# The "K" in names of radio stations

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-k-in-names-of-radio-stations/67189>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 1, 2001, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-k-in-names-of-radio-stations/67189 "2001-06-01T11:07:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KOP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c77e96/32.png) [@KOP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KOP)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-k-in-names-of-radio-stations/67189/1 "2001-06-01T11:07:03Z")

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Hi all! I´ve asked some american people this before, but nobody seems to know the answer (is there any?): What does the K stand for in the names of radio stations. In movies and on TV when the name of a radio station is mentioned it always seems to have the letter K in it. Often a W also. KW-RockFM or someting. Not to many words in english starts with the letter K, and I just can´t figure it out. Anyone?

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**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-k-in-names-of-radio-stations/67189/2 "2001-06-01T11:27:01Z")

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[Here’s what The Master has to say about this.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010504.html)

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2001, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-k-in-names-of-radio-stations/67189/3 "2001-06-01T11:54:14Z")

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There was also additional information provided on this MB in the infelicitously named [Cecil’s Lousy Call Letter Answer (repost)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=2) thread.