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This seems to be modified from a work of the US government. Since the original work was created by the US government it was in the public domain, so we can use it under the GFDL in wikipedia.
Thue |
talk 19:57, 12 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Why 4-letter names?
If someone could add some information about why all US radio stations seem to have 4-letter names beginning with either K or W that might be quite useful.
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Lost tourist09:19, 31 October 2006 (UTC)reply
As far as I can see there is no reason given in the call sign article as to why the radio stations are compelled to use these 4-letter names. It cannot just be just the tradition in a place like the USA. Presumably there is a law preventing a station calling itself anything it wanted, eg Jazz-FM, Capital Gold or Radio London, as they can in most other countries.
JMcC18:47, 8 November 2006 (UTC)reply
Four and a half years later this question still has not been addressed. I am copying in information from
call sign. This is by no means ideal, but it at least gives those who are more expert in the field a basis for adding useful information.
Scolaire (
talk)
20:23, 22 June 2011 (UTC)reply
Here is a very instructive and definitive website that will answer all of your naming questions, including a map of 'K' for western stations, 'W' for eastern stations, and 'K' or 'W' for middle-America stations, and a list of current three-letter stations, such as KSL in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Here's a quote: "Three-letter Calls After 1922: All broadcast station activity in three-letter calls did not cease following the 1922 switchover to four-letter calls, as about half of today's holders of three-letter calls trace their first assignment to later than 1922." . . . HTH,
Charles Edwin Shipp (
talk)
10:48, 15 July 2011 (UTC)reply
It seems to me that the answer to the original question, "Why?" is simple—"Less than than three is too short; more than four is too long; it is good to have 'K' or 'W' and some vowels; and for a standard, three is only for very historical stations, and four letters makes for a good standard for newer stations."
Charles Edwin Shipp (
talk)
10:54, 15 July 2011 (UTC)reply
Thanks for that. Would you care to add that info to the article? Don't be afraid to completely re-write
my edit, it was only a copy-and-paste anyway.
Scolaire (
talk)
11:01, 15 July 2011 (UTC)reply
Your comment was good. I, too, am not an expert nor avid fan, but will add the valuable ref.
Charles Edwin Shipp (
talk)
The article's lede gives a brief mention of commercial radio, and then veers off into a not very accurate overview of public radio. (For example, it defines public radio as government subsidized when this is also true of community radio.) Then up pops short-wave radio, followed at last by history of U.S. radio that at best is sketchy and pretty much made up. All in one paragraph!
I take back last statement, the part about solid material. Lots of
WP:OR here and much of it wrong. One sign this true is the dearth of citations. For sure, article merits an improve template.
Allreet (
talk)
03:48, 4 December 2018 (UTC)reply
leads do not need citations, and they typically jump from topic to topic in order to summarize the articvle. Most paragraphs are well supported by cites, usually to scholarly books and articles.
Rjensen (
talk)
04:13, 4 December 2018 (UTC)reply
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