CKXU-FM, Campus, Lethbridge
University of Lethbridge Community Radio
| Station | Year | Freq. | Power | Owner/Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CKXU-FM | 2004 | 88.3 | 125 | University of Lethbridge Community Radio |
1976
The CKUL Radio Society was formed by The University of Lethbridge Students’ Union. The station actually began in 1972 when music was broadcast inside University Hall through a public address system.
1978
On July 6, The Students’ Union of the University of Lethbridge received approval from the CRTC to operate an AM carrier current station on 560 kHz with power of 20 watts.
CKUL began carrier current operations. Studios were located in the University Hall building. The station was able to serve most of the university building and much of the parking area.
1986
CKUL left the air after the transmitter exploded.
1987
CKUL returned to air, this time on cable FM at 99.7 MHz.
1989
On January 31, at the request of CKUL Radio Society, the licence for its carrier current station was revoked by the CRTC.
2003
On November 20, CKUL Radio Society was awarded a licence to operate a community-based campus FM station, operating on 88.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 125 watts. Antenna height would be 14.5 metres. CKUL proposed to broadcast 126 hours of programming each week. A minimum of 30 minutes of that time would be devoted to programming in third languages, such as Spanish, Korean, Japanese and Hindi. Depending upon the community’s needs, as much as 50% of the broadcast week would be devoted to French-language programming. The station would promote all genres of independent music and offer wide exposure to local artists and to other Canadian artists whose music is seldom heard on commercial radio.
Installation of broadcast equipment began in December. The antenna would be located atop the Student Union Building.
2004
The new station signed on the air as CKXU on April 8. The CKUL call letters were not available for use.
2011
On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CKXU-FM to December 31, 2011.
2012
On August 28, the CRTC administratively renewed CKXU-FM’s licence to December 31, 2012. On December 21, the licence was renewed to August 31, 2017.
2017
On November 7, the CRTC approved CKXU’s application to change its authorized contours by relocating its transmitter site, changing its class from A1 to A, and increasing the ERP from 125 to 2,900 watts and EHAAT from 14.5 to 143.2 metres.
The story continues elsewhere…
Effective September 1st 2019, we will only be adding new material to these station histories in exceptional circumstances. Our intent to chronicle the early days of these radio and television stations has been achieved, and many new sources and technologies, from the CRTC website to Wikipedia, and others, are now regularly providing new information in these areas.