CKXY-FM
CKXY-FM (91.5 FM, "91.5 Cochrane Now") is a radio station licensed to Cochrane, Alberta. Owned by Golden West Broadcasting, it broadcasts a country music format.
City | Cochrane, Alberta |
---|---|
Frequency | 91.5 MHz |
Branding | 91.5 Cochrane Now |
Programming | |
Format | Country music |
Ownership | |
Owner | Golden West Broadcasting |
Sister stations | CFIT-FM, CKOV-FM, CFXO-FM, CKUV-FM, CHRB |
History | |
First air date | October 24, 2019 |
Technical information | |
Class | B1 |
ERP | 4.7 kWs average 10 kWs peak |
HAAT | 118.1 meters (387 ft) |
Links | |
Website | cochranenow |
History
The station was originally a rebroadcaster of CFIT-FM/Airdrie on 95.3 FM. In March 2009, the CRTC approved an application by original owner Tiessen Media to move the transmitter to a new, higher location, and change its frequency to 91.5 FM. Tiessen cited that this would improve reception (especially among those commuting from Calgary), and allow it to be fed over-the-air by CFIT's main signal.[1]
On July 9, 2015, the station's current owner Golden West Broadcasting submitted an application to the CRTC to replace CFIT-FM-1 with a new autonomous station serving Cochrane on the same frequency, airing a country music format with a focus on local news and information. The application was denied by the CRTC: although the station's signal would only reach a small portion of Calgary, there was a concern that the station would not be economically viable in the present economic environment, and there was a risk that it would have to rely on advertising sales outside of Cochrane, which could dilute the revenue and audience of Calgary-based stations, even if it were to be formally forbidden from soliciting advertising in Calgary.[2]
On December 3, 2018, the CRTC approved a revised application for the station, citing improving economic conditions and population growth in Calgary and Cochrane that are sufficient to support a new radio station, a signal with a shorter primary contour than before (only covering Cochrane and its immediate area, thus creating a new radio market), and Golden West agreeing to a condition of license forbidding the station from soliciting advertising in the city of Calgary.[3]
On October 24, 2019, the new station officially launched as 91.5 Cochrane Now, with the call letters CKXY-FM.[4]
Call letter history
The CKXY callsign was used at a number of unrelated defunct radio stations such as AM 1040 Vancouver, British Columbia in the late 1980's and 92.3 FM in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, a repeater of CIRK-FM Edmonton, until it left the air in 2018.
References
- "CFIT-FM Airdrie and its transmitter CFIT-FM-1 Cochrane - Technical change". CRTC. 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
- "English-language commercial FM radio station in Cochrane". crtc.gc.ca. CRTC. 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
- "English-language commercial FM radio station in Cochrane and licence amendment for CFIT-FM Airdrie". CRTC. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- "91.5 Cochrane Now is on the air!". CochraneNow.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
External links
- Official website
- CKXY History – Canadian Communications Foundation
- CKXY-FM in the REC Canadian station database (Temporarily listed from a closed down radio station in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories)