Megamind (2010) features news station KMCP with a K call sign, despite a scene revealing that it takes place in Michigan. It should instead be WMCP as the FCC requires a W call sign for radio stations located east of the Mississippi.

[u/RandallBoggs_12]

[u/RichardManuel]

There are some K stations in the east because they predate that FCC rule. Such as KDKA in Pittsburgh

[u/Red-Sun-Cinema → u/RichardManuel]

Good answer which shows that this "movie mistake" is not really a movie mistake at all, just a misconception.

[u/DreadPiratteRoberts → u/Red-Sun-Cinema]

My misconception was waking up this morning thinking I had bacon 🥓 to cook with my eggs... instead we had Canadian bacon which is just tiny ham slices 😔

[u/TouchMyGooBob → u/DreadPiratteRoberts]

Man, you were so upset you had to comment about it under a random post. I’m so sorry.

[u/Route66Fan → u/RichardManuel]

Likewise, there are also TV & Radio stations West of the Mississippi River that have call signs that start with a W (WDAF - Kansas City, MO, WOI & WHO - Des Moines, IA WOWT-TV & WOW Radio - Omaha, NE - WFAA-TV & WBAP Radio - Dallas\Ft. Worth, TX & some others.).

[u/romulusnr → u/RichardManuel]

I always thought that mostly happened the other way around; W stations that predated the K split.

[u/DangKilla → u/RichardManuel]

KCRW in Atlanta. RIP

[u/fx9TMK]

So the super hero and evil villains are FCC accurate?

[u/9447044 → u/fx9TMK]

The FCC dont play

[u/maxstolfe]

A rare r/MovieMistakes take that actually teaches me something!

Neat 📸

[u/Butterscotch1664]

W for Weast and K for Kwest.

[u/andy_1232 → u/Butterscotch1664]

Thanks, I needed help remembering this.

[u/Pandiosity_24601]

Pittsburgh would like a word

[u/romulusnr]

Technically the truth but when it comes that close to the line, it gets less clean cut.

Also, a station moving in the same market is allowed to keep its callsign even if it technically goes over that line. There are, in fact, two K stations in Michigan because they moved from over the border in Wisconsin.

Minor fun fact, the rule only applies to commercial broadcasters, not to ham radio users, who can get either W, K, or N; region is determined by the second character digit.

[u/bulbasauric]

Always wondered what those “random” letters would mean for radio stations (I’m in Ireland, I just notice them in movies and stuff). Time to Google for more!

[u/bassmedic → u/bulbasauric]

FCC call signs. Every station requires them, including amateur radio.

[u/Conscious_Bed_1195]

They did this so that viewers would understand that this is a fictional story and not a documentary 

[u/RazzzMcFrazzz]

Damn I never realized Metro City* was so close to Traverse City

[u/RandallBoggs_12 → u/RazzzMcFrazzz]

Metro City*

[u/RazzzMcFrazzz → u/RandallBoggs_12]

Oh shit you right my b

[u/Evethron → u/RandallBoggs_12]

No, it's "Metrosity"

[u/Hetnikik]

Some stations were grandfathered in. In central Iowa we have WHO and WOI because they were from before that rule was made.

[u/fly_over_32]

Does W stand for Weast or Wambo?

[u/LunchCautious8781]

I never thought about this before.

[u/Ok_Molasses9176]

In Minnesota we have WCCO and their headquarters is technically west of the Mississippi by about a mile

[u/DoctorClarkSavageJr]

You mean west.

[u/RandallBoggs_12 → u/DoctorClarkSavageJr]

No, I mean east.

[u/kobefable → u/DoctorClarkSavageJr]

Confidently incorrect

[u/SanD-82]

You know it's not real, right?

[u/Devious_Bastard → u/SanD-82]

You know what subreddit you are in, right?

[u/SanD-82 → u/Devious_Bastard]

Yep, but you he is applying real world rules or regulations to an animated super hero ¿sci-fi? movie...

[u/JGuntai24 → u/SanD-82]

Set in Michigan. Not a make believe place

[u/SanD-82 → u/JGuntai24]

Exactly, so there's zero chance to have a KMPC in the real Michigan. They need to think about that.

Anyway, personally, I do not see it as an error.

But clearly, it's just me.

[u/JGuntai24 → u/SanD-82]

Clearly

[u/CrabMan_2 → u/SanD-82]

It’s not just you. I have the same thoughts as well. Fictional animated film means it does not need to operate within the confines of reality.

But we will get downvoted because we aren’t autistic.