KCBQ
Encyclopedia
KCBQ is a radio station
broadcasting a News Talk Information format and is owned by Salem Communications
. The station offers Conservative
talk programming such as Mike Gallagher
, Dennis Prager
and Michael Medved
. It was formerly a top 40 and country music
powerhouse.
1170 began broadcasting from its first studio at 5th and Ash in 1946 (later to become the studios of KFMB AM/FM/TV).
In 1949, KCBQ became San Diego's second CBS affiliate (KGB had been San Diego's CBS affiliate during the 1930s).
To coincide with the new network affiliation, the KSDJ call letters were changed to KCBQ, meaning:
K-West of the Mississippi
C-Columbia
B-Broadcasting
Q-Quality
Also in 1949, KCBQ moved its studios to the Manor Hotel (now the Lafayette) on El Cajon Blvd.
KCBQ's transmitter site was close to the Campus Drive-In in the Lemon Grove/College Area.
KCBQ's power was 5,000 watts non-directional day and 1,000 watts non-directional night.
KCBQ had an RCA BTA-5F 5,000 watt transmitter at the College Grove site.
KFSD/KOGO used the same model transmitter.
In the 1950's KCBQ moved downtown again (just down the street from its former location) to brand new studios in the El Cortez Center building at 7th and Ash.
It had a large "picture window" studio that looked out over the street so that fans could watch their favorite DJs on the air. There was even a mirror mounted over the console so that from the street you could watch the DJ's every move at the controls.
for new call letters which included the letter Q. During its Top 40 heyday, KCBQ was owned by Bartell Media Corporation.
, Bob Shannon, Perry Allen, Bobby Ocean, Lee "Baby" Sims, Jimmy Rabbitt, Rich "Brother" Robbin, Brian Roberts,
China Smith, Chuck Browning, Harry Scarborough, Dave Conley, Gene Knight, Gary Kelley, Paul Kelley, Jim Barker, The Magic Christian, and Brian "The Blind Owl" White.
, which carried it through most of the '90s. In the late 1990s KCBQ was acquired by Salem and settled into its conservative talk format.
in the city of Santee
off of Mission Gorge Road. A park was built nearby and named Mast Park in reference to the antenna towers.
The antenna site was sold amidst urban development in the area, and is now a shopping center, anchor
ed by a Kohl's
and a Lowe's
. For a time the station had to broadcast at reduced power from a temporary longwire antenna on long time competitor's tower 1360 KGB/KLSD
and 101.5 KGB-FM
, as well as the former FM side of competitor 910 radio KDEO/KECR (now Channel 933 KHTS). According to the FCC, KCBQ's daytime power on the long wire was 5,000 watts, with power reduced after sunset to 675 watts (non-directional, both day and night).
KCBQ received a construction permit for a five-tower array in the area north of Lakeside
, not far from the old site, and to increase power to 50,000 watts daytime, 2,900 watts nighttime. The station began to operate at the 50,000 watts on Monday, June 4, 2007. KCBQ is now sharing antenna
s with KECR 910
, another former AM top 40 competitor of KCBQ's in the first half of the 1960s; KECR 910
was known as Radio KDEO in the 1960s.
The monument has been nominated and recognized as the only place where radio hosts were recognized. KCBQ is often recognized for the wave of Top 40 radio and the prominence of the letter 'Q' in station call letters.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting a News Talk Information format and is owned by Salem Communications
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
. The station offers Conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
talk programming such as Mike Gallagher
Mike Gallagher
Mike Gallagheris an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Mike Gallagher Show, a nationally-syndicated radio program that airs throughout the United States on Salem Radio Network and is also a FOX News Channel Contributor and guest host...
, Dennis Prager
Dennis Prager
Dennis Prager is an American syndicated radio talk show host, syndicated columnist, author, and public speaker. He is noted for his conservative political and social views emanating from conservative Judeo-Christian values. He holds that there is an "American Trinity" of essential principles,...
and Michael Medved
Michael Medved
Michael Medved is an American radio host, author, political commentator and film critic. His Seattle, Washington-based nationally syndicated talk show, The Michael Medved Show, airs throughout the U.S...
. It was formerly a top 40 and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
powerhouse.
History
1170 originally signed on the air as KSDJ (for its original owner The San Diego News Journal).1170 began broadcasting from its first studio at 5th and Ash in 1946 (later to become the studios of KFMB AM/FM/TV).
In 1949, KCBQ became San Diego's second CBS affiliate (KGB had been San Diego's CBS affiliate during the 1930s).
To coincide with the new network affiliation, the KSDJ call letters were changed to KCBQ, meaning:
K-West of the Mississippi
C-Columbia
B-Broadcasting
Q-Quality
Also in 1949, KCBQ moved its studios to the Manor Hotel (now the Lafayette) on El Cajon Blvd.
KCBQ's transmitter site was close to the Campus Drive-In in the Lemon Grove/College Area.
KCBQ's power was 5,000 watts non-directional day and 1,000 watts non-directional night.
KCBQ had an RCA BTA-5F 5,000 watt transmitter at the College Grove site.
KFSD/KOGO used the same model transmitter.
In the 1950's KCBQ moved downtown again (just down the street from its former location) to brand new studios in the El Cortez Center building at 7th and Ash.
It had a large "picture window" studio that looked out over the street so that fans could watch their favorite DJs on the air. There was even a mirror mounted over the console so that from the street you could watch the DJ's every move at the controls.
Top Forty Years
Years prior, the station was one of the two leading AM Top 40 stations in San Diego. KCBQ began broadcasting Top 40 music in the late 1950s and continued with the format through the 1960s and 1970s with great success. The station achieved national prominence in 1972-1973 with its presentation of "The Last Contest," a promotional and production extravaganza created by program director Jack McCoy. The promotion was later syndicated nationally by TM Productions of Dallas, and KCBQ's on-air format was widely copied as the "Q format." KCBQ's success prompted a substantial number of Top 40 stations to apply to the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
for new call letters which included the letter Q. During its Top 40 heyday, KCBQ was owned by Bartell Media Corporation.
Notable DJs
Some of KCBQ's most legendary personalities included Jack Vincent, Dex Allen, Harry "Happy Hare" Martin, "Shotgun" Tom Kelly, Charlie & Harrigan, Charlie TunaCharlie Tuna
Charlie Tuna is the stage name of Art Ferguson , a radio personality based in Los Angeles, California currently working at KRTH-FM....
, Bob Shannon, Perry Allen, Bobby Ocean, Lee "Baby" Sims, Jimmy Rabbitt, Rich "Brother" Robbin, Brian Roberts,
China Smith, Chuck Browning, Harry Scarborough, Dave Conley, Gene Knight, Gary Kelley, Paul Kelley, Jim Barker, The Magic Christian, and Brian "The Blind Owl" White.
Changes
By the mid-'70s, the station had begun a series of ownership and format changes that continued on a fairly regular basis. In 1978, with music-formatted radio becoming dominated by FM stations, KCBQ dropped top 40 in favor of an adult contemporary format, to be followed in 1982 by a switch to country music. In 1985 the station changed to a syndicated "first decade of rock 'n' roll" oldies format, Kool GoldKool Gold
Kool Gold is a 24-hour music format produced by Dial Global. Its playlist is composed of oldies music from the mid 1960s to mid 1980s, from artists such as Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, Rod Stewart and dozens more artists mainly targeted at listeners 45-54...
, which carried it through most of the '90s. In the late 1990s KCBQ was acquired by Salem and settled into its conservative talk format.
Transmitter
KCBQ featured a 50,000 watt transmitter (limited to 5000 watts at night, and later, reduced to 1500 watts nighttime). The antenna was originally a six-element directional arrayDirectional array
In broadcast engineering, directional array refers to an antenna array arranged such that the superposition of the electromagnetic waves produce a predictable electromagnetic field...
in the city of Santee
Santee, California
Santee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
off of Mission Gorge Road. A park was built nearby and named Mast Park in reference to the antenna towers.
The antenna site was sold amidst urban development in the area, and is now a shopping center, anchor
Anchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
ed by a Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
and a Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
. For a time the station had to broadcast at reduced power from a temporary longwire antenna on long time competitor's tower 1360 KGB/KLSD
KLSD
KLSD is a sports station based in San Diego, California. The sports programming began on November 12, 2007. Previously, KLSD's format was progressive talk radio....
and 101.5 KGB-FM
KGB-FM
KGB-FM is a classic rock radio station in San Diego, California. It is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.-History:...
, as well as the former FM side of competitor 910 radio KDEO/KECR (now Channel 933 KHTS). According to the FCC, KCBQ's daytime power on the long wire was 5,000 watts, with power reduced after sunset to 675 watts (non-directional, both day and night).
KCBQ received a construction permit for a five-tower array in the area north of Lakeside
Lakeside, California
Lakeside is a Census Designated Place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,648 at the 2010 census, up from 19,560 as of the 2000 census.- History :...
, not far from the old site, and to increase power to 50,000 watts daytime, 2,900 watts nighttime. The station began to operate at the 50,000 watts on Monday, June 4, 2007. KCBQ is now sharing antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
s with KECR 910
KECR
KECR or Family Radio is the San Diego Family Radio affiliate. It has been on the AM band since the mid-1990s, at 910 KHz. It previously broadcast on 93.3 FM . The studio and the transmitter site is near Moreno Avenue, north of Lakeside, California by Highway 67.The transmitter site is also the...
, another former AM top 40 competitor of KCBQ's in the first half of the 1960s; KECR 910
KECR
KECR or Family Radio is the San Diego Family Radio affiliate. It has been on the AM band since the mid-1990s, at 910 KHz. It previously broadcast on 93.3 FM . The studio and the transmitter site is near Moreno Avenue, north of Lakeside, California by Highway 67.The transmitter site is also the...
was known as Radio KDEO in the 1960s.
KCBQ Monument
On August 28, 2010, a monument to the "Top 40" days between 1958 and 1978 was dedicated near the site of the former broadcast center and radio towers. The dedication was attended by more than 400 people. Located in the 9400 block of Mission Gorge Road, the monument has over 100-names of on-air personalities. Funding for the monument was raised by alumni and fans of KCBQ radio.The monument has been nominated and recognized as the only place where radio hosts were recognized. KCBQ is often recognized for the wave of Top 40 radio and the prominence of the letter 'Q' in station call letters.