# Radio call letters that have local significance **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799 "2007-12-04T17:54:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/61 "2007-12-05T17:34:41Z")
WMCX 88.9 - Monmouth University’s radio station (back when it was Monmouth College) WBJB 90.5 - Brookdale Community College - named for the school’s teams: the Brookdale Jersey Blues ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/62 "2007-12-05T17:46:49Z")
Nashville AM radio station [WSM](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSM_%28AM%29)’s call letters stand for “We shield millions,” the slogan of the former National Life and Accident Insurance Co., which for many years owned the station, associated FM and television broadcasters, and the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in history, according to Wiki. I had heard that the former WGAY in Silver Spring, Maryland, took its letters from the surname of former owner and country-music entrepreneur [Connie Gay](http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=124), but Wiki says it was just a coincidence as the station was started before it was purchased by Gay. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/63 "2007-12-05T18:06:01Z")
KENO in Las Vegas. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/64 "2007-12-05T18:11:32Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] a station in Atlantic City was supposed to get WALL, named for its seawall [/QUOTE] Atlantic City in the 20s and 30s had the municipally owned station WPG, for “World’s PlayGround.” They affiliated with CBS to carry the public events and music originating from the various hotels and amusement piers. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/65 "2007-12-05T18:12:16Z")
[KUAI](http://homepages.hawaiian.net/kuai/) in Eleele, Kauai, Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/66 "2007-12-05T18:16:42Z")
KFOX-TV in El Paso adopted its current call after several years with the Fox network. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/67 "2007-12-05T18:26:32Z")
I attended Drew University in Madison, NJ and worked on the radio station there. Our call letters were WMNJ (Madison, New Jersey). Before my time there, they used the more clever (IMO) call letters of WERD. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/68 "2007-12-05T18:53:34Z")
I play a little game while listening to NPR…they frequently get local reports from local NPR affiliates, and I’m guessing that those stations are often affiliated with a local college/university. Like KPCC – Pasadena City College? WBUR - Boston University Radio? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/69 "2007-12-05T18:57:39Z")
In Winter Park, Rollins College radio has the initials WPRK. My friend and I joked that it should be sold to a classic rock station so they can call themselves WPRK – _THE PORK_. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/70 "2007-12-05T19:06:00Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] I play a little game while listening to NPR…they frequently get local reports from local NPR affiliates, and I’m guessing that those stations are often affiliated with a local college/university. Like KPCC – Pasadena City College? WBUR - Boston University Radio? [/QUOTE] Yep…WNUR-Northwestern U Radio, KUOW-U of WA, KUOM-U of Minnesota, WUOM-U of Michigan, WSUI-State U of Iowa (now just U of Iowa), WFIU-FM Indiana U, KUT-U of Texas… ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/71 "2007-12-05T19:14:56Z")
Most NPR stations are owned by universities. WUSF - University of South Florida, WAMU - American University, WILL - University of Illinois, KUNR - University of Nevada, Reno, KUT - University of Texas, WEMU - Eastern Michigan University… and many others. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/72 "2007-12-05T20:38:06Z")
Well, there’s KIKK in Houston. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/73 "2007-12-05T20:59:52Z")
[QUOTE=Subterraneanus] Well, there’s KIKK in Houston. 😉 [/QUOTE] Doesn’t really mean anything in particular to Houston though. If they started broadcasting out of the Radio City Music Hall… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/74 "2007-12-05T21:10:56Z")
Well, let’s see, what all have I heard of around here… There’s KTXT, the radio station (and PBS station) based out of Texas Tech University. This isn’t of particular local interest, but I’ve always thought it was clever to name one of our radio stations KOHM. Like Kilo-ohm. On TV, there’s KLBK, which is pretty obviously related to LuBbocK. Back in New Mexico, there’s a KIVA, which is the name for a sort of ritual building used by Pueblo Indians. On TV, the New Mexico Fox affiliate is KASA, no doubt a nod to the large Hispanic population. There was also KRQE on TV, which was apparently a joke on the fact that the station was in Albuquerque. Or, AlbuKRQE. Oh, my sides. ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/75 "2007-12-05T21:15:35Z")
There’s a WREK here at Georgia Tech, named for our [Ramblin’ Wreck](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramblin%27_wreck). ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/76 "2007-12-05T21:33:38Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] I play a little game while listening to NPR…they frequently get local reports from local NPR affiliates, and I’m guessing that those stations are often affiliated with a local college/university. Like KPCC – Pasadena City College? WBUR - Boston University Radio? [/QUOTE] I teach at PCC and can confirm that that is indeed our station. ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/77 "2007-12-06T01:00:56Z")
WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, IN. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/78 "2007-12-06T02:21:49Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] I never thought I would find occassion to post [these two old](http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/screen.php?c=413&m=lujack&p=1) Larry Lujack WLS commercials but [here they are.](http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/screen.php?c=493&m=lujack&p=1) [/QUOTE] Hey, thanks for posting those! They were really cool. And no doubt very rare! I have only heard Larry on WCFL. I lived near the end of Lake Ontario, and at night, after pattern change, I could pick up CFL. I could never pick up WLS, though. I do have an LP of radio jingles that has a whole set for WLS, and others. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/79 "2016-12-02T16:30:50Z")
Bumping this old thread because I’ve been listening to Christmas music from [CISL](http://tunein.com/radio/CISL-650-s16993/), Vancouver, BC. They pronounce it “Sea-Isle”; Vancouver International Airport is on Sea Island. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799/80 "2016-12-02T16:44:45Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > I do have an LP of radio jingles that has a whole set for WLS, and others. WLS now has an FM station on which classic rock is played. I wonder if they use any of those old jingles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-call-letters-that-have-local-significance/428799.md?page=5)