KKGX
Broadcast areaCoachella Valley
Frequency920 kHz
BrandingAlternative Talk Radio
Programming
FormatTalk
Ownership
Owner
  • Louie Comella
  • (IVOX MEDIA, LLC)
KWXY
History
First air date
October 29, 1956 (1956-10-29) (as KDES)
Former call signs
KDES (1956–1984)
KKAM (1984–1987)
KDES (1987–1994)
KESQ (1994–1995)
KDES (1995–1997)
KPSI (1997–2017)
Technical information
Facility ID67355
ClassB
Power5,000 watts daytime
1,000 watts nighttime
Transmitter coordinates
33°51′29″N 116°29′39″W / 33.85806°N 116.49417°W / 33.85806; -116.49417
Translator(s)99.1 K256CU (Palm Springs)
Links
WebcastListen Live

KKGX (920 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Palm Springs, California, and serving the Coachella Valley. The station is owned by Louie Comella through licensee IVOX MEDIA, LLC, and it broadcsts a talk radio format. Both KKGX and sister station KWXY have their studios in the original KWXY Broadcast Center building in Cathedral City.

By day, KKGX is powered at 5,000 watts. But to protect other stations on 920 AM from interference, it reduces power to 1,000 watts at night. It uses a directional antenna with a four-tower array.[1] Programming is also heard on 54-watt FM translator K256CU at 99.1 MHz in Palm Springs.[2]

History

Early years

Logo for the station as KPSI

The station was originally issued the call sign KGEC when it was a construction permit. But as it was being built, it took the call sign KDES on September 6, 1956.[3] KDES signed on the air on October 29, 1956.

The station was assigned the call letters KKAM on October 15, 1984; on August 17, 1987, the station changed its call sign back to KDES. The station became KESQ on June 1, 1994, but returned to the KDES call sign on November 1, 1995. On September 1, 1997, the call letters were changed to KPSI.[4] The KPSI call letters, which stood for "Keeping Palm Springs Informed", were previously used on 1450 AM (later KCOD).

Talk programming

As a talk station, KPSI's lineup included Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Dennis Prager, Mark Levin, Dennis Miller, Michael Savage and local host Rich Gilgallon. KPSI was also a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers radio networks.

On August 12, 2016, KPSI and sister station KWXY went silent. The stations were put up for sale. In October 2016, Desert Broadcasters agreed to acquire KPSI and KWXY from Ric and Rozene Supple's R&R Radio Corporation.[5]

KKGX

The call letters were changed to KKGX on February 2, 2017.[4] On March 14, 2017, both KKGX and KWXY returned to the air stunting. The on-air moniker of ‘KGX’ (a truncation of the legal ‘KKGX’ call sign) was a mash-up and homage to legendary three call-letter California radio stations KGO, KNX and KGB. KGX debuted a conservative talk format branded "Real Talk" on March 16.[6] The purchase by Desert Broadcasters was consummated on March 31, 2017.

Effective June 9, 2021, Desert Broadcasters sold KKGX, KWXY and two translators to Louie Comella's IVOX MEDIA LLC for $105,000 as part of a larger package deal. The sale included the old KDES (AM) tower site in Palm Springs for $220,000 and the original KWXY "Broadcast Center" building for $550,000. The 920 AM tower site on its 28.4 acres (11.36 ha) will be expanded to become the new home of the IVOX+ streaming platform as well as a future independent motion picture studio lot and theater venue, although the property lacks public road access.[7]

Return to the air

Both stations were off the air for four months beginning in August. At noon on December 12, 2021, they returned to the air with a four-hour special, "Frank Sinatra: Remembering An American Legend," hosted by Wink Martindale. Following the special, both stations began playing Christmas music. On December 27, KKGX relaunched as "Alternative Talk Radio", abandoning the unique 'KGX' branding, and using only the legal call letters 'KKGX' on-air.[8]

Under the previous ownership, the original 1964 "KWXY" neon lettering on the building's façade was replaced by modern, back-lit LED lettering identifying the station as "KGX". The neon letters are presently undergoing restoration and will be relocated to the façade once completed.

References

  1. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/KKGX
  2. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/K256CU
  3. ↑ "KDES (KKGX) FCC history cards" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "KKGX Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  5. ↑ "Station Sales Week of 10/28 – RadioInsight".
  6. ↑ Venta, Lance (March 16, 2017). "920 KGX & 1340 KWXY Palm Springs Unveil New Identities". Radio Insight. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Radio stations KWXY, KGX went silent. Now, they're getting a 'change up' under new owner".
  8. ↑ "Radio stations KWXY, KGX to return with slate of local hosts after monthslong hiatus".


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