KQED-FM (88.5 MHz) is a NPR-member radio station in San Francisco, California. Its parent organization is KQED Inc., which also owns its television partners, both of which are PBS member outlets: KQED (channel 9) and KQEH (channel 54). Studio operations for all three are located on Mariposa Street in the Mission District of San Francisco, while its transmitter is located atop San Bruno Mountain. History KXKX The San Francisco Theological Seminary, a Presbyterian group, began broadcasting with station KXKX in April 1963. The new 110,000-watt station signed on two years after the seminary received a construction permit in August 1961. In addition to Christian programming, the station's subcarrier broadcast theology courses to receivers at 44 Bay Area churches. When agencies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) could no longer support the station, KXKX signed off at midnight on the evening of June 29, 1967. KQED-FM In July 1968, the San Francisco Theological Seminary filed to sell KXKX to the Bay Area Educational Television Association, owner of KQED (channel 9). The station returned to the air as KQED-FM in mid-1969, originally using the studios at 286 Divisadero Street inherited from the seminary. The founding manager was Bernard Mayes, who later went on to be executive vice president of KQED television and also co-founder and chairman of NPR. The first programming of KQED-FM included news, 'street radio' broadcast live from local street corners, drama and music. In its third year on the air, KQED-FM became one of the first 80 NPR affiliates—five of which were in California—to air the first edition of All Things Considered. Later, due to reduced funding, Mayes opened the air to 'Tribal Radio' - productions by local non-profit groups, some in their own languages. Current programming Today, KQED-FM is one of the most-listened to public radio stations in the United States, and ranks first in the San Francisco market as of July 2018. In addition to local programming, KQED-FM carries content from major public radio distributors such as National Public Radio, Public Radio Exchange, BBC World Service, and American Public Media. Among the locally produced shows are Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal, The California Report, and Perspectives. Tech Nation is produced at KQED studios. In addition to over-the-air broadcasts, KQED-FM audio is carried on Comcast digital cable channel 960 and is webcast with live streaming audio around the clock. The station's live stream is also available through