KALX

For the airport in Alexander City, Alabama, assigned ICAO code KALX, seeThomas C. Russell Field.

KALX

Berkeley, California
Broadcast area	San Francisco Bay Area
Frequency	90.7MHz
Programming
Format	College radio
Ownership
Owner	University of California
History
Call signmeaning	University of California [sic]
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	68999
Class	A
ERP	500watts
HAAT	238 meters (781 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	37°52′40″N122°14′44″W
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
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

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.Baer, who would later serve as aSan Francisco Giantsexecutive beginning in December 1992, was theplay-by-play announcer.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.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?"

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.

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.

Format

KALX offers a diverse range of public affairs programming, and airs many kinds ofpublic service announcementsthroughout its daily broadcast.

Notable alumni

KALX has provided a training ground for numerous individuals who have had careers in music, television, and radio. These include:

• Stewart Copeland–The Police
• Lisa Stark—ABC News
• Sarah Wallace—WNBC, WABC-TV's EyeWitness News
• Andrew Reimer—5aa
• Kristen Sze—ABC7
• John (Long John) Morehouse—past President Long Valley Communications, KALX, KZYX, KAVA, KMUD, KPHT-LP, KFTY-TV50, KRCB-TV22
• Bob Sarlatte—Actor and sports announcer

External links

• KALX homepage with online live streaming broadcast

• Facility details for Facility ID 68999 (KALX)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
• KALXinNielsen Audio's FM station database