How KDKA Radio and KDKA-TV Became Separate Businesses in 2017

KDKA's long history is not just about broadcasting; it's also a complex narrative of corporate ownership, strategic affiliations, and significant divestitures that shaped its identity and operations. From its inception under Westinghouse Electric to its current status within the broader media landsc

Westinghouse's Vision and Early Challenges

KDKA's establishment was an outgrowth of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company's post-World War I efforts to expand its commercial operations in the radio industry. Westinghouse, having developed radio technology for military use during the war, aimed to become a national and international provider of radio communication. This put them in direct competition with the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), formed by General Electric. To strengthen its position, Westinghouse acquired key radio patents, including those from Reginald Fessenden and Edwin Howard Armstrong.

Initially, KDKA was conceived as a private radiotelegraph link between Westinghouse facilities, receiving a Limited Commercial license in October 1920. However, its role quickly expanded to include general broadcasting. Despite its pioneering status, Westinghouse faced challenges, including antitrust proceedings. In 1932, as a result of these proceedings, Westinghouse was compelled to divest its 40% ownership stake in RCA and its 20% ownership in NBC. This divestiture marked a significant shift in Westinghouse's direct involvement with these major broadcasting entities, though KDKA continued its operations under Westinghouse ownership.

Shifting Network Affiliations and Sister Stations

Throughout its history, KDKA's network affiliations have evolved. Prior to 1943, KDKA was affiliated with the NBC Blue network. However, in 1943, the U.S. government mandated that NBC divest one of its two networks, leading to the sale of the Blue network (which became the American Broadcasting Company). Before this sale, KDKA swapped affiliations with KQV to become affiliated with the NBC-Red network. This change ensured KDKA remained connected to a major national network, providing a broader range of programming to its listeners.

During this period, KDKA also saw the addition of sister stations. In 1942, it gained W75P on the then-new FM band, which later became KDKA-FM. This station eventually changed its call letters to WPNT in 1979 and was sold by Westinghouse in 1984, becoming WLTJ. These developments illustrate Westinghouse's efforts to expand its broadcasting footprint across different radio bands and formats, even as its corporate structure and affiliations were subject to change.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Modern Corporate Structure

The late 20th century brought significant corporate consolidation that impacted KDKA. Westinghouse merged with CBS in late 1995, making KDKA part of a larger media conglomerate. A year later, Westinghouse acquired Infinity Broadcasting, and KDKA subsequently became an Infinity Broadcasting station. In 1997, Westinghouse itself transformed into CBS Corporation. The corporate landscape shifted again in 1999 when Viacom bought CBS Corporation. However, five years later, Viacom transformed itself into CBS Corporation, bringing KDKA back under the CBS Radio umbrella.

More recently, in February 2017, CBS agreed to sell CBS Radio to Entercom (now Audacy). This sale, completed in November 2017, resulted in KDKA radio and its sister stations being separated from KDKA-TV, though they maintain a strong news and content sharing agreement. The transaction was structured as a Reverse Morris Trust, making it tax-free, with CBS shareholders retaining a 72% ownership stake in the combined company, but Entercom emerging as the surviving entity. These continuous shifts in ownership and corporate structure underscore the dynamic nature of the broadcasting industry and KDKA's enduring presence within it.