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December 30, 2024 10:44 pm  #1


Historic Radio Call Letters To Disappear Forever On New Year's Day

Only DXers are likely to be interested in this, and while I'm betting many never received the station, they've certainly heard of it. 

The call letters "KGO" have been in use in San Francisco on 810 AM since January 1924 -  almost exactly 100 years. But on Jan. 1st, they disappear, reverting to another local station's famous call sign - KSFO.

Like WCBS-AM's departure from news earlier this year in New York City, it's another sign of the changing face of North American radio and the sad decline of a one-time AM powerhouse on the west coast.

So Long KGO: Historic Call Letters To Vanish From Bay Area Radio Dial

 

December 31, 2024 8:25 am  #2


Re: Historic Radio Call Letters To Disappear Forever On New Year's Day

The only Bay area station I ever received was in 1977 while living in Hamilton. I received KNBR mixed with WPTF Raleigh. CFTR was silent that night for transmitter maintenance.

 

December 31, 2024 8:27 am  #3


Re: Historic Radio Call Letters To Disappear Forever On New Year's Day

I got KCBS on 740 back in the days when the CBC was still there and signed off every night. 

     Thread Starter
 

December 31, 2024 8:53 am  #4


Re: Historic Radio Call Letters To Disappear Forever On New Year's Day

In the December ratings, KGO is 28th with a 0.7 share.

 

December 31, 2024 9:06 am  #5


Re: Historic Radio Call Letters To Disappear Forever On New Year's Day

Did you know the KGO call letters originally stood for General [Electric] Oakland?

 

December 31, 2024 9:31 am  #6


Re: Historic Radio Call Letters To Disappear Forever On New Year's Day

mace wrote:

In the December ratings, KGO is 28th with a 0.7 share.

For context, the actual KGO's been gone a couple years now, replaced with the brokered BET-QL programming. Two months ago, KGO began simulcasting 560 KSFO.

The 0.7 share represents 810 KGO's share of the simulcast, the majority of which still goes to 560.

 

January 2, 2025 8:26 am  #7


Re: Historic Radio Call Letters To Disappear Forever On New Year's Day

RadioAaron wrote:

mace wrote:

In the December ratings, KGO is 28th with a 0.7 share.

For context, the actual KGO's been gone a couple years now, replaced with the brokered BET-QL programming. Two months ago, KGO began simulcasting 560 KSFO.

The 0.7 share represents 810 KGO's share of the simulcast, the majority of which still goes to 560.

I looked up KSFO. They are ranked 22nd with a 1.6 share.

 

March 11, 2025 5:51 pm  #8


Re: Historic Radio Call Letters To Disappear Forever On New Year's Day

And now the old home of KSFO is gone, signing off its 560 frequency after 100 years on air, as owner Cumulus decides whether to sell it or return with a new format. 
 
Former home of 560 KSFO disappears from Bay Area radio dial after 100 years on air

It's funny what sticks in your head. I've never been to San Francisco, but whenever I think of KSFO, I remember the intro to the old Doris Day Show on CBS back in 1969. Being a radio obsessed kid, I always recall the scene where she drives into the Golden Gate City, passing by the KSFO radio sign.

Oh well. Que Sera Sera. 



     Thread Starter