KKCW

KKCW (103.3 MHz, "K103") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Beaverton, Oregon and serving the Portland metropolitan area. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs an adult contemporary radio format. From mid-November to the 31st of December (to the end of December) each year, it switches to all-Christmas music. The studios and offices are on SW 68th Parkway in Tigard, while the transmitter is located off Northwest Skyline Boulevard in Portland's West Hills, amid the towers for other local FM and TV stations. KKCW broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format.
History.
In 1984, the Columbia-Williamette Broadcasting Company was constructing a new FM radio station for the Portland media market. It intended to sign on with a country music format; in fact, the C and W in the requested call sign would stand for country and western, as the country format was once known. However, KUPL beat KKCW to the punch; instead, on February 24, 1984, KKCW went on the air with a soft adult contemporary format.
In 1986, the station was sold to Trumper Communications of Portland. San Antonio-based iHeartMedia, which then went by the name Clear Channel Communications, acquired KKCW in 1999.
HD programming.
KKCW-HD2.
KKCW-HD2 had been programming a smooth jazz format that resembled former sister station KIJZ, once heard on 105.9 FM until August 2007. The HD2 station's motto was, "KKCW -- For easy listening through tough times." This station went off the air in August 2019, but the format can still be heard on the iHeartRadio Smooth Jazz channel.
KKCW-HD3.
KKCW-HD3 had been the Portland market's programming source for the Educational Media Foundation's Air 1 Christian worship music format, which was also relayed on FM translator K224DL (92.7 FM). KKCW's HD3 subchannel broadcast until November 2019, when it was turned off. (Air 1 is now heard on KLVP's HD2 subchannel.)