KUCD

KUCD
Broadcast areaHonolulu, Hawaii
Frequency101.9 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingPop! 101.9
Programming
FormatAsian CHR
SubchannelsHD2: Star 99.1 (Alternative rock)
HD3: ALT Radio
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
1991; 33 years ago (1991)
Call sign meaning
Former branding as smooth jazz station "CD 101.9"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID48778
ClassC
ERP100,000 watts (horizontal polarization)
81,000 watts (vertical polarization)
HAAT599 meters (1,965 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
21°23′39.6″N 158°05′51.1″W / 21.394333°N 158.097528°W / 21.394333; -158.097528
Translator(s)HD2: 99.1 K256AS (Honolulu)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
HD2: Listen Live
HD3: Listen Live
Websitepop1019.iheart.com
star991hawaii.iheart.com (HD2)

KUCD (101.9 FM "Pop! 101.9") is a commercial radio station licensed to Pearl City, Hawaii and serving the Honolulu metropolitan area. It broadcasts an Asian Top 40-CHR radio format, playing hits from K-pop and other countries in Asia. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., with studios in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu. It also transmits on Charter Spectrum digital cable channel 853 for the entire state of Hawaii.[2]

KUCD is a Class C station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts (horizontal polarization) and 81,000 watts (vertical polarization).[3] Its transmitter is on Palehua Road in Kapolei.[4] KUCD broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 subchannel carries an alternative rock format and feeds 250-watt FM translator K256AS at 99.1 MHz.[5]

History

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KUCD signed on the air in 1991; 33 years ago (1991). It was a smooth jazz station, playing a mix of jazz instrumentals and some R&B-style vocals. It billed itself as "CD 101.9". The smooth jazz sound lasted six years.

On August 29, 1997, at 3 p.m., it switched to modern AC as "Star 101.9."[6] It further evolved towards modern rock in 2001. This lasted until 2009, when it shifted back to modern AC; with this format change, KUCD changed its positioner from "Hawaii's New Music Alternative" to "90's, 2K, and Today". In early 2011, KUCD reverted to the modern rock format, albeit with a slight modern AC lean, using their previous "Hawaii's New Music Alternative" slogan once again. A few months after this, KUCD dropped the modern AC lean, and became a modern rock station once again.

In 2013, the station changed its positioner to "Hawaii's Alternative". With the May 2020 format flip of KPOI from alternative to soft AC, KUCD became the only radio station in Honolulu playing alternative rock music. KUCD's HD2 sub-channel aired Asian Pop formatted PoP! 99.1 at 101.9-2 and on the iHeartRadio app.

On May 16, 2023, iHeartMedia announced that KUCD and K256AS/KUCD-HD2 would swap formats at 10 AM the following Thursday. On May 18th, the full-power 101.9 frequency took over the Asian pop music format of K256AS as "Pop! 101.9". With its high-power signal, it becomes the largest K-pop radio station in the United States.[7] The alternative rock previously found on 101.9 switched over to the 99.1 FM translator.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KUCD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Digital Cable Program Guide / Lineups Archived February 25, 2011, at the Wayback MachineOceanic Time Warner Cable (accessed March 20, 2011)
  3. ^ FCC.gov/KUCD
  4. ^ Radio-Locator.com/KUCD
  5. ^ Radio-Locator.com/K256AS
  6. ^ American Radio History [dead link]
  7. ^ Pop 99.1, Star 101.9 Honolulu to Swap Frequencies
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HD2 translator