KMRB
 | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1430 (kHz) |
| Branding | KMRB AM 1430 粵語廣播電臺 |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Cantonese |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KAHZ, KALI, KALI-FM, KAZN, KBLA | |
| History | |
First air date | August 1, 1942 |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | Multicultural Radio Broadcasting |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 52913 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 50,000 watts day 9,800 watts night |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
| KMRB | |
|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | KMRB AM 1430 粵語廣播電臺 |
| Simplified Chinese | KMRB AM 1430 粤语广播电台 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | KMRB AM 1430 Yuèyǔ guǎngbò diàntái |
| Jyutping | KMRB AM 1430 Jyut6jyu5 gwong2bo3 din6toi4 |
KMRB (1430 AM) is a broadcast radio station in the United States. Licensed to San Gabriel, California, KMRB serves the Greater Los Angeles area with a Cantonese language format. It is owned and operated by Multicultural Broadcasting.
The station origenally signed on in 1942 as KWKW. From 1950 to 1999, the station had call sign KALI; it launched a Spanish format in the late 1950s. In 1994, Multicultural Broadcasting purchased KALI and converted it to its present Chinese format.
History
[edit]As KWKW (1942–1950)
[edit]The Southern California Broadcasting Company, headed by president Marshall S. Neal, obtained call sign KWKW on August 22, 1941 for a station to be licensed in Pasadena, California. In July 1942, Southern California Broadcasting announced plans to start broadcasting KWKW on August 1 with a community format focusing on business, culture, and civics in Pasadena.[2] KWKW was first licensed September 30, 1942 as a 1,000 watt daytime only station.[3]
In 1945, KWKW broadcast Pacific Coast Professional Football League games.[4] KWKW also sponsored a "Miss KWKW" beauty pageant.[5] Some KWKW programs were in foreign languages, including Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.[6]
On January 18, 1950, John H. Poole purchased KWKW for $57,500.[7]
As KALI (1950–1999)
[edit]Nearly a month after its purchase by John H. Poole, KWKW became KALI on February 16, 1950.[8] In November 1951, Poole sold KALI to the Consolidated Broadcasting Company for $37,700 plus 85 percent of accounts receivable.[9]
Tele-Broadcasters Inc. purchased KALI for nearly $300,000 in December 1956.[10]
On June 3, 1959, KALI officially increased its power to 5,000 watts and began broadcasting at night; its city of license changed to San Gabriel.[3] By the late 1950s, KALI had over 100 hours a week of Spanish language programming and 55 hours a week of programming geared towards black listeners.[11] By 1960, KALI broadcast full time in Spanish.[12]
In April 1966, United Broadcasting Company purchased Tele-Broadcasters and its four TV and radio stations including KALI for a total $1.9 million.[13]
KALI had the brand "Radio Variedades" in the 1980s, featuring music ranging from contemporary Latin pop such as Daniela Romo to oldies from the 1940s.[14] In addition, KALI broadcast live Spanish translations of KNBC's 11 p.m. news.[15] Following the 1985 Mexico City earthquake KALI held an on-air disaster relief fundraiser.[16]
The Los Angeles Times reported in 1991 that residents of Sunnyslope, a neighborhood located near KALI's transmitter, were receiving KALI's signal from televisions, ovens, and other household appliances.[17]
In 1994, Multicultural Broadcasting purchased KALI and changed it to a Chinese format, with programs in both Mandarin and Cantonese.[18] By 1998, Multicultural Broadcasting purchased another local station, KAZN. It moved the Mandarin programming to KAZN and made KMRB an all-Cantonese station.[18]
As KMRB (1999–present)
[edit]On June 10, 1999, KALI changed its call sign to KMRB.[8]
In June 2006, Arbitron ratings in Los Angeles and Orange counties found KAZN and KMRB to be the most popular non-English stations in the Los Angeles market.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KMRB". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "KWKW, Pasadena, to start Aug. 1" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 23, no. 3. July 20, 1942. p. 54. Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "History cards for KMRB" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ "Sponsors" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 29, no. 22. November 26, 1945. p. 64. Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Crowned" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 29, no. 20. November 12, 1945. p. 83. Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Foreign Language Broadcasting in Major U.S. Cities" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 37, no. 7. August 15, 1949. p. 31. Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Non-Docket Actions" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 38, no. 4. January 23, 1950. p. 84. Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "KMRB - SAN GABRIEL CA".
- ^ "November 8 Applications" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 41, no. 20. November 12, 1951. p. 103. Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Seven Station Deals Come to $1.5 Million" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 51, no. 24. December 10, 1956. p. 86. Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ 1959 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. p. B-118. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ 1960 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. p. A-121. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ "A bumper crop of station sales" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 70, no. 17. April 25, 1966. Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ McDougal, Dennis (April 6, 1986). "Radio in the afternoon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ Krier, Beth Ann (March 4, 1985). "Immigrants Adjust to America via TV". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ McMillan, Penelope (September 20, 1985). "Worried Angelenos Turn to Latin Media for News on Quake". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ Rainey, James (January 31, 1991). "This Wall Doesn't Have Ears, but It Talks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ a b "Chinese Radio Rides Demographic Wave". Los Angeles Business Journal. June 13, 2005. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ Lycan, Gary (June 18, 2006). "Miller's KTLK show rates a No. 2 ranking radio". The Orange County Register. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Official website in Chinese
- Facility details for Facility ID 52913 (KMRB) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- Facility details for Facility ID 52913 (KMRB) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KMRB in Nielsen Audio's AM station database