CKDQ-AM

Dinosaur Broadcasting (1958) Ltd. applied for a new AM station at Drumheller. An earlier application was deferred. This latest application was approved with the CBC Board of Governors stating there was a place for a community station to serve Drumheller and surrounding area. 

The BBG gave manager Tony Mayer permission to acquire 76% of Dinosaur Broadcasting (1957) Ltd. from the existing shareholders. 

CJDV 910 was now operating with a power of 5,000 watts day and night. CJDV was an independent station with no network affiliation.

Tony Mayer was president and station manager. 

On July 24, Dinosaur was given permission to operate an auxiliary studio for CJDV at 4904 – 50th Street in Stettler.

Dinosaur was denied a licence for a new AM station at Calgary (1280 kHz with 10,000 watts).

Dinosaur opened CKBR-AM in Brooks.

CJDV was authorized to increase power to 10,000 watts during the day. Night-time power would remain 5,000 watts. The company also received approval to operate a new AM station at Stettler.

The company launched CHOA Stettler. CJDV had operated auxilliary studios here since 1972.

On May 3, CJDV was given approval to increase power from 5,000 watts to 10,000 watts. This increase was also approved in 1976 but never implemented.

On May 16, the CRTC deferred a decision on the transfer of 99.1% of Dinosaur Broadcasting (1957) Ltd. (CJDV, CKBR and CHOA) from Anthony and Alice Mayer to Stanley J. Solberg and Eneas A. Toshach. Solberg, owner of Goose Lake Broadcasting Ltd. (CKKR Rosetown, SK) planned to finance the purchase by the sale of Goose Lake to John P. Hamilton which was granted in 1977. The Goose Lake sale to Hamilton did not move forward. Solberg would now file an application with the CRTC to sell CKKR to Ronald Hykaway and Dennis W. Williams. Until the Commission had an opportunity to review that application, the sale of Dinosaur was on hold.

On June 27, the CRTC gave the go-ahead for the transfer of 99.1% of Dinosaur from Anthony and Alice Mayer to Stanley J. Solberg and Eneas A. Toshach. Solberg was in turn given permission to sell his interest in CKKR Rosetown, SK. The proceeds from that sale would be used for the purchase of CJDV, CKBR and CHOA.

Around 1980, CJDV increased power to 10,000 watts.

CHUM Limited of Toronto announced plans to acquire 70% of Dinosaur Broadcasting (1957) Ltd. 

On February 24, CHUM Limited was given approval to purchase a 69.3% interest in Dinosaur Broadcasting (CJDV Drumheller, CHOA Stettler and CKBR Brooks). S. J. Solberg would retain a 29.8% interest for at least two years. CHUM allocated $350,000 for new equipment, studio renovations, and a power increase for CJDV, which already put a receivable signal into Calgary. CHUM also promised an emphasis on production of local country music shows and an expansion of regional news services.

The stations became Q Country stations and the call letters were changed as follow: Drumheller – CJDV to CKDQ; Brooks – CKBR to CIBQ; and Stettler – CHOA to CKSQ.

On September 29, CKDQ’s application to increase daytime power from 10,000 watts to 50,000 watts was denied. The station had also proposed to move the transmitter site. The station’s licence was also renewed at this time but CHUM Ltd. was directed to take immediate steps to return the orientation of CKDQ to Drumheller. Since CHUM had taken over, the station had been giving a higher priority to Calgary-oriented programming. 

Since CHUM’s purchase of Dinosaur Broadcasting (1957) Ltd., equipment at CKDQ and CKSQ had been upgraded and new equipment had been purchased for CIBQ.

On January 22, CKDQ was granted a power increase from 10,000 to 50,000 watts,
and a change of transmitter location from a site south-west of Drumheller to a site approximately 8 miles east of Strathmore (or approximately 35 miles east of Calgary). CHUM Ltd. stated that CKDQ had to change its radiation pattern twice a day to protect CJCA 930 in Edmonton during the day, and various U. S. stations at night. The signal was directed south during the day and north at night. Only communities in the immediate Drumheller area received a consistant signal from CKDQ. The proposed technical changes would improve the signal greatly.  CHUM stated that, in comparison to its initial application in 1982, a new transmitter site has been selected approximately 35 miles east of Calgary which should significantly improve its coverage in the communities to the north and east of Calgary, including Airdrie, Strathmore, Trochu, Three Hills and Hanna. This site is 8 miles further from Calgary than the previous proposal and will result in a weaker signal in the Calgary market than was requested two years ago. CHUM added: the dependence of CKBQ Brooks and CKSQ Stettler on CKDQ was another factor. In addition to providing 12 hours of programming daily to Brooks and Stettler (18:00 to 06:00) when the three stations form a rural “network”, CKDQ serves as a centre of operations for all of the stations. The licensee stated that if CKDQ is unable to maintain its viability, the effect on the Brooks and Stettler stations would be highly detrimental. Cost of the new site with four tower array was estimated to be around $1.2 million.

CKDQ’s new Nautel 50,000 watt transmitter was expected to be on the air for November 1. 

Jim Blundell moved from managing CHUM’s Alberta stations (recently sold to Nor-Net) – CKDQ-CKSQ-CIBQ to management of CHUM’s CKPT/CKQM as of April 17. 

On November 1, Nor-Net Communications Ltd. received permission to acquire CIBQ Brooks, CKDQ Drumheller and CKSQ Stettler from CHUM Limited.  

When CKVH High Prairie and CKWA Slave Lake had their licences renewed August 26, they were also authorized to change program source from CFOK Westlock to CKDQ, in addition to local programming. CKKY Wainwright and CFOK Westlock would also be permitted to receive some programming from CKDQ.

When CHLW had its licence renewed on October 10, it was also authorized to receive programs from CKDQ, in addition to local programming.

On November 18, Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd. received approval to acquire Nornet Broadcasting Ltd. (including CKDQ).

On October 7, approval was given for Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd. to effect an intra-corporate reorganization. OKS would transfer the assets of its television and radio stations in British Columbia and Alberta to 3537412 Canada Ltd., one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. 

On October 18, approval was granted for the transfer of ownership and control of Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd. through the transfer of all of its issued and outstanding shares to Telemedia Radio Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telemedia Communications Inc. Initially, Okanagan had applied for the transfer of its shares to TCI Acquisition Corporation. However, on August 31, by letter of authority, the CRTC approved the merger of Okanagan with TCI. The resulting company kept Okanagan’s name. Also, Telemedia advised the Commission that, effective September 1, 3581713 Canada Inc. amalgamated with Telemedia Radio. As a result of these mergers, Telemedia Radio was now the company that acquired the shares of Okanagan.   

Changes at Nornet Alberta: Royal Watson moved from CKSQ Stettler to manage CKJR Wetaskiwin. Brian Hepp moved from Q-91 Drumheller to manage CKSQ. CKVH High Prairie manager Brian Stevenson gave up his morning show to concentrate on sales.

Mark Tamagi was general sales manager at CKDQ.

On April 19, the CRTC approved the sale of a number of radio and television stations in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia by Telemedia Radio Inc. and Telemedia Radio (West) Inc. to Standard Radio Inc. Standard was then allowed to sell certain of these stations to Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. and 3937844 Canada Inc. (subsidary of Newcap Inc.). Newcap acquired 15 Alberta radio stations and related transmitters (Newcap 76.34%, Standard 23.66%). CKDQ was one of the 15 stations that would now be owned by Newcap.

In the fall, CKDQ returned to its “Q91” branding. It had been known as “Cat Country”. 

CHNK Winnipeg Program Director Abbey White left that position to become PD at sister Newcap stations KG Country Red Deer and the Newcap stations in Brooks, Drumheller, Stettler and Blairmore. Also at Newcap’s Southern Alberta Group, Al Tompson, Music Director and Morning Show Host at Zed 99 Red Deer added PD to his responsibilities. Former PD Brent Young was no longer with the organization.

On November 30, the CRTC renewed CKDQ’s licence to August 31, 2017.

Newcap New Brunswick General Manager Hilary Montbourquette, who ran FRED-FM Fredericton and CJMO-FM/CJXL-FM Moncton, became General Manager/General Sales Manager at Newcap’s Alberta Radio South Group of stations (CKGY-FM and CIZZ-FM Red Deer, CIBQ and CIXF-FM Brooks, CJPR-FM Blairmore, CKDQ Drumheller and CKSQ Stettler), based at Z99/KG Country Red Deer. He succeeded Ron Thompson who retired September 30 (2009). As a result of Montbourquette’s move, completed mid-January (2010), Dan Fagan was promoted to GM/GSM of the Moncton stations and Dan Gallant was promoted to GM/GSM of the Fredericton station. Brad Muir was promoted to Operations Manager of Moncton and would continue to program FREDFM.

Chad Tabish moved from General Sales Manager at Newcap’s Alberta North East Hub to become GSM at Newcap Radio Red Deer and the Alberta South Radio Group (Stettler, Drumheller, Brooks and Blairmore). He had also been Station Manager at Lloyd FM Lloydminster. He began December 15.

Rick Walters, the station manager/retail sales manager at Q91 was no longer with the station. Newcap Alberta South general sales manager Rick Colliou was no longer with the company. He had been based at KG Country/ZED 99 Red Deer and was responsible for sales there and at Q91 Drumheller, Q14 Stettler and Mountain Radio Blairmore/Crowsnest Pass.

Linda Scheffelmaier was the new Station Manager/Sales Manager at Q91 Drumheller. Her background included Account Executive positions at Q91 and Q105.7 (CIBQ-FM) Brooks. She began April 2.

Al Lucas was promoted to General Sales Manager for Newcap’s Alberta Radio Group (South): KG Country/ZED 99 Red Deer, Q91Drumheller, Q14 Stettler, Mountain Radio Blairmore/Crowsnest Pass and Q105/The One Brooks. He moved up from Retail Sales Manager and Sales Manager at the Red Deer stations.

Linda Scheffelmaier resigned as station manager of Q91. She began as Station Manager/Sales Manager in April of last year. 

Connie Tremblay became Station Manager/Sales Manager at Q-91 August 1.

On March 28, CKDQ Q91 was rebranded as CFCW. It aired some local programming and simulcast CFCW 840 the rest of the day. The change created a coverage area from Slave Lake to the U.S. border.

In September, CKDQ changed its branding to Real Country 910 from CFCW.

On October 23, the CRTC approved an application by Newfoundland Capital Corporation Limited, on behalf of Newcap Inc. and its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, for authorization to effect a change in the ownership and effective control of various radio and television broadcasting undertakings in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, so that effective control of the undertakings would be exercised by Eric Boyko (Stingray Digital Group Inc.). Stingray took ownership of the stations just a few days later.

In January, Stingray began syndicating the Real Country 95.5 Red Deer morning show across its Real Country and boom-branded radio stations in rural Alberta, leading to the elimination of 14 on-air positions. Real Country 910 was among the stations to add the show.