Entercom News/Talk 1020 KDKA Pittsburgh will be celebrating its centennial with the addition of an FM signal.
Radio Power Inc.’s 100.1 W261AX Pittsburgh, which is currently Hip Hop “WAMO 100“, will begin simulcasting KDKA on Monday, November 2. The Hip Hop format will be moving to 660 WAMO/107.3 W297BU on that day.
The move will take place on the 100th anniversary of the first broadcast from what became KDKA.
Entercom is proud to celebrate 100 years of News Radio 1020 KDKA (KDKA-AM), the authoritative news and talk voice of Pittsburgh. To commemorate the station’s centennial anniversary, News Radio 1020 KDKA will simulcast on FM for the first time ever and be heard on 100.1 FM as 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA, effective November 2.
“KDKA Radio is part of the radio history books not just here in Pittsburgh, but on a national level,” said Michael Spacciapolli, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Pittsburgh. “What started back in 1920 as an opportunity to instantaneously provide news and information about the presidential election returns has blossomed into a key part of our listeners’ lives. After serving Pittsburghers on our AM dial for the last 100 years, we are thrilled to expand the reach of historic KDKA on FM. It’s an honor to be part of the team carrying the torch from those before us into the next 100 years.”
On October 27, 1920, the Department of Commerce issued the first commercial radio station license under the call sign KDKA. The station launched on November 2, 1920 when Frank Conrad, an engineer at Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, started 8ZZ and broadcasted the results of the presidential election returns between Warren G. Harding and James Cox.
The station’s yearlong centennial celebration has also included various original sound, historical soundbites and a special weekly program every Wednesday.
The new logo also might be officially launched at that time. Right now, the Group W-style logo still appears to be in use on the station’s website and social media.
KDKA had an FM Station (KDKA FM 92.9) And they did simulcast part of the day in the 50’s60’s and in the 70’s the 92.9 signal became WPNT (” the point” noting thetwo rivers ALLEGHENY and Monongahela coming together to form the Ohio.) with Beautiful music. Then Group W sold it.