ^"Long John | Tubby Tunes radio show".
- ^BobSarlatte."Bay Area - Comedian - Corporate Event Emcee - Bob Sarlatte".bobsarlatte.
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 68999 (KALX)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- KALXinNielsen Audio's FM station database