# Radio Station Identification **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 29, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468 "2010-07-29T16:24:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/1 "2010-07-29T16:24:19Z")
Why is it that radio stations have to ID themselves every x minutes? I was listening to NPR today and the host had to, basically, cut off the guest so he could tell they world that they it was listening to NPR. What happens if they make the announcement late or, god forbid, not at all? Please don’t tell me that there are people with stop watches paid to make sure they announce on time. TV doesn’t do it or, if it does, I’m missing it. I’m old enough to remember hearing “Please stay tuned for station identification” followed by “You are listening to WXYZ”. Who cares? Or if they have to do it why so often? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/2 "2010-07-29T16:54:44Z")
in the USA radio transmitters have to make regular ID transmissions according to the regulations. broadcast stations need to do once per hour. it is now often done by devices automatically at a particular time intended to be free for that purpose. there are people with stopwatches or a computer schedule to tell announcers what to do. tv stations can do so silently with a logo. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/3 "2010-07-29T16:54:46Z")
In the United States, station identification is [required by the FCC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Station_identification#United_States): > [@](#): > > Station identification is used because of the sheer number of signals available over the air. Not only are there radio and television signals being broadcast, there are also two-way radio signals from police, emergency crews and private companies as well as amateur radio signals. Early radio operators recognized the need for anyone listening to a signal over the air to be able to tune in a specific time and immediately know what station was being heard and where the signal was originating from. > > Additionally, from the FCC’s perspective it is critical to be able to positively identify the source of a broadcast that is not complying with federal regulations. > > According to United States law, the FCC can fine or reprimand a station for failing to make the appropriate identification. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/4 "2010-07-29T17:55:58Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > TV doesn’t do it or, if it does, I’m missing it. TV stations (at least, broadcast stations) _do_ do it, at or near the top of every hour. It’s often just a visual, with no audio / voice-over of the station ID. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/5 "2010-07-29T18:06:40Z")
When I worked in radio this was called a “legal ID”. I believe it was supposed to be in the first five minutes after each hour, and had to include the station’s letters and place of origin. We’d often incorporate it into a lengthier promo, but at a minimum it had to be “WXYZ, Des Moines.” ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/6 "2010-07-29T18:13:26Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > When I worked in radio this was called a “legal ID”. I believe it was supposed to be in the first five minutes after each hour, and had to include the station’s letters and place of origin. We’d often incorporate it into a lengthier promo, but at a minimum it had to be “WXYZ, Des Moines.” But wait! WXYZ is transmitted from Detroit, Michigan! Not Des Moines, Iowa! heh heh heh ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/7 "2010-07-29T18:27:39Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > > [@Mach Tuck](#): > > > > When I worked in radio this was called a “legal ID”. I believe it was supposed to be in the first five minutes after each hour, and had to include the station’s letters and place of origin. We’d often incorporate it into a lengthier promo, but at a minimum it had to be “WXYZ, Des Moines.” > > But wait! > > WXYZ is transmitted from Detroit, Michigan! > Not Des Moines, Iowa! > > heh heh heh not since 1984, tv still is WXYZ WXYZ produced The Lone Ranger The Green Hornet Challenge of the Yukon / Sergeant Preston of the Yukon back when ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/8 "2010-07-29T18:43:38Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > > [@Gagundathar](#): > > > > > [@Mach Tuck](#): > > > > > > When I worked in radio this was called a “legal ID”. I believe it was supposed to be in the first five minutes after each hour, and had to include the station’s letters and place of origin. We’d often incorporate it into a lengthier promo, but at a minimum it had to be “WXYZ, Des Moines.” > > > > But wait! > > > > WXYZ is transmitted from Detroit, Michigan! > > Not Des Moines, Iowa! > > > > heh heh heh > > not since 1984, tv still is WXYZ > > WXYZ produced > > The Lone Ranger > The Green Hornet > Challenge of the Yukon / Sergeant Preston of the Yukon > > back when I stand corrected. Hmmm… actually I _sit_ corrected. OK, ok, ok NOW I am standing. How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/9 "2010-07-29T20:47:07Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I was listening to NPR today and the host had to, basically, cut off the guest so he could tell they world that they it was listening to NPR. If this happened in the middle of the program rather than at the top of the hour, then it wasn’t an issue of having to, it was an issue of a station break. NPR pauses several times an hour to thank their underwriters, and more importantly, to give there local stations a minute or so to read the weather, thank their underwriters, promo the next program, etc. A lot of times, those breaks are programmed into a computer, so if the host doesn’t stop the program, the computer will. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/10 "2010-07-30T12:17:55Z")
Amateur radio operators are required to ID with their call signs at the end of a communication or every 10 minutes, whichever comes first. But on the other hand we’re not supposed to establish contact with unidentified stations, so most ID at the beginning as well. Hams using TV emissions usually have their call sign shown on the screen like a broadcast TV station would. Public service stations, police, fire etc. usually ID via Morse Code at frequent intervals. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-station-identification/548468/11 "2010-07-30T15:38:08Z")
This NPR ID was mid-conversation. It was at a sort of natural break but still it was more like the host had to talk over the guest to get it in “Wait! Stop! You are listening to NPR. O.K, go ahead” My guess is that these are archaic rules and no one has bothered to update them.