KOPB (AM)

For the native Egyptian Christians, see Copt.

KOPB

Eugene, Oregon
Broadcast area	Eugene-Springfield
Frequency	1600 kHz
Programming
Format	Public Radio - News - Talk
Affiliations	National Public Radio American Public Media Public Radio Exchange BBC World Service
Ownership
Owner	Oregon Public Broadcasting
History
First air date	September 19, 1947 (1947-09-19) (as KASH)
Former call signs	KASH (1947–1985) KEED (1985–2005) KOPT (2005–2008)
Call sign meaning	Oregon Public Broadcasting
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	841
Class	B
Power	5,000 watts days 1,000 watts nights
Transmitter coordinates	44°03′05″N 123°03′48″W
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live
Website	opb.org

KOPB (1600 AM) is non-commercial, listener-supported, public radio station licensed to Eugene, Oregon, and serving the Eugene-Springfield area. The station is owned by Oregon Public Broadcasting and it airs a news-talk radio format. KOPB carries programs primarily from NPR and other public radio networks, including popular shows such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. The station was assigned the KOPB call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on February 20, 2008.

By day, KOPB is powered at 5,000 watts non-directional. But to protect other stations on 1600 AM from interference, at night it reduces power to 1,000 watts and uses a directional antenna. The transmitter is on Day Island in Eugene, along the Willamette River.

History

The station signed on the air on September 19, 1947 (1947-09-19) . Its original call sign was KASH. The station was a network affiliate of CBS Radio. For a time in the mid-1970s, it aired an all news radio format, using the NBC News and Information Service (NIS). In 1985, it switched its call letters to KEED.

In the early 2000s, the station's call letters were KOPT. It aired Air America Radio programming, primarily progressive talk shows. On November 28, 2007, Oregon Public Broadcasting announced it had reached an agreement to purchase the station from Churchill Media for $500,000. On February 20, 2008, the station switched from Air America Radio to OPB public radio news-talk programming.

Although sister station KOAC 550 AM in Corvallis easily covers much of Eugene with OPB programming, some areas south of downtown Eugene do not get a strong signal. KOPB serves to fill in those areas. Listeners in the Eugene-Springfield area also have a local NPR member station in KLCC 89.7 FM, owned by Lane Community College.

External links

• KOPB official website
• Oregon Public Broadcasting
• FCC History Cards for KOPB
• Facility details for Facility ID 841 (KOPB) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• KOPB in Nielsen Audio's AM station database