KDKA
Quick Summary
KDKA, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is recognized as the first commercial radio station in the United States. It began broadcasting on November 2, 1920, with the results of the Harding-Cox presidential election. This initial broadcast, along with subsequent musical programs, demonstrated the commercial viability of radio and motivated the establishment of similar stations. The popularity of these early stations highlighted radio's potential as an advertising medium, which eventually became its primary financial support in the U.S.. KDKA also pioneered live sports broadcasting, airing the first live sporting event, a boxing match, on April 11, 1921.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- broadcastingGrowth of commercial radio
ā¦first commercial radio station was KDKA in Pittsburgh, which went on the air in the evening of Nov. 2, 1920, with a broadcast of the returns of the Harding-Cox presidential election. The success of the KDKA broadcast and of the musical programs that were initiated thereafter motivated others to installā¦
Read Moreā¦first commercial radio station was KDKA in Pittsburgh, which went on the air in the evening of Nov. 2, 1920, with a broadcast of the returns of the Harding-Cox presidential election. The success of the KDKA broadcast and of the musical programs that were initiated thereafter motivated others to installā¦
Read More 
radioSportsā¦on April 11, 1921, when KDKA in Pittsburgh broadcast the first live sporting event: a boxing match described by local newspaper reporter Florent Gibson. The first live baseball game was a Pittsburgh PiratesāPhiladelphia Phillies game covered by announcer Harold Arlin and broadcast by KDKA on August 5, 1921. Football andā¦
Read Moreā¦on April 11, 1921, when KDKA in Pittsburgh broadcast the first live sporting event: a boxing match described by local newspaper reporter Florent Gibson. The first live baseball game was a Pittsburgh PiratesāPhiladelphia Phillies game covered by announcer Harold Arlin and broadcast by KDKA on August 5, 1921. Football andā¦
Read More- radioNews
ā¦on November 2, 1920, when KDKA in Pittsburgh signed onāfrom a makeshift studio in a garageāand an announcer read the returns of the presidential race between Warren G. Harding and James M. Cox. The range of the 100-watt station was unknown at the time, and listeners to KDKA were askedā¦
Read Moreā¦on November 2, 1920, when KDKA in Pittsburgh signed onāfrom a makeshift studio in a garageāand an announcer read the returns of the presidential race between Warren G. Harding and James M. Cox. The range of the 100-watt station was unknown at the time, and listeners to KDKA were askedā¦
Read More - radioRadioās early years
KDKA in Pittsburgh, most often cited as the first radio outlet in the United States, had begun as the amateur station 8XK in 1916, but it was forced off the air in World War I. It reappeared on November 2, 1920, as a ācommercialā voice-and-musicā¦
Read MoreKDKA in Pittsburgh, most often cited as the first radio outlet in the United States, had begun as the amateur station 8XK in 1916, but it was forced off the air in World War I. It reappeared on November 2, 1920, as a ācommercialā voice-and-musicā¦
Read More