KCR is an independent, free-form, student-run, live broadcast radio station located at the Aztec Center on the campus of San Diego State University

San Diego State University

San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...

 in San Diego, California

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

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Operations and broadcasting

In continuous operation since 1969, the original broadcasts took place over cable systems followed by AM

AM broadcasting

AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...

 as well as FM

FM broadcasting

FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...

 band transmission before its current broadcast by way of 1620 AM in the college community area, on local digital cable

Digital cable

Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...

 channels, and live on the internet

Internet

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...

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History and background

KCR Radio has long been considered one of the nation’s original college radio stations. Its freeform music format has provided a launching pad for then undiscovered musical talents like the Police, the Clash, REM, Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails. Despite changes in the way music is distributed and consumed, college radio is still considered a critically important platform for new, emerging and alternative musical artists.

Scores of media and entertainment professionals got their start in KCR’s studios, including:

Bryan Scott and Lisa Tucker, Emmy-award winning producers of "Kathy Griffin: Life on the D-List"
Emmy-award winning San Diego radio host and television reporter Ken Kramer, one of KCR’s founders
Mort Marcus, former Miramax and Disney executive and currently co-president of Debmar-Mercury Productions, creators of successful TV series "South Park" and "House of Payne"
Wayne Hagen, broadcast voice of the New York Mets
Keith Royer, executive vice president and general manager at Rincon Broadcasting
Other notable KCR alumni include:
Orange County Register political reporter Martin Wisckol; and San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Karla Peterson.
Ted Giannoulas, better known as the iconic "San Diego Chicken;"
Numerous radio personalities, D.J.'s and on-air talent can be heard over the airwaves broadcasting throughout San Diego, Los Angeles and Southern California.

Philosophy

KCR boasts, "If you hear it on commercial radio stations, you won't hear it here," a testament to the fierce devotion of its DJs to independent, free-form radio. With DJs as diverse as the SDSU student population, the resulting broadcast variety of music and talk shows appeals to a wide cross-section of listeners with a loyal following locally, domestically, and even internationally on occasion.

External links

• KCR College Radio
• Radio-Locator Information on KCR
• KCR Alumni Organization