Broadcast History - May 30

Broadcast History - May 30

Postby jon » Mon May 29, 2023 8:42 pm

In 1989, the CBC finally got CRTC approval for their November 24, 1988, switch from Prince Rupert (CFPR) to Prince George as the source point for the CBC transmitters between Prince George and Prince Rupert.

In 1994, CJAT Trail was approved to move from AM to FM. CJAT-FM had existed from 1968 until the CBC purchased the station in 1975. CJAT-AM first received an experimental license in 1931 as 10AT, signing on Christmas Day for the first time. Within two years, they had a commercial license, were assigned the CJAT call letters, bought a 100 watt transmitter and broadcast with their licensed 50 watts on 1200 KHz. In the great frequency change of 1941, CJAT moved to 610 KHz with the 1000 watts they had been approved for in 1936. And remained there until their switch to FM on this day in 1994. When I was there in the first half of 1972, they were a very well run Top 40 moneymaker.

In 2003 at noon, Prince George's CKPG-AM and its news-talk format disappeared forever, and CKDV-FM "The Drive" signed on with a classic rock format.

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In 2005, CKAC Montreal closed its Newsroom after 80 years of existence, laying off 20 journalists. All subsequent newscasts have been broadcast from Corus Nouvelles in the studios of Info 690. On April 18th, the final obstacle to the purchase of CKAC by Corus was overcome when the Federal Cabinet rejected the CKAC Employees Union appeal of the CRTC's January 21st decision. In April 1922, CKAC was issued one of the original commercial radio licenses in Canada. Others included CFCF and CHYC (Northern Electric). Less than a month later, on May 2, 1922, CKAC owner La Presse (newspaper) created what it claimed was the most powerful radio station in the Americas: 2000 watts on 430 metres. Today, the station runs an all sports format.

In 2006, CHMJ-730 Vancouver ended their Sports Talk format. On June 5th, they debuted their new Traffic/Talk format. The station originally signed on as CKLG on February 3, 1955, with 1000 watts on 1070 KHz, from a North Vancouver transmitter site with very poor ground conductivity. Unless they lived right next door, what few listeners the station had at the time suddenly found themselves listening to 50,000 watt clear channel KNX from Los Angeles around sunset each day. A 1957 switch to 730 KHz, 10,000 watts and a Delta transmitter site -- south of Vancouver with excellent ground conductivity -- suddenly gave CKLG a great signal. And caught the eye of Lloyd Moffat, who purchased the station in 1961. His unexpected death in 1964 left his young son Randy with stations spread across Western Canada, most of which he quickly switched to Top 40, which Lloyd had originally pioneered at CHED Edmonton in 1957.

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In 2010, DJ Robert O. Smith died of liver and pancreatic cancer at 9:20 a.m. He was born on November 27, 1942, in Grass Valley, California. Robert O. had a minor hit with "Walter Wart", named after his character voice sidekick on his morning show at KMBY Monterey. The song led to a job offer from KJR Seattle and other on-air work in Seattle, most notably KOL Afternoon Drive, until the early '80s when he was hired for Morning Drive at CFMI-FM Vancouver. He remained in Vancouver, later becoming a Canadian citizen, until his death.
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