View source for KNX (AM)

{{Short description|Clear-channel news radio station in Los Angeles, California}}
{{About|the AM radio station|other uses|KNX (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name                  = KNX
| city                  = [[Los Angeles, California]]
| country               = US
| logo                  = KNX News 2023.png
| logo_caption          = Logo since May 17, 2023
| area                  = [[Southern California]]
| frequency             = {{frequency|1070|[[kHz]]}}
| branding              = KNX News 97.1 FM
| language              = [[American English|English]]
| format                = [[All-news radio]]
| affiliations          = {{ubl|[[CBS News Radio]]|[[Bloomberg Radio]]|[[The Weather Channel]]}}
| owner                 = [[Audacy, Inc.]]
| licensee              = Audacy License, LLC
| sister_stations       = {{hlist|[[KCBS-FM]]|[[KFRG]]|[[KNX-FM]]|[[KROQ-FM]]|[[KRTH]]|[[KTWV]]|[[KXFG]]}}
| founded               = {{start date and age|1920|9|10|p=y|br=yes}}
| airdate               = {{start date and age|1921|12|8|p=y|br=yes}}
| former_callsigns      = {{ubl|6ADZ (1920–1921)|KGC (1921–1922)}}
| callsign_meaning      = Randomly assigned. A [[backronym]] explanation suggested it came from the Spring Street Arcade Annex.<ref>[http://www.smecc.org/call_sign_letter__meaning.htm Call Sign Letter Meaning]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927021527/http://www.smecc.org/call_sign_letter__meaning.htm |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>
| licensing_authority   = [[FCC]]
| facility_id           = 9616
| class                 = A
| power                 = {{ubl|{{val|50000|u=watts|fmt=commas}} (unlimited)}}
| coordinates           = {{ubl|{{coord|33|51|35|N|118|20|59|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark}} (main)|{{coord|33|51|38|N|118|20|57|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|name=KNX (auxiliary)}} (aux)}}
| repeaters             = {{Radio Relay|97.1|[[KNX-FM]]|Los Angeles}}
| webcast               = {{Audacy.com|knxnews}}
| website               = {{URL|https://www.audacy.com/knxnews}}
}}
'''KNX''' ({{frequency|1070|[[kHz]]}}) is a commercial AM radio station in [[Los Angeles, California]]. It simulcasts an [[all news radio]] format with [[sister station]] 97.1 [[KNX-FM]], both owned by [[Audacy, Inc.]] KNX is one of the oldest stations in the United States, having received its first broadcasting license, as KGC, on December 8, 1921, in addition to tracing its history to the September 1920 operations of an earlier amateur station. The radio studios and offices—shared with [[KNX-FM]], [[KCBS-FM]], [[KROQ-FM]], [[KRTH]] and [[KTWV]]—are located on [[Wilshire Boulevard]], along Los Angeles' [[Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California|Miracle Mile]].

KNX holds a [[list of broadcast station classes|class A]] license as one of the original clear-channel stations. Its 50,000-[[watt]] [[omnidirectional antenna|non-directional signal]] is heard throughout all of [[Southern California]] in the daytime. When conditions are right, it can be picked up at night throughout much of the [[Western United States]] and parts of [[Mexico]] and [[Canada]]. The station is even received by [[DXing|DXers]] in [[Hawaii]] and across the [[Pacific Ocean]]. The [[transmitter]] site is in [[Columbia Park, Torrance, California|Columbia Park]] in [[Torrance, California|Torrance]], near [[Hawthorne Boulevard (California)|Hawthorne Boulevard]] ([[California State Route 107]]) and 190th Street.<ref>{{cite web|title=KNX-AM 1070 kHz - Los Angeles, CA|url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=knx&x=11&y=9&sr=Y&s=C|website=radio-locator.com}}</ref> KNX is authorized to broadcast a digital [[HD Radio]] signal.

KNX and [[KFI]] are the local primary stations for the [[Los Angeles]] [[Emergency Alert System]]. They are responsible for activation of the EAS when [[severe weather terminology (United States)|hazardous weather alerts]], and [[disaster area]] declarations are issued.<ref>[https://www.caloes.ca.gov/WarningCenterSite/Documents/04-LACOO%20Comp-Public.pdf "FCC Local Area Plan for the Emergency Alert System"] Los Angeles County: Revision 2.0 7-24-2002 (caloes.ca.gov)</ref>{{Update inline|reason=Rebranding to FM station relative to source publication date may necessitate additional recent sources.|date=December 2021}}

==Programming==
KNX-AM-FM broadcast "traffic and weather together" every ten minutes on the fives with traffic reports on the freeways and toll roads in the Greater Los Angeles area and weather forecasts for Southern California, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Local news coverage include the latest news from the [[Los Angeles City Council]], [[Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors]] and public safety. Business news from [[Bloomberg Radio]] and sports headlines are heard every half hour. Each hour begins with world and national news from [[CBS News Radio]]. The two stations are branded as "KNX News 97.1 FM".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Audacy Brings KNX Los Angeles To FM|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/216593/audacy-brings-knx-to-fm/|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=RadioInsight|date=December 6, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
===Origin===
Although KNX received its first broadcasting station license on December 8, 1921,<ref name="radioheritage.net-449">{{cite web |title=KNX Los Angeles Turns 99 |url=https://www.radioheritage.net/Story449.asp |website=radioheritage.net |access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> the station has traditionally dated its founding to September 10, 1920,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HCkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56 "45th Year Marked By Station KNX"], ''Billboard'', September 25, 1965, page 56.</ref> reflecting broadcasts conducted by Fred Christian over his amateur station, 6ADZ.<ref>The government's June 30, 1921, annual listing of amateur radio stations has 6ADZ licensed to the Electric Lighting Supply Company, 216 West Third Street, Los Angeles. ([https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3221805&view=1up&seq=246 "Sixth District"], ''Amateur Radio Stations of the United States'' (edition June 30, 1921), page 122.) The leading "6" in 6ADZ's call sign specified that the station was located in the sixth Radio Inspection district. The fact that the call sign's first letter, "A", was in the range A-W reflected its status as a standard amateur station.</ref>

Mr. Christian was trained as a shipboard [[radio operator]]. He lived at 5118½ Harold Way in [[Hollywood, California]]. He was manager for the Electric Lighting Supply Company at 216 West Third Street, Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Advertisements Column 1 |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=LAH19131001.2.67.1&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 |access-date=March 9, 2022 |work=[[Los Angeles Herald]] |publisher=[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]] |date=October 1, 1913 |page=5}}</ref><ref name="earlyradiohistory-1920LA">{{cite web |title=Los Angeles radio (1920) |url=https://earlyradiohistory.us/1920LA.htm |website=earlyradiohistory.us |access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> He once explained that he began the broadcasts in order to provide something to listen to for those customers who had constructed receivers from parts purchased for their [[radio shack]].<ref name=larg>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/LA-Radio-Guide/LA-Radio-Guide-1995-11-12.pdf#page=22 "KNX Spans 7 Decades of Los Angeles Radio History"], ''Los Angeles Radio Guide'', November/December 1995, pages 22-26.</ref> Christian began making broadcasts with a five-watt vacuum-tube transmitter, operating on the standard amateur wavelength of 200 meters (1500 [[Hertz|kHz]]).<ref name="dailynews-knx-100">{{cite news |title=Here's how KNX 1070 AM is celebrating 100 years on the radio |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2020/09/01/heres-how-knx-1070-am-is-celebrating-100-years-on-the-radio/ |access-date=March 9, 2022 |work=Daily News |date=September 1, 2020}}</ref>

===KGC===
Initially there were no specific standards in the United States for radio stations making transmissions intended for the general public, and numerous stations under various classifications made entertainment broadcasts. However, effective December 1, 1921, the Department of Commerce, regulators of radio at this time, adopted a regulation that formally created a broadcasting station category, and stations were now required to hold a Limited Commercial license authorizing operation on wavelengths of 360 meters (833&nbsp;kHz) for "entertainment" broadcasts or 485 meters (619&nbsp;kHz) for "market and weather reports".<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.319510008420257&view=1up&seq=292 "Miscellaneous: Amendments to Regulations"], ''Radio Service Bulletin'', January 3, 1922, page 10.</ref> By the end of 1922 over 500 stations were authorized nationwide.

On December 8, 1921, the Electric Lighting Supply Company was issued a broadcasting station license with the randomly assigned call letters KGC, the second in the county after [[KQL]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mishkind |first1=Barry |title=The First Hundred Stations |url=https://www.oldradio.com/archives/general/first100.html |website=Broadcast Archive |access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> authorizing operation on the 360-meter entertainment wavelength. The station's location was listed as Fred Christian's Harold Way home.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435066705633&view=1up&seq=192 "New Stations"], ''Radio Service Bulletin'', January 3, 1922, page 2. One year Limited Commercial license with the call letters KGC, serial #248, issued December 8, 1921, to the Electric Lighting Supply Company, 5118{{frac|1|2}} Harold Way, Hollywood, California. This license was canceled on June 20, 1922.</ref> The shared 360 meter wavelength required timesharing agreements between an increasing number of stations needing exclusive time periods. On May 4 the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported that a total of seven local stations were slated to make broadcasts that day, comprising a schedule that ran from noon to 9&nbsp;p.m., with KGC assigned 2-2:30 and 7:30-8&nbsp;p.m.<ref>"What's Doing Today: Radio", ''Los Angeles Times'', May 4, 1922, Part II, page 20.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mishkind |first1=Barry |title=General History |url=https://www.oldradio.com/archives/general/index.html |website=Broadcast Archive |access-date=March 9, 2022 |date=November 25, 2015}}</ref>

===KNX===
[[File:Electric Lighting Supply Company, Los Angeles, advertisement (22APR1923).jpg|thumb|April 1923 Electric Lighting Supply Company advertisement promoting its operation of KNX at the [[California Theatre (Los Angeles)|California Theater]].]]
On May 4, 1922, the Electric Lighting Supply Company was issued a broadcasting license for a station with the randomly assigned call letters of KNX, also on 360 meters, and located at the company's Los Angeles store on West Third Street.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hxhh8g&view=1up&seq=1107 "New Stations"], ''Radio Service Bulletin'', June 1, 1922, page 3. Three month Limited Commercial license with the call letters KNX, serial #358, issued May 4, 1922, to the Electric Lighting Supply Company, 216 West Third Street, Los Angeles.</ref> This was technically considered to be a second station in addition to KGC, however, after KGC was formally deleted on June 20, 1922, the Department of Commerce concluded that KGC and KNX were functionally the same station, and [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) records list KGC's December 8, 1921, initial license date as KNX's "date first licensed".<ref>Due to the overlap of the KGC and KNX licenses, the Department of Commerce's June 1, 1922, list of active authorizations included both KGC and KNX ([https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.319510008420257&view=1up&seq=407 June 1, 1922 list]). However, the station list in the May 11, 1922, issue of the ''Los Angeles Times'' no longer included KGC, with KNX designated as one of the "stations not yet on the air". ("What's Doing Today: Radio", ''Los Angeles Times'',  May 11, 1922, Part II, pages 1, 10.)</ref>

The new authorization coincided with preparations for a move to the California Theater, broadcasting live music, with Fred Christian continuing as station manager.<ref name="theradiohistorian.org/knx">{{cite web |title=KNX Los Angeles - A Centennial Station |url=http://www.theradiohistorian.org/knx/knx.html |website=The Radio Historian |access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> On June 12, 1922, the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported that "After more than two months of preparation, the new broadcast station at the California Theater had its opening program Saturday evening at 9:15, sending out a wavelength of 510 meters [588 kHz].<ref>Although 360 meters was the normal transmitting wavelength during this period, on occasion the sixth district Radio Inspector, J. F. Dillon, would give permission for stations to make broadcasts on 510 meters. ("Radio Puts on Miners' Benefit", ''Oakland Tribune'', September 15, 1922, page 32.)</ref> The station is said to be one of the best in the land, the call letters of which are KNX."<ref>"Listening in: KHJ", ''Los Angeles Times'', June 12, 1922, Part II, page 2.</ref> KNX's regular broadcast schedule on 360 meters was 9:00 to 10:00&nbsp;a.m.<ref>"What's Doing Today: Radio", ''Los Angeles Times'', June 8, 1922, Part II, page 24.</ref> A week after it commenced operations from the theater, the ''Times'' reported that "Numerous reports have come into The Times radio department commending the quality and audibility of material broadcast from KNX, the California Theater radiophone. This station differs from other stations in that it gives its listeners-in the music of the complete orchestra of the California Theater."<ref>(untitled filler, third column), ''Los Angeles Times'', June 19, 1922, Part II, page 2.</ref>

KNX's power was raised to 100 watts in early August 1922.<ref>"KHJ's 'Radio Cave'", ''Los Angeles Times'', August 6, 1922, Part II, page 6.</ref>

===Los Angeles Evening Express===
In the fall of 1924, Guy Earl Jr., owner of the ''Los Angeles Evening Express'', arranged for the newspaper's purchase of KNX. The ''Express'' made significant upgrades, including increasing the power to 500 watts, and began broadcasting from the Paul G. Hoffman Studebaker building in Hollywood.<ref>"New Radio Station to Open Tonight", ''Santa Ana (California) Register'', October 10, 1924, page 1.</ref> KNX was one of the last stations to remain on the original 360 meter wavelength, and the newspaper engineered a move to 890&nbsp;kHz. It remained on this frequency until November 11, 1928,<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3221814&view=1up&seq=245 ''Commercial and Government Radio Stations of the U.S.''] (Edition June 30, 1928), page 173.</ref> when the station was reassigned to 1050&nbsp;kHz, under the provisions of a major reallocation resulting from the [[Federal Radio Commission]]'s (FRC) [[General Order 40]].

In early 1928, Guy Earle sold his share of the Evening Express newspaper and reorganized KNX as the Western Broadcast Company.<ref name="theradiohistorian.org/knx"/> In 1929, Earle moved the KNX studios to the Paramount Pictures lot,<ref name="theradiohistorian.org/knx"/> signing a five-year contract, and the station's transmitter power was upgraded from 500 to 5,000 watts. In 1930, KNX became the first station to broadcast the Academy Awards.<ref name="theradiohistorian.org/knx"/> In 1932, it increased to 10,000 watts. In 1933, the station moved its studios to the former [[Peerless Motor Company]] building at 5939 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood,<ref name="ladailymirror-movie-museum">{{cite web |last1=Harnisch |first1=Larry |title=Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood's Long Struggle for a Movie Museum |url=https://ladailymirror.com/2021/09/28/mary-mallory-hollywood-heights-hollywoods-long-struggle-for-a-movie-museum/ |website=The Daily Mirror: Larry Harnisch Reflects on L.A. History |access-date=March 9, 2022 |language=en |date=September 28, 2021 |quote=The Motion Picture Museum and Hall of Fame, about 1932. Photo courtesy of Marc Wanamaker, Bison Archives.......Young millionaire Harry Crocker, Charlie Chaplin’s personal assistant, opened the Museum of Motion Picture History at 5935-5945 Sunset Blvd. in what was originally the luxurious Peerless Automotive Showroom}}</ref><ref name="Ring-1985-Gaming">{{cite book |title=Robert A. Ring: Recollections of Life in California, Nevada Gaming, and Reno and Lake Tahoe Business and Civic Affairs |date=1985 |publisher=University of Nevada Oral History Program |url=https://archive.org/stream/RingRobert |access-date=March 9, 2022 |quote=Eventually, we opened another Bingo parlor, known as the Vogue. ... Our experience in Reno, Nevada, with our Bingo-Tango game was a touch-and-go situation.}}</ref><ref name=larg/><ref name="cdnc-DNLA19330315.1.4">{{cite news |title=Hollywood Wins ' Tango Game Ban |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DNLA19330315.1.4&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 |access-date=March 9, 2022 |work=Daily News |publisher=California Digital Newspaper Collection |date=March 15, 1933 |location=Los Angeles |quote=The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, various Hollywood churches and civic organizations . yesterday were again victors In their battle against having "tango games in that area when the police commission denied a second applicant a permit. Request by F. W. Babcock of 323 North Broadway to' open a "tango parlor" at 6525 Hollywood boulevard was turned down "without prejudice by the commission, which said he might seek some other location. Last week a similar application by W. H. Weaver was denied.}}</ref><ref name="Vaught-5939-1924-2012">{{cite web |last1=Vaught |first1=Steve |title=R.I.P. Old Old Spaghetti Factory Building 1924-2012 |url=https://paradiseleased.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/r-i-p-old-old-spaghetti-factory-building-1924-2012/ |website=Paradise Leased |access-date=March 9, 2022 |language=en |date=February 23, 2012}}</ref><ref name="la.curbed-10393470">{{cite news |last1=Kudler |first1=Adrian Glick |title=Old Spaghetti Factory Will Be Recreated For Sunset Blvd. Tower |url=https://la.curbed.com/2012/2/24/10393470/old-spaghetti-factory-will-be-recreated-for-sunset-blvd-tower |access-date=March 9, 2022 |work=[[Curbed LA]] |date=February 24, 2012 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="calisphere-1943-KMPC">{{cite web |last1=Lester |first1=Gene |title=KMPC building purchase |url=https://calisphere.org/item/9c146643ad824a4311496fb425b205bc/ |access-date=March 9, 2022 |date=1943}}</ref><ref name="calisphere-1944-KMPC">{{cite web |title=KMPC radio station |url=https://calisphere.org/item/3bc7384b369b5beda56aba27c38e4be3/ |website=calisphere |access-date=March 9, 2022 |date=1944}}</ref><ref name="lacity-CPC-2007-515">
{{cite web |title=5929-5945 Sunset Boulevard & 1512-1540 N. Gordon Street |url=http://cityplanning.lacity.org/staffrpt/initialRpts/CPC-2007-515.pdf |publisher=Los Angeles City Planning Commission |access-date=March 9, 2022}}
</ref><ref name="laradio-2020d">
{{cite web |title=KNX Set to Celebrate 100 Year Anniversary |url=https://laradio.com/2020d.htm |website=Los Angeles Radio People |access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="theradiohistorian.org/knx"/> after being granted permission by the FRC on June 7, 1932, to raise its output to 25,000 watts.<ref>{{cite news|title=KNX Gets 25 Kw.|url=https://archive.org/details/broadcasting13unse/page/n586/mode/1up|access-date=6 June 2018|agency=Broadcasting|date=June 15, 1932|page=19}}</ref> The following year, KNX's transmitting power was raised to the nationwide maximum of 50,000 watts, which the station continues presently.<ref>[https://www.sakrison.com/radio/KNX.html "KNX 1070 kHz Los Angeles, CA"] by Paul Sakrison (sakrison.com)</ref>

===CBS ownership===
CBS purchased KNX in 1936, and began operating it as its West Coast [[flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]], which ended CBS's eight-year [[network affiliate|affiliation]] with [[KHJ (AM)|KHJ]].<ref>"Biggest station deal in history effected." ''Broadcasting'', April 1, 1936, pp. [https://archive.org/details/broadcasting10unse/page/n382/mode/1up 7], [https://archive.org/details/broadcasting10unse/page/n441/mode/1up 62].</ref> In 1938, the [[CBS Columbia Square]] studios<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://radio.about.com/library/history/blhistory0812.htm |title=Today in Radio History August 12 2005 |access-date=August 5, 2008 |archive-date=October 31, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051031174138/http://radio.about.com/library/history/blhistory0812.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> were dedicated for KNX as well as West Coast operations for the entire CBS radio network. That October, the station carried [[Orson Welles]]' celebrated version of ''[[The War of the Worlds (radio)|The War of the Worlds]]''. In March 1941, the station was shifted to 1070 AM as part of the [[North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement]] assignments, where it has been ever since.

Theatre legend [[Jerome Lawrence]] got his start in radio writing at KNX in the late 1930s. Legendary performers from the "[[Golden Age of Radio]]" used KNX studios for their national broadcasts, included [[Jack Benny]], [[Bing Crosby]], [[George Burns]], [[Edgar Bergen]] and [[Gene Autry's Melody Ranch|Gene Autry]].<ref name="History"/> [[Steve Allen]] conducted a freewheeling late night show over KNX in the late 1940s, which opened the door to his national success. TV [[situation comedy]] star [[Bob Crane]] was KNX's morning host between 1957 and 1965 at the same time he was appearing as a featured supporting player on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television network series ''[[The Donna Reed Show]]''.<ref>[http://www.who2.com/bobcrane.html "Bob Crane Biography"] (who2.com)</ref>

===FM and TV stations===
On March 30, 1948, KNX added a [[sister station]]. The original station with the [[call sign]] KNX-FM [[signed on]] the air, mostly simulcasting 1070 AM.<ref>{{cite news|title=KNX-FM Starts|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-04-05-BC.pdf|access-date=November 22, 2014|agency=Broadcasting|date=April 5, 1948}}</ref> At first it was on the old FM band, but switched to 93.1 a few years later. Today that station is [[KCBS-FM]], while a new version of KNX-FM exists today on 97.1 as a simlicast of the AM station.

In 1951, KNX gained a television cousin when CBS acquired KTSL channel 2 and rebranded it as KNXT.<ref>"Don Lee sale; General Tire bid sets record." ''Broadcasting&nbsp;— Telecasting'', October 30, 1950, pp. 21, 30. [https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/50-OCR/1950-10-30-BC-0021.pdf]{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/50-OCR/1950-10-30-BC-0030.pdf]{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> It took on the current [[KCBS-TV]] call sign in 1984. It traces its history back to 1930s experimental broadcasts and was originally owned by broadcast pioneer [[Don Lee (broadcaster)|Don Lee]].

===Switch to all-news===
[[File:KNX-logo.png|thumb|Logo as "KNX 1070 Newsradio", used until the start of the simulcast on 97.1 FM]]
KNX was a strong competitor in the Los Angeles market while Bob Crane was its morning personality, but began declining in popularity after he left to star in the CBS television series ''[[Hogan's Heroes]]''. Following the example of corporate sister station [[WCBS (AM)|WCBS]] in New York City, which had enjoyed success with an all-news format, KNX then became an all-news station in the spring of 1968.<ref>[http://www.knx1070.com/pages/2098423.php knx1070 Our Heritage] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314035927/http://www.knx1070.com/pages/2098423.php |date=March 14, 2009 }}</ref>  By chance, its first major breaking news coverage was a major worldwide story that happened locally: the [[Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy|assassination]] of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[President of the United States|Presidential candidate]] [[Robert F. Kennedy]], in the [[Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)|Ambassador Hotel]] in Los Angeles, on June 5 of that year.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

In August 2005, KNX moved out of Columbia Square after operating there for 67 years, and began broadcasting from new studios in the [[Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California|Miracle Mile]] district on [[Wilshire Boulevard]].<ref name="History">[https://www.knx1070.com/pages/3872.php KNX History]</ref>

In 2009, KNX adopted the slogan "All news, all the time". It was previously used for 40 years by [[KFWB]], KNX's historic rival in the news radio wars before both became sister stations through the 1995 merger of [[Westinghouse Electric]] (KFWB's owner) and CBS. KFWB's format change to [[news/talk]] in September 2009, left KNX as the only all-news outlet in the Los Angeles area, which is now emphasized in its alternate slogan, "Southern California's only 24-hour local news & traffic station".

In 2017, KNX won its first ever national Edward R. Murrow award for "Breaking News". The station was also nominated for two 2017 NAB Marconi awards, Legendary Station of the Year and News/Talk Station of the Year.

===Entercom and Audacy===
On February 2, 2017, CBS agreed to merge CBS Radio with [[Entercom]], then the fourth-largest radio broadcaster in the United States. The sale was conducted tax-free using a [[Reverse Morris Trust]]. While CBS shareholders retained a 72% ownership stake in the combined company, Entercom was the surviving entity, separating KNX from KCBS-TV and [[KCAL-TV]].<ref name="variety-cbsentercom">{{cite web|title=CBS Sets Radio Division Merger With Entercom|url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/cbs-entercom-radio-division-merger-1201976392/|website=Variety|date=February 2, 2017|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2017/02/02/cbs-entercom-radio-merger/|title=CBS and Entercom Are Merging Their Radio Stations|website=Fortune|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> The merger was approved on November 9, and was consummated 8 days later.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.entercom.com/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-for-merger-with-cbs-radio#.Wg54UWVqaNZ |title=Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio |access-date=November 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117122333/http://www.entercom.com/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-for-merger-with-cbs-radio#.Wg54UWVqaNZ |archive-date=November 17, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121072/entercom-completes-cbs-radio-merger/ Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger]</ref>

On March 30, 2021, Entercom announced that the company changed its name to Audacy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 30, 2021|title=Entercom Rebrands, Changes Name to Audacy|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005277/en/Entercom-Rebrands-Changes-Name-to-Audacy|access-date=April 25, 2021|via=businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:KNX 971 NewsTalk.png|thumb|KNX logo used from 2021-2023]]

On December 6, 2021, KNX announced that it would be adding an FM simulcast.  KNX's all-news programming would also be heard on sister station KNOU, replacing the [[Top 40]] format on the station that began in 2009. KNOU changed its call letters to [[KNX-FM]] on December 21, 2021, to match its AM simulcast partner.

==Transmitter site==
The station's antenna array features a 494-foot (150m) main [[radio masts and towers|antenna]]. The original main tower (circa 1936) was destroyed by vandals on September 14, 1965. An unused 365-foot (111m) tower was brought in from KFAC (now [[KWKW]]) and was used while the new main antenna was constructed. This antenna was formerly in what is now a residential area to the south of the main antenna.

The 365-foot tower now serves as KNX's emergency antenna. It was later relocated when much of the site was dedicated as a [[Columbia Park, Torrance, California|park in Torrance]]. It is now north of the main antenna, within the park.

Only one antenna is active at a time. An experiment in the late 1960s, using both antennas in a [[directional antenna|directional setup]] during the daytime was abandoned.

The 494-foot main antenna is 0.53λ, or 193.5 electrical degrees. It has an efficiency of 400.73 mV/m/kW at 1&nbsp;km.<ref>From FCC public information files.</ref> This is much better than average for a Class A station's main antenna. The FCC's minimum efficiency requirement is 362.10 mV/m/kW at 1&nbsp;km.<ref>From FCC rules, 47 CFR Part 73.</ref>

The 365-foot emergency antenna is 0.40λ, or 145.5 electrical degrees. It has an efficiency of about 343 mV/m/kW at 1&nbsp;km.<ref>Calculated from the electrical height, using FCC formulae.</ref> This is much better than average for a Class A emergency antenna but is inadequate for the main antenna.

==Notable former on-air staff==
* [[Steve Allen]]—former late night host. (deceased)
* [[Pete Arbogast]] – news and sports anchor. Longtime broadcaster for [[USC Trojans Football]] from 1989 to 1994 and since 2001. 
* [[Bill Ballance]]<ref name=larg/>  (deceased)
* [[Bob Barker]]  (deceased)
* [[Bob Crane]] (deceased)
* [[Michael Fitzmaurice (actor)|Michael Fitzmaurice]]<ref name=rs2>Cox, Jim (2007). ''Radio Speakers: Narrators, News Junkies, Sports Jockeys, Tattletales, Tipsters, Toastmasters and Coffee Klatch Couples Who the Jargon of the Aural Ether from the 1920s to the 1980s--A Biographical Dictionary''. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-6086-1}}. Pp. 98-99.</ref> (using the name Mike Kelly)<ref>{{cite news|title=Behind the Microphone: Michael Fitzmaurice|url=https://archive.org/details/broadcasting89unse/page/n525/mode/1up|access-date=June 24, 2018|agency=Broadcasting|date=June 1, 1935|page=30}}</ref> (deceased)
* [[Chet Huntley]] (special events)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Abbott|first1=Sam|title=Hollywood|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GwwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT6|access-date=June 24, 2018|work=Billboard|date=January 17, 1942|page=7}}</ref> and news commentary<ref>{{cite web|title=Guide to the Chet Huntley Papers 1920-1977|url=http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv21549|website=Northwest Digital Archives|access-date=February 4, 2015}}</ref> (deceased)
* [[Bill Keene]] – traffic reporter best known for nicknames of freeway interchanges. (deceased)
* [[Knox Manning]] – (newscaster)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Abbott|first1=Sam|title=Hollywood|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IAwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT6|access-date=June 24, 2018|work=Billboard|date=January 24, 1942}}</ref> (deceased)
* Brian Ping – evening/overnight weeknight news anchor, left KNX effective April 24, 2024.<ref>[https://x.com/brianpingnews/status/1783272763471610143?s=46&t=Mw9zCrOTyT4BCVaeJRQ1-Q Brian Ping (@brianpingnews) on Twitter. "After 13 years, my time at KNX has come to an end. Thank you for letting me keep you company every evening. On to the next chapter."] April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.</ref>
* [[Gil Stratton]] – longtime sportscaster who worked with KNXT and KNX on and off from 1954 to 1997.  (deceased)
* [[Jim Thornton]] – news and traffic anchor. Also the off-screen voice of [[Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|Wheel of Fortune]] since 2011. 
* Larry Van Nuys
* Dave Zorn (deceased)
* [[Jennifer York]] – traffic reporter
* Dick Helton<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-10-14/new-morning-team-joining-knx-radio-as-dick-helton-retires | title=KNX News morning anchor Dick Helton signs off | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=October 14, 2022 }}</ref>
* [[Pat Sajak]] – weather reporter <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.audacy.com/knxnews/news/national/pat-sajak-says-goodbye-to-the-wheel |title=Pat Sajak says goodbye to 'The Wheel' |website=audacy.com/knxnews/news |date=June 12, 2023 }}</ref>

==Current on-air staff==

* Craig Fiegener – [[Los Angeles City Hall]] reporter
* Pete Demitriou – Public safety reporter
* Brian Douglas – News anchor
* Brian Ping – News anchor
* Vicky Moore – News anchor
* Elsa Ramon – News anchor
* Chris Seetons – News anchor
* Nataly Tavidian – General assignment news reporter
* Emily Valdes – General assignment news reporter
* Karen Adams – General assignment news reporter
* John Bard – General assignment news reporter
* Charles Feldman – News analyst

==See also==
* [[KCBS-FM]]
* [[KCBS-TV]]
* [[CBS Columbia Square]]
* [[List of initial AM-band station grants in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{officialwebsite|https://www.audacy.com/knxnews}}
* {{AM station data|9616|KNX}}
* [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=43396 FCC History cards for KNX] (covering 1927–1980)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071015091623/http://www.earthsignals.com/KNXSITEhistory.html KNX Station History] (earthsignals.com)
* [https://pastdaily.com/2017/09/17/september-10-1955-knx-35-past-daily/ Recording of KNX's September 10, 1955 35th Anniversary broadcast] (pastdaily.com)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927030209/http://www.linder.com/archives/category/columbia-square/ Farewell broadcast from Columbia Square] (August 4, 2006, linder.com)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101212070435/http://cbs2.com/video/?id=7997%40kcbs.dayport.com&cid=71 KCBS-TV video, KNX Columbia Square sign-off]
* [http://www.sakrison.com/radio/KNX.html KNX tour, on the site of Chief Engineer Paul Sakrison] (sakrison.com)

{{Los Angeles Radio}}
{{News/Talk Radio Stations in California}}
{{Entercom}}
{{Clear Channel AM}}
{{All-News Radio}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1920 establishments in California]]
[[Category:All-news radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Audacy, Inc. radio stations]]
[[Category:Clear-channel radio stations]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1920]]<!-- https://earlyradiohistory.us/pion622l.htm -->
[[Category:Radio stations in Los Angeles|NX]]