CBW-FM

Radio Fine Music Greater Winnipeg Ltd. launched CFMW-FM on December 10. CFMW broadcast with an effective radiated power of 354,000 watts on a frequency of 98.3 MHz. CFMW-FM was licenced to St. Norbert. The “FMW” in the call sign: Fine Music Winnipeg.
 

On October 11, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation purchased CFMW-FM. The call letters were changed to CBW-FM, and the city of licence from St. Norbert to Winnipeg. The station simulcast some programming from CBW-AM and offered FM network programs on tape and disc. CBW-FM became the first CBC FM station to broadcast in stereo.
 

On November 3, the CBC-FM network was re-launched as “CBC Stereo”.

On February 6, the Stereo network went to 24 hour a day operation with the addition of an overnight show geared to young listeners.

On June 19, CBW received approval to operate a transmitter at Cranberry Portage on the frequency 88.9 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 40.4 watts to rebroadcast the programs of CBW received from CBWF-FM Flin Flon. 

On June 30, the CRTC approved application to amend the licence for CBW-FM by decreasing the effective radiated power from 354,000 watts to 160,000 watts and by relocating the transmitter from St. Norbert to Starbuck, Manitoba.

On June 12, CBW was given permission to add transmitters at Lynn Lake (95.1 MHz with effective radiated power of 45 watts) and Gillam (99.9 MHz with ERP of 54 watts). The new FM transmitters would replace CBDU-AMLynn Lake and CBWG-AM Gillam which had been suffering from power line noise. 

On April 3, CBDE-FM Brochet, CBDI-FM Poplar River and CBDG-FM Shamattawa were added to CBW’s licence. They had operated as rebroadcasters of CBM Montreal. Programming would originate from CBW, received via satellite, as well as some taped programming originating from CBWK-FM Thompson.  

On July 29, CBW was authorized to decrease its night-time power from 50,000 watts to 46,000 watts and relocate the transmitter from its present site at Carman, to 48 kilometers to the northeast, near Starbuck. 

The change would improve the coverage to the city of Winnipeg while maintaining the existing level of service to surrounding rural areas.  

On the same date, CBW was given approval to move its Wabowden transmitter from the AM dial to the FM band. CBWB would operate on a frequency of 90.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 66 watts.

On June 30, the Wabowden transmitter converted to the FM band as CBWB-FM.

On October 15, CBW began broadcasting from the new transmitter site near Springstein. The new tower was 30 miles closer to Winnipeg than the old antenna which was situated at Carmen site. Power remained 50,000 watts during the day, but was reduced to 46,000 watts at night. The new Nautel AMPEET ND-50 transmitter was switched on during a live broadcast. Among those on hand for the flipping of the switch were John Coutanche, director of radio, CBC Manitoba; Diane Wreford, host of the Noon Show; and the Hon. Clayton Manness, the province’s minister of education. 

CBW began broadcasting 24 hours a day on May 1.

On September 1, the CBC Radio network (CBC Radio) was renamed as “CBC Radio One”.

On November 30, a decrease in effective radiated power for transmitter CBWV-FM Brandon was authorized…100,000 watts to 90,000 watts. The existing system would be replaced with a multi-channel antenna, allowing CBWV-FM, CBWS-FM and CKSB-8-FM to be combined into a single antenna.

As of 2001, CBW operated the following transmitters: CBWV-FM Brandon, CBWW-FM Dauphin, CBWZ-FM Fairford, CBWX-FM Fisher Branch, CBWY-FM Jackhead, and CBWA-FM Manigotagan. CBW broadcasts approximately 44 hours 30 minutes of local programming each week from Winnipeg. 

On May 12 the CRTC renewed the licence for CBW-FM. The renewal included the following rebroadcast transmitter: CBWS-FM Brandon.

On August 9, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CBW-FM (and its transmitter) to August 31, 2011.

On August 25, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CBW-FM and its transmitters to March 1, 2013.

On February 22, the CRTC administratively renewed the licences for CBW-FM Winnipeg and its transmitter to August 31, 2013.

On May 28, the CRTC renewed the licence of CBW-FM Winnipeg and its transmitter and CBWS-FM Brandon, for a five year term, to August 31, 2018. The Commission considered that it was appropriate to impose conditions of licence on Radio 2 that: permit the broadcast of a maximum of four minutes of national paid advertising, as currently defined by the Commission, in any clock hour; and limit the number of times that programming can be interrupted for advertising to no more than twice per clock hour. The broadcast of advertising by Radio 2 was for a three-year trial period from September 1, 2013 until August 31, 2016.

On December 5, the CRTC gave approval to the CBC to introduce advertising on the Radio 2 and Espace Musique networks. Advertising would be limited to four minutes every hour. The CBC would need to seek permission to continue airing commercials on the two networks after three years.

On August 31, the CRTC denied the CBC’s application to continue commercial advertising on Radio 2 and ICI Musique beyond the initial three-year licence amendment. The CRTC found that CBC had failed to maintain satisfactory investment in radio and failed to meet ad revenue projections.

Radio 2 became CBC Music.