KSSK (AM)

Last updated
KSSK
KSSKHawaii-MAIN.png
Broadcast area Honolulu metropolitan area
Frequency 590 kHz
BrandingAM 590 & 92-3 KSSK
Programming
Format Adult contemporary
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
March 15, 1930;93 years ago (1930-03-15)
Former call signs
KGMB (1930–1980)
Former frequencies
1320 kHz (1930–1940)
Call sign meaning
Phonetically similar to "kiss" [1]
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 48774
Class B
Power 7,500 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates
 21°19′26″N157°52′32″W / 21.32389°N 157.87556°W / 21.32389; -157.87556 (KSSK)
Repeater(s) 92.3  KSSK-FM (Waipahu)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website ksskradio.iheart.com

KSSK (590 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii, and owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It simulcasts an adult contemporary radio format with sister station 92.3 KSSK-FM. For much of November and December, the stations switch to Christmas music, including Hawaiian artists' holiday songs. The studios and offices are in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu.

Contents

KSSK 590 is powered at 7,500 watts, using a non-directional antenna. The transmitter site is on Dillingham Boulevard near the Kapalama Canal, about a mile from the studios. [3] KSSK serves as Hawaii's primary AM station entry point for the Emergency Alert System, with KRTR-FM providing PEP capabilities on FM.

Programming

KSSK-AM-FM use the slogan "Hawaii's Favorite", and Nielsen consistently ranks the pair as Honolulu's most listened-to radio station. The stations are home to the Perry & the Posse" morning show. The KSSK's jingle melody was adapted from that of WPLJ in New York City. KSSK-AM-FM used WPLJ's jingle packages until TM Century created a jingle package for KSSK, known as "Big Time Honolulu." Unlike most other Adult Contemporary stations in the mainland US, KSSK adds local artists in addition to the usual format.

KSSK-AM-FM are also heard on Oceanic Spectrum Cable digital channel 867 for the entire state of Hawaii, [4] via the DishHD satellite TV service in Taiwan, [5] and also USEN's Sound Planet satellite radio service in Japan. [6]

History

KGMB

The station was first authorized in December 1929, with the sequentially issued call sign of KGMB, to the Honolulu Broadcasting Company. It was initially licensed for operation with 500 watts on 1320 kilocycles. [7] After a short period of testing, it made its debut broadcast on March 15, 1930. [8] In 1940, KGMB moved to 590 kHz, where it has been ever since. [9]

Prior to the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, KGMB was asked to broadcast music in order to provide long-range guidance to a flight of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses on their way to Hawaii from the mainland. Japanese aircraft used the same transmissions for guidance while approaching the islands to make their bombing runs. During the attack, KGMB dispatched reports to CBS Radio, which in turn were cited on-air by John Charles Daly, who anchored the network's coverage of that day's news.

KSSK

On Valentine's Day, February 14, 1980, the call letters were changed to KSSK, for "Kiss Radio". [1] For many years, the station was home to Hal "J. Akuhead Pupule" Lewis, better known as Aku. After his death in 1983, the station moved afternoon personality Michael W. Perry to the morning slot and paired him with morning show substitute (while Aku was ill) Larry Price, a former National Football League player and head coach of the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team. The duo were known as "Perry & Price".

In 1993, New-Tex Communications bought both KSSK and FM station KXPW for $7.5 million, and changed the FM station's call letters to KSSK-FM. [10] At the time, KSSK was the market's #1 station and the new owners wanted to capitalize on that success, especially as music listening was shifting to FM. KSSK-FM began simulcasting part of the day with KSSK, including the top-rated "Perry & Price" morning show. Eventually, the simulcast was expanded to a 24-hour operation.

In 2000, Clear Channel Communications acquired KSSK-AM-FM. In 2014, the company was renamed iHeartMedia, Inc.

Notable former on-air staff

Some notables who have passed through KGMB/KSSK include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHON-TV</span> Fox/CW affiliate in Honolulu

KHON-TV is a television station in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, serving the Hawaiian Islands as an affiliate of Fox and an owned-and-operated station of The CW. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate KHII-TV. Both stations share studios at the Haiwaiki Tower in downtown Honolulu, while KHON's main transmitter is also located downtown at the Century Center condominium/business complex.

KHNL is a television station in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, serving the Hawaiian Islands as an affiliate of NBC and Telemundo. It is owned by Gray Television alongside CBS affiliate KGMB. The two stations share studios on Waiakamilo Road in downtown Honolulu; KHNL's transmitter is located in Akupu, Hawaii. KHNL is also rebroadcast on the island of Hawaiʻi, Maui, and Kauaʻi.

KGMB is a television station in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, serving the Hawaiian Islands as an affiliate of CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside dual NBC/Telemundo affiliate KHNL and Kailua-Kona–licensed KFVE, which relays KHNL's second and sixth digital subchannels. The stations share studios on Waiakamilo Road in Honolulu's Kapālama neighborhood, while KGMB's transmitter is located in Akupu, Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHII-TV</span> MyNetworkTV affiliate in Honolulu

KHII-TV is a television station in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, serving the Hawaiian Islands as an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside dual Fox/CW affiliate KHON-TV. Both stations share studios at the Haiwaiki Tower in downtown Honolulu, while KHII's main transmitter is located in Akupu, Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPLJ</span> K-Love radio station in New York City

WPLJ is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station licensed to New York City. It carries a Christian adult contemporary radio format and is owned by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF), based in Franklin, Tennessee. It broadcasts EMF's flagship programming service, "K-Love." The station seeks donations on the air and on its website.

KUMU-FM - branded as 94.7 KUMU - is a commercial radio station in Honolulu, Hawaii. It airs a rhythmic adult contemporary radio format and is owned by Pacific Radio Group, Inc. The studios and offices are on Bishop Street in Downtown Honolulu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDDB</span> Radio station in Waipahu–Honolulu, Hawaii

KDDB is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Waipahu, Hawaii, and serving the Honolulu radio market. The Pacific Media Group station is known as "102.7 Da Bomb". It broadcasts a top 40 format. The studios and offices are on Bishop Street in Honolulu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQMQ-FM</span> Radio station in Honolulu, Hawaii

KQMQ-FM is a commercial radio station in Honolulu, Hawaii, known as "HI 93." It is owned by the Pacific Media Group and it broadcasts a radio format of Contemporary Hawaiian and Reggae music. The programming is led by local radio vet Kelsey Yogi. The station's studios are on Alakea Street in Downtown Honolulu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSSK-FM</span> Radio station in Waipahu, Hawaii

KSSK-FM is an adult contemporary formatted commercial radio station serving the Honolulu media market. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and licensed to Waipahu, Hawaii. Studios are located in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu, and the transmitter site is near Akupu, Hawaii.

KSSK may refer to:

Michael William Perry is the host, of the Perry & The Posse show on KSSK-FM in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also hosts the Hawaiian Moving Company television show on KGMB in Honolulu.

KHNR is a commercial radio station in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is owned by the Salem Media Group and it broadcasts a conservative talk radio format. The studios and offices are on North King Street in Honolulu's Kalihi district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDNN</span> Radio station in Honolulu, Hawaii

KDNN is a Hawaiian Contemporary hits formatted radio station based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The iHeartMedia, Inc. outlet broadcasts with an ERP of 51 kW. It also transmits on Oceanic Spectrum digital channel 851 for the entire state of Hawaii. Its studios are located in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu, while its transmitter is located downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KGU-FM</span> Radio station in Honolulu, Hawaii

KGU-FM is a commercial radio station in Honolulu, Hawaii, broadcasting a Christian talk and teaching radio format. It is owned by the Salem Media Group with studios and offices on North King Street in Honolulu's Kalihi district. KGU-FM is a brokered programming station where hosts pay for their time on the air and may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries. National religious leaders heard on KGU-FM include David Jeremiah, Jim Daly, Charles Stanley, J. Vernon McGee and Chuck Swindoll. Several Honolulu pastors also have shows on the station.

WYCK is a radio station that is owned by Bold Gold Media. Licensed to the city of Plains, it serves the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton radio market and broadcasts with 810 watts, non-directional.

Herschel Leib Hohenstein, aka Hal Lewis, aka J. Akuhead Pupule or Aku, was the morning air personality in 1965 at KGMB, an AM station in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The state of Hawaii has the following popular media:

Perry & The Posse is a morning radio show which airs six days a week on KSSK (AM) and KSSK-FM in Honolulu, Hawaii. The show is currently the number one morning radio show in Hawaii, capturing a 25 percent share of the state's listening audience. It is also consistently number one in market share nationwide in the adult contemporary format.

Hawaii News Now is a news department shared by three television stations in Honolulu, Hawaii: CBS affiliate KGMB, NBC affiliate KHNL, and Telemundo affiliate KFVE. The newscasts are produced by Gray Television, which owns KGMB, KHNL, and KFVE. It also has a partnership with KBFD, which uses KGMB's taped-on-the-field stories during KBFD's 11 p.m. Korean-language newscast with Korean language subtitles, and a radio partnership with KHKA.

Earl McDaniel was an American disc jockey, actor, promoter, talent manager, and radio executive.

References

  1. 1 2 "Kiss Radio" (station advertisement), Honolulu Advertiser, February 14, 1980, page A-11.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KSSK". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/KSSK-AM
  4. ↑ Digital Cable Program Guide / Lineups Archived 2011-02-25 at the Wayback Machine - Oceanic Time Warner Cable (accessed March 20, 2011)
  5. ↑ "lyngsat.com's dish hd listing (accessed May 31, 2011)". Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  6. ↑ "lyngsat.com's sound planet listing (accessed May 31, 2011)". Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  7. ↑ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1929, page 4.
  8. ↑ "KGMB Opening Scheduled For 6 P. M. Today", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 15, 1930, page 4 (newspapers.com)
  9. ↑ "It's 590 For KGMB Beginning At 5 Tonight", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 16, 1940, page 7.
  10. ↑ "Stations in the U.S: Hawaii: Waipahu", Broadcasting Yearbook (1995 edition), page B-113.
  11. ↑ "Hawaii Radio & Television Guide Archive". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  12. ↑ "Honolulu FM radio pioneer dies", March 2, 2009 (starbulletin.com)
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.