KQED-FM

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KQED-FM
City of license	San Francisco, California
Branding	NPR News & Information
Frequency	88.5 MHz (Also on HD Radio)
Repeaters	KQEI-FM 89.3 K201BV 88.1 K202CT 88.3
Format	Public Radio
ERP	110,000 watts
HAAT	387.0 meters
Class	B
Facility ID	35501
Transmitter Coordinates	37°41′23.00″N 122°26′13.00″W / 37.6897222, -122.4369444
Callsign meaning	Quod Erat Demonstrandum
Affiliations	National Public Radio, Public Radio International
Owner	Northern California Public Broadcasting
Website	www.kqed.org

KQED-FM (88.5 FM) is an NPR-member radio station owned by Northern California Public Broadcasting in San Francisco, California.

Founded in 1969, KQED-FM is the most-listened to public radio station in the United States^{[citation needed]}, and and as of the fall 2005 Arbitron ratings, the station ranks 3rd in the San Francisco Market.^[1] In addition to local programming KQED-FM carries content from major public radio distributors such as National Public Radio, Public Radio International, BBC World Service and Minnesota Public Radio. Among the locally produced shows are Forum with Michael Krasny, The California Report, Perspectives and Pacific Time.

In addition to over-the-air broadcasts, KQED-FM audio is carried on Comcast digital cable channel 960 and is webcast with live streaming audio around the clock with Forum, and Pacific Time carried live with nationwide coverage on Sirius Satellite Radio. KQED also offers an extensive audio archive and podcasts of previous shows for download.

One of the most famous programs to have been broadcast on KQED was An Hour with Pink Floyd, a sixty minute performance by Pink Floyd recorded in 1970 without an audience at the Fillmore West. The program was broadcast only twice—once in 1970, and once again in 1984. The setlist included Atom Heart Mother, Cymbaline, Grantchester Meadows, Green Is the Colour, Careful with that Axe, Eugene, and Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.

[edit] Expansion into Sacramento

In 2003, KQED Radio expanded to the Sacramento area by purchasing KEBR-FM in North Highlands from Family Radio, a religious broadcaster based in Oakland. Some residents and management at KXJZ, the NPR station already serving the Sacramento area, criticized the move, saying that KQED would only duplicate KXJZ programming. KXJZ's parent company - Capital Public Radio - also had plans to purchase KEBR. CPR's plan was to broadcast jazz on KEBR and convert KXJZ into an all-news station. Indeed, KQED and KXJZ carry Morning Edition, Talk of the Nation, and All Things Considered at the same times opposite each other. KQED argues that it carries more regional news programming during the middle of the day, and news programs at night, while KXJZ has a smaller news bureau and music programming overnight. Capital Public Radio and community residents argued that duplication of the exact same NPR programming serves no one, and that it is very unusual for one NPR station to move in on the territory of a successful existing station. KXJZ has also increased its local midday programming with the addition of Insight, a daily interview program.

This was not the first time KQED-FM changed its format, to the chagrin of its competition and listeners -- when they converted to an all news and information format by dropping classical music during the day, management and listeners of the other San Francisco public radio station, KALW, cried foul claiming their format had stolen. KALW previously ran news and information programs during the day.

[edit] Additional Frequencies

In addition to the main station, KQED-FM is relayed by these stations and translators to widen its broadcast area.

[edit] References

1. ^ Ben Fong-Torres (12 March 2006). Radio Waves. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.

[edit] External links

• Query the FCC's FM station database for KQED-FM
• Radio Locator information on KQED-FM
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for KQED-FM

• Query the FCC's FM station database for KQEI
• Radio Locator information on KQEI
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for KQEI