Newsletters
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February 1, 2006 Volume 2 - Issue 3 | KXO Radio Celebrates 80 Years Saturday January 27, 2007 marked the anniversary of KXO AM1230. 80 years earlier, on that date in 1927 , Earl Irey and Frank Bowles threw a switch that was heard by a few intrepid listeners who had been told of the new broadcasting station.at 1070 kilocycles and operating with 15 watts of power. The call letters were KGEN and the studios were located at 679 Main Street in El Centro, just about where Boatwrights Bakery is today. In mid 1927 the new station was moved to 1330 kilocycles by the new Federal Radio Commission and in early 1928 KGENs power was raised to 100 watts. The dial position was moved again in November of 1928 when KGEN was assigned 1200 kilocycles and in early 1929 the call letters were changed to KXO. By May of 1930 the studios and transmitter were moved to 793 Main Street, still in downtown El Centro. The broadcast tower was located on top of the building until it blew over in the first strong wind. In the early 30's KXO was assigned 1500 kilocycles on the dial until March of 1941 when the station was moved to 1490. KXO was moved one more time on the dial in May of 1944 when 1230 kc became the dial position with a power increase to 250 watts. The physical location of KXO was moved to brand new "bomb proof" facilities on Highway 86 about a quarter mile south of the city limits. The remainders of that structure can still be seen next door to Hems Brothers Mortuary on south 4th Street. The transmitter site is still there. Studios and offices were moved to the Valley Plaza Shopping Center in 1971 and occupied the third floor of the Security Pacific National Bank Building until 1987 when our present location at 420 W. Main Street, back to downtown El Centro , became home. Through all the years and all the changes KXO has been locally owned and locally operated with the exception of 1958 through 1961 when the station was owned by a Chicago based company. KXO has only three call letters assigned instead of 4 as with most radio stations because we are classified a "pioneer" station. One of the first 600 commercial radio stations in the U.S.. There are now more than 15,000 stations. The history is intriguing but the future is exciting. The coming year will see a significant change in the signals of KXO AM1230 and sister station KXO FM107 which has been on the air since 1976. A project that will see both stations transmitting facilities rebuilt literally from the ground up is well under way with completion expected by the end of the year. The new technology available will be utilized to place both pioneer AM1230 and FM107 firmly in the 21st century and let us be ready for the Imperial Valley of the future. |
Contents:
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KXO AM1230 |
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| Best Read Website Stories January 16 - January 31:
1. El Centro - Former Court Commissioner Found Dead in Home 2. Rainbow Trout Waiting Patiently at Sunbeam & Wiest Lakes 3. Super Bowl - Indianapolis Colts vs Chicago Bears |
KXO FM107 |
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| Contests: February is "Contest Month" at http://kxoradio.com Numerous registered users and newsletter subscribers will be notified that they have won a contest. Good Luck! If you are already a registered user you are set. |
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| Bad Jokes:
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KXO Contest Winners
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