KKCW

KKCW (103.3 MHz, "K103") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Beaverton, Oregon and serving the Portland metropolitan area. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs an Adult Contemporary radio format. From mid-November to the 31st of December (to the end of December) each year, it switches to all-Christmas music. The studios and offices are on SW 68th Parkway in Tigard.[1], while the transmitter is located off Northwest Skyline Boulevard in Portland's west hills, amid the towers for other local FM and TV stations.[2] KKCW broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format.[3]

KKCW
CityBeaverton, Oregon
Broadcast areaPortland metropolitan area
BrandingK103
SloganPortland's Best Variety of the 80s, 90s, and Today
Frequency103.3 MHz (HD Radio)
First air dateFebruary 24, 1984
FormatAdult contemporary
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT470 meters (1,540 ft)
ClassC
Facility ID68210
Transmitter coordinates45°31′21″N 122°44′45″W
Call sign meaningKK Country Western (originally was to sign on the air with a country format)
Former call signsKTJA (1982-1984, CP)
OwneriHeartMedia, Inc.
(Citicasters Licenses, Inc.)
Sister stationsKEX, KFBW, KPOJ, KXJM
WebcastListen Live; Direct stream access (AAC)
Websitek103.iheart.com

History

In 1984, the Columbia-Williamette Broadcasting Company was constructing a new FM radio station for the Portland media market.[4] It intended to sign on with a country music format. The C and W in the requested call sign would stand for Country and Western, as the country format was once known. But competing radio station 98.7 KUPL beat KKCW to the punch.[5] So on February 24, 1984, KKCW went on the air with a soft adult contemporary sound.

In 1986, the station was sold to Trumper Communications of Portland.[6] Trumper kept the Soft AC format in place. San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications acquired KKCW in 1999.[7] Clear Channel, which later became iHeartMedia, also kept the station's AC format intact.

HD Programming

KKCW-HD2

KKCW-HD2 had been programming a smooth jazz format that resembled former sister station KIJZ, once heard on 105.9 FM until August 2007. The HD2 station's motto was, "KKCW -- For easy listening through tough times." This station went off the air in August 2019 but its music can still be heard on the iHeartRadio Smooth Jazz channel.

KKCW-HD3

KKCW-HD3 had been programming the Educational Media Foundation's Air 1 Christian worship music format. It was also relayed on FM translator K224DL at 92.7 FM.[8] KKCW's HD3 subchannel broadcast until November 2019, when it was turned off. Air 1 is now heard on 97.9 KLVP's HD2 subchannel.

References
  1. K103.com/contact
  2. FCCdata.org/KKCW
  3. HDradio.com/stations
  4. Broadcasting Yearbook 1984 page B-209
  5. http://pdxradio.com/kkcw.htm
  6. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1990 page B-253
  7. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000 page D-365
  8. http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=24 HD Radio Guide for Portland


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