Why many U.S. Radio stations' name is just a 4-letter acronym?!
Question:
Why many U.S. Radio stations' name is just a 4-letter acronym?
Why should I listen to "WPGU", "KACV" or "XHOCL"? Does this code mean anything at all? These radio stations name look more like a typing error then an invitation to tune in.
Answers:
US Stations are assigned 'Call Letters' by the Federal Communications Commission. East of the Missississippi River they are given four letter calls (originally it was 3 letters) starting with 'W' (WCBS, WRKO, etc.) West of the Mississippi they are given 'K' designations (KCBS, KNX,, etc.) some of the older stations are different because they were named before this rule went into effect (WBAP and WOAI are both in Texas and west of the Mississippi). Stations often seek call letters they can turn into names...like KSKS is KISS-FM. WFAN is "The Fan". In Mexico similar rules apply but stations are assigned call letters beginning with an 'X' and in Canada it is a 'C'.