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Proclamation congratulating KDKA AM 1020 as it celebrates 100 years of providing constant news to the people of this region.
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WHEREAS, born of a belief in local broadcasting and a dream of community service, KDKA is a pioneer in broadcasting that always held close to its founding mission and made sure to provide constant news to the people of Allegheny County and surrounding region; and
WHEREAS, the science and art of radio began on November 2, 1920 when Westinghouse Electric Corporation’s KDKA radio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, transmitted the world’s first commercial radio broadcast, thus inaugurating a new service connecting the people of America and paving the way for other technologies, such as television and the internet; and
WHEREAS, in that historic broadcast, the U.S. Harding-Cox presidential election returns were announced from a shed on the roof of the Westinghouse East Pittsburgh Works. With upgrades in technology over the next several years, KDKA’s signal would reach audiences across most of the eastern United States and into Canada; and
WHEREAS, a myriad of firsts in sports broadcasting helped KDKA bring the action right into people’s homes. The first live sporting event was the Johnny Ray vs. Johnny Dundee fight in Pittsburgh’s Motor Square Garden on April 11, 1921. On July 2, 1921, KDKA broadcast the World Heavyweight Championship between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier for the first time. On August 5, 1921, the first ever play-by-play of a baseball game was sent over the airwaves by KDKA as the Pirates beat the Phillies, and on October 8, 1921, Pitt’s football win over West Virginia became the first football game broadcast, all by KDKA; and
WHEREAS, in addition to sports broadcasting, KDKA’s lineup consisted of music, news and politics until April 10, 1992 when the station aired its last song and transitioned to a strictly news/talk radio format. Today, KDKA is owned and operated by Entercom, airing news and talk programming 24 hours a day; and
WHEREAS, beginning November 2, 2020, KDKA will be simulcast on FM translator station 100.1 W261AX; and
WHEREAS, throughout its 100 years, KDKA AM 1020 has been nationally recognized and awarded for its excellence in news reporting;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Council Member Bob Macey and All Members of Council, do hereby congratulate and join in celebration with KDKA AM 1020 as it celebrates 100 years of providing constant news to the people of this region, and we thank the station for remaining committed to fair and honest reporting since 1920.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto caused the Seal of the County of Allegheny to be affixed this 10th day of November 2020.