Canadian MW licence renewals, provisos
NOTES FROM CANADA – Jon Pearkins jon@pearkins.com
All of the license renewals listed below include an additional requirement for those stations that play music: during each broadcast week, which does not include overnights (midnight to 6:00 AM), at least 5% of the music must be from Canadian emerging artists. An annual report to the CRTC is also required, detailing this category of music played during the year. There is also a requirement to report annually on Indigenous musical selections. Both of these music requirements are part of the Revised Commercial Radio Policy (December 2022).
590 CJCW NB Sussex – License renewed until August 31, 2030. Station is currently awaiting a July 6th CRTC hearing to face questions on its proposed move to FM.
600 CJWW SK Saskatoon – License renewed until August 31, 2030, along with sister station CKBL-FM.
630 CFCO ON Chatham – License renewed until August 31, 2030, along with simulcast CFCO-1-FM Chatham, and sister station CKUE-FM. If 90% of the station’s music played (currently C&W) is pre-1981, only 30% Canadian Content is required.
700 CJLI AB Calgary – License renewed until August 31, 2030.
760 CFLD BC Burns Lake – License renewed until August 31, 2030.
770 CHQR AB Calgary – Applied to have its license revoked. Meanwhile, CFGQ-FM has applied to use the CHQR transmitter as a repeater on 770 kHz, and has also applied for a Specialty Format with more than 50% Spoken Word each broadcast week. CFGQ-FM has been simulcasting CHQR since January 9th. Call Letters for 770 will automatically change unless CFCQ-FM requests a call letter change to CHQR-FM.
840 CKBX BC 100 Mile House – License renewed until August 31, 2030.
870 CKIR BC Invermere – License renewed until August 31, 2030. Station simulcasts CKGR-FM Golden, BC.
870 CFBV BC Smithers – License renewed until August 31, 2030.
880 CKLQ MB Brandon – The CRTC has approved the $5.55 million purchase of CKLQ FM & AM and CKLF-FM by Pattison Media from locally-owned Westman Communications. Jimmy Pattison purchased his first radio station in the mid-1960s, CJOR-600 Vancouver, in partnership with Ralph Cunningham, owner of
Cunningham Drugs.
920 CKNX ON Wingham – License renewed until August 31, 2030, along with sister station CKNX-FM.
930 CJCA AB Edmonton – License renewed until August 31, 2030 in a CRTC announcement dated the day after the station’s 101st birthday. Although the station now broadcasts a mix of syndicated and Alberta-based religious programming, it is still licensed as a regular Commercial AM Radio Station.
940 CJGX SK Yorkton – Applied to switch to non-directional at night, requiring them to drop to 690 Watts, to match the effective power to the east and south, the deepest of the nulls in their current 10 kW night directional pattern. The station will remain 50 kW non-directional during the day.
When asked by the CRTC to elaborate on their application, the station responded: “The night-time towers were inspected and found to be in unsatisfactory condition; should not be climbed for maintenance purposes and, should be considered unstable and not accessible. Risk of potential structure collapse was apparent. We estimate the cost of replacing the night-time tower array would be in excess of $2.0 M. The proposed solution of reducing night-time power requires no new capital expense at CJGX. Given the reality of declining AM radio revenue, the construction of new towers for a sunset technology such as AM radio night-time directional pattern is not financially viable.”
980 CKNW BC New Westminster – License renewed until August 31 2030. Conditions of the license that likely date back as much as 50 years have been retained. During any program where all music pre-dates 1956, only 2% Canadian content is required. If 90-99% of the music pre-dates 1956, then 10% Canadian content is required. Over an entire broadcast week, if at least 90% of the music pre-dates 1981, then only 30% Canadian content is required. Otherwise, the standard 35% Canadian content applies. The legendary Jack Cullen hosted ‘Owl Prowl’ weeknights on CKNW until 1999, focusing on music almost exclusively from the 1940s.
990 CBF-16 QC Clova – The CBC has been given approval to move this 40 Watt LPRT to FM with 139 watts.
1070 CHOK ON Sarnia – License renewed until August 31 2030, along with simulcast CHOK-1-FM Sarnia, and sister stations CFGX-FM and CHKS-FM. If 90% of the station’s music played (currently C&W) is pre-1981, only 30% Canadian Content is required.
1140 CBJ-2 QC Chapais – This French-language CBC (ICI Radio-Canada Première) LPRT will be going off the air as soon as CBJ-FM-1 Chibougamau increases power and adequately covers Chapais.
1220 CFAJ ON St. Catharines – License renewed until August 31 2030.
1240 CFNI BC Port Hardy – License renewed until August 31 2030.
1400 CBMD QC Chapais – This English-language CBC (Radio One) LPRT will be going off the air as soon as CBVC-FM Chibougamau increases power and adequately covers Chapais.
1450 CHOU QC Montreal – Received retroactive approval for a 2019 ownership change that resulted from a divorce settlement. The CRTC recently learned of the change while reviewing another application by the same husband.
The Facebook page Canadian Radio News by Dan Sys provides much of the information for this column.
NRC DX News June 20, 2023, published June 12 via WOR iog (2023-06-13)