KKGX

Last updated
KKGX
Broadcast area Coachella Valley
Frequency 920 kHz
BrandingAlternative Talk Radio
Programming
Format Talk
Ownership
Owner
  • Louie Comella
  • (IVOX MEDIA, LLC)
KWXY
History
First air date
October 29, 1956;67 years ago (1956-10-29) (as KDES)
Former call signs
KDES (1956–1984)
KKAM (1984–1987)
KDES (1987–1994)
KESQ (1994–1995)
KDES (1995–1997)
KPSI (1997–2017)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 67355
Class B
Power 5,000 watts daytime
1,000 watts nighttime
Transmitter coordinates
 33°51′29″N116°29′39″W / 33.85806°N 116.49417°W / 33.85806; -116.49417
Translator(s) 99.1 K256CU (Palm Springs)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live

KKGX (920 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Palm Springs, California, and serving the Coachella Valley. The station is owned by Louie Comella through licensee IVOX MEDIA, LLC, and it broadcsts a talk radio format. Both KKGX and sister station KWXY have their studios in the original KWXY Broadcast Center building in Cathedral City.

Contents

By day, KKGX is powered at 5,000 watts. But to protect other stations on 920 AM from interference, it reduces power to 1,000 watts at night. It uses a directional antenna with a four-tower array. [2] Programming is also heard on 54-watt FM translator K256CU at 99.1 MHz in Palm Springs. [3]

History

Early years

Logo for the station as KPSI KPSI (AM) logo.png
Logo for the station as KPSI

The station was originally issued the call sign KGEC when it was a construction permit. But as it was being built, it took the call sign KDES on September 6, 1956. [4] KDES signed on the air on October 29, 1956;67 years ago.

The station was assigned the call letters KKAM on October 15, 1984; on August 17, 1987, the station changed its call sign back to KDES. The station became KESQ on June 1, 1994, but returned to the KDES call sign on November 1, 1995. On September 1, 1997, the call letters were changed to KPSI. [5] The KPSI call letters, which stood for "Keeping Palm Springs Informed", were previously used on 1450 AM (later KCOD).

Talk programming

As a talk station, KPSI's lineup included Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Dennis Prager, Mark Levin, Dennis Miller, Michael Savage and local host Rich Gilgallon. KPSI was also a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers radio networks.

On August 12, 2016, KPSI and sister station KWXY went silent. The stations were put up for sale. In October 2016, Desert Broadcasters agreed to acquire KPSI and KWXY from Ric and Rozene Supple's R&R Radio Corporation. [6]

KKGX

The call letters were changed to KKGX on February 2, 2017. [5] On March 14, 2017, both KKGX and KWXY returned to the air stunting. The on-air moniker of ‘KGX’ (a truncation of the legal ‘KKGX’ call sign) was a mash-up and homage to legendary three call-letter California radio stations KGO, KNX and KGB. KGX debuted a conservative talk format branded "Real Talk" on March 16. [7] The purchase by Desert Broadcasters was consummated on March 31, 2017.

Effective June 9, 2021, Desert Broadcasters sold KKGX, KWXY and two translators to Louie Comella's IVOX MEDIA LLC for $105,000 as part of a larger package deal. The sale included the old KDES (AM) tower site in Palm Springs for $220,000 and the original KWXY "Broadcast Center" building for $550,000. The 920 AM tower site on its 28.4 acres (11.36 ha) will be expanded to become the new home of the IVOX+ streaming platform as well as a future independent motion picture studio lot and theater venue, although the property lacks public road access. [8]

Return to the air

Both stations were off the air for four months beginning in August. At noon on December 12, 2021, they returned to the air with a four-hour special, "Frank Sinatra: Remembering An American Legend," hosted by Wink Martindale. Following the special, both stations began playing Christmas music. On December 27, KKGX relaunched as "Alternative Talk Radio", abandoning the unique 'KGX' branding, and using only the legal call letters 'KKGX' on-air. [9]

Under the previous ownership, the original 1964 "KWXY" neon lettering on the building's façade was replaced by modern, back-lit LED lettering identifying the station as "KGX". The neon letters are presently undergoing restoration and will be relocated to the façade once completed.

KGX Logo.png

Related Research Articles

KPSI-FM is a commercial radio station in Palm Springs, California, broadcasting to the Coachella Valley. It airs a hot adult contemporary radio format branded as "Mix 100.5". It is owned by Alpha Media, through Alpha Media Licensee LLC. In afternoon drive time it carries the nationally syndicated show On with Mario Lopez. Mix 100.5's radio studios are on Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWXY</span> Radio station in Cathedral City, California

KWXY is a commercial radio station licensed to Cathedral City, California, and serving the Palm Springs radio market in the Coachella Valley. The station was founded in 1964 and is owned by Louie Comella, through licensee IVOX RADIO LLC. Studios, offices, and transmitter are on Dinah Shore Drive.

KMPS was a commercial AM radio station licensed to Hesperia, California, and broadcast to the Victor Valley area. It was owned by El Dorado Broadcasters and it simulcasted a Regional Mexican radio format with sister station KXVV 103.1 FM. KMPS's offices and studios were on Hesperia Road in Hesperia.

WGHQ is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Kingston, New York, and serving the Hudson Valley. WGHQ is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and airs a conservative talk format known as "The Beacon".

KTBL is a commercial radio station licensed to the village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico, and serves the Albuquerque metropolitan area. It is owned by Cumulus Media and its studios are located in Downtown Albuquerque and the transmitter tower is located in South Valley, New Mexico. KTBL operates with 1,000 watts. The station airs an active rock format branded as "94.5 The Pit" with the use of FM translator K233CG broadcasting at 250 watts off Sandia Crest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNWZ</span> Radio station in Coachella, California

KNWZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Coachella, California. It simulcasts a news/talk format with sister stations 1140 KNWQ and 1250 KNWH. It is owned by Alpha Media. The studios are on North Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDES-FM</span> Radio station in Cathedral City, California

KDES-FM is a radio station in the Palm Springs area and the Coachella Valley of Southern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFNN</span> Radio station in Mesa, Arizona, United States

KFNN is a commercial radio station licensed to Mesa, Arizona, and serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. News Talk Radio in Phoenix, it airs a financial news and talk radio format, broadcasting from studios in North Scottsdale. KFNN is owned by CRC Broadcasting Company, Inc., headed by Ronald Cohen. The company also owns sports radio 1580 The Fanatic KQFN, as well as KJJZ 102.7 The Fanatic in the Palm Springs area, and a financial expo called Financial Fest. KFNN has a lineup of local and national money related programs, with some nationally syndicated conservative talk show hosts. KFNN says it had the first full-time financial format of its kind in the U.S., starting in 1988.

KXPS is a radio station licensed to Thousand Palms, California, United States. It had broadcast a sports radio format. On May 26, 2022, KXPS began promoting a "change is coming" on June 1, 2022. On that day, the station went silent and its sports format moved to KJJZ-HD3 as "102.7 The Fanatic". On April 22, 2024 the station resumed operations.

WLNA is a commercial radio station licensed to Peekskill, New York, and serving the Hudson Valley. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and calls itself "The Beacon." It simulcasts a conservative talk radio format with sister stations WBNR 1260 AM in Beacon and WGHQ 920 AM in Kingston. The studios are on New York State Route 52 in Beacon.

WHBO is a commercial radio station licensed to Pinellas Park, Florida, and serving the Tampa Bay area. The station is currently owned by Genesis Communications and it airs a conservative talk radio format, branded as "News Talk 1040". Much of the programming comes from Westwood One and Fox News Radio.

WAFS is an AM radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia which broadcasts Catholic talk programming, as an affiliate of Relevant Radio. The station is classified as a Class D AM broadcast station according to the Federal Communications Commission, with 25,000 watts of power during the daytime using a non-directional antenna. WAFS also operates pre-sunrise (PSRA) with 350 watts and post-sunset (PSSA) with power levels from 54 to 150 watts.

KBKR is a radio station licensed to serve Baker City, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The station is owned by the Pacific Empire Radio Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCOD</span> Radio station in Palm Springs, California

KCOD was a radio station licensed to Palm Springs, California, United States. It served the Coachella Valley area. The station was last owned by College of the Desert. Programming was also simulcast on translator station K260DE in Palm Desert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KJJC (AM)</span> Radio station in Murray, Utah

KJJC is a radio station licensed to Murray, Utah, United States. It serves the Salt Lake City area. The station is owned by Roger Lonnquist, through licensee Northwest Capital Corporation. The station shares its tower with KNIT.

WURN is a commercial AM radio station Miami, Florida. The station airs a Spanish news/talk radio format. WURN is owned by Actualidad Media Group.

KARN is a commercial AM radio station in Little Rock, Arkansas, owned and operated by Cumulus Media. It airs a sports radio format known as "920 AM The Sports Animal." The station's studios are located on Wellington Hills Road in West Little Rock. The transmitter tower is located off North Hills Boulevard in North Little Rock. KARN broadcasts at 5,000 watts, using a directional antenna at night to avoid interfering with other stations on AM 920. KARN is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast a digital HD signal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KIHU</span> Radio station in Tooele, Utah

KIHU is a Catholic radio formatted radio station licensed to Tooele, Utah, United States. The station is owned by Relevant Radio, Inc. The station has a construction permit from the FCC for a power increase to 50,000 watts Daytime, 42,000 watts Critical Hours and 194 watts night. The facilities authorized by the Construction Permit were built in 2004 and the station was operating under "Program Test Authority" with those facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQBU (AM)</span> Radio station in El Paso, Texas

KQBU is an AM radio station licensed to serve El Paso, Texas, United States. The station is owned by 97.5 Licensee TX, LLC, an American subsidiary of Grupo Radio Centro (GRC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQIE</span> Radio station in Redlands, California

KQIE is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Redlands, California and serves the Inland Empire area. The station is owned by LC Media and airs a rhythmic oldies music format. KQIE's studios are located in San Bernardino and the transmitter tower is in Yucaipa. The station is partially simulcast on sister station KOCP in Oxnard, California, also at 104.7 FM.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KKGX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/KKGX
  3. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/K256CU
  4. ↑ "KDES (KKGX) FCC history cards" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "KKGX Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  6. ↑ "Station Sales Week of 10/28 – RadioInsight".
  7. ↑ Venta, Lance (March 16, 2017). "920 KGX & 1340 KWXY Palm Springs Unveil New Identities". Radio Insight. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Radio stations KWXY, KGX went silent. Now, they're getting a 'change up' under new owner".
  9. ↑ "Radio stations KWXY, KGX to return with slate of local hosts after monthslong hiatus".


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.