Why do American TV and radio stations have funny names like KXZE?
They’re call signs – unique codes used to identify transmitting stations. The idea dates back to the days of wired and wireless telegraphy (well over 100 years ago), and an international standard for call signs was formulated in 1912. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_sign It’s been customary for a long time for American TV and radio stations to use call signs (an odd exception is the state broadcaster, Voice of America), but the tradition has somewhat died out in the UK and Europe. Call signs starting with W and N were allocated to the United States at the London International Radiotelegraphic Convention back in 1912. Signs starting with A and K were added in 1927.
