CHBW-FM

Big West Communications Corp. received approval March 27 to operate an FM station at Rocky Mountain House, on the frequency 94.5 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 720 watts. The proposed station would produce and broadcast 15 hours of local programming and rebroadcast 111 hours of programming from CIBW-FM Drayton Valley (licenced in 1993). 

Big West was ownedy by 606924 Alberta Inc. (46.36%), George Patton (44.56%), W. Sekura (4.54%) and R. Sekura (4.54%). 

CHBW-FM 94.5 signed on the air. 

On February 17, Big West Communications received approval to delete CHBW-FM-1 Nordegg from the licence of CIBW-FM Drayton Valley and add it to the licence of CHBW-FM Rocky Mountain House. 

On May 7, Medicine Hat Broadcasting Ltd., as part of a corporate reorganization, was authorized to acquire CIBW-FM Drayton Valley, CHBW-FM Rocky Mountain House and its rebroadcaster CHBW-FM-1 Nordegg from Big West Communications Corp.  Medicine Hat Broadcasting owned CFMY-FM Medicine Hat and was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jim Pattison Industries Ltd., which in turn was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jim Pattison Ltd. The CRTC noted that the above transactions occurred without its prior approval. The licensee was reminded that prior approval is required for any transfer of assets of a licensed undertaking. 

On December 23, the CRTC approved the application by Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. (the general partner) and Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. (the limited partner) carrying on business as Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership, owned by James A. Pattison (the Pattison Group), for the authority to acquire the assets of all of the radio and television stations and their respective transmitters located in Alberta and British Columbia. All of the affected undertakings were licensed to corporate entities owned by James A. Pattison. This transaction was part of a corporate reorganization that would not affect the ultimate control of the broadcasting undertakings. Ultimate control would continue to be exercised by James A. Pattison, the sole shareholder of Jim Pattison Ltd. As a result of this transaction, Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. (the limited partner) would have a 99.99% interest and Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. (the general partner) would have a 0.01% interest in a limited partnership which would carry on business as Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership. Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jim Pattison Industries Ltd., which in turn was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jim Pattison Ltd.  

The CRTC renewed the licence of CHBW-FM and CHBW-FM-1 Nordegg on August 24. It was a short-term renewal (to August 31, 2011). The CRTC wanted to review the station’s compliance with its condition of licence relating to Canadian content development. 

94.5 CHBW changed from Country to Classic Hits (B-94), this included CHBW-1 93.9 Nordegg.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHBW-FM and its transmitter CHBW-FM-1 Nordegg until March 31, 2012.

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHBW-FM Rocky Mountain House and its transmitter CHBW-FM-1 Nordegg to August 31, 2012. On August 28, the licence was administratively renewed to December 31, 2012. On December 21, the licence was renewed to August 31, 2019.

On July 6, the CRTC approved CHBW-FM’s application to increase the average effective radiated power from 720 to 810 watts, decrease the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 71.5 to 66.3 metres and relocate the transmitter.