CKYE-FM, Multicultural – RED FM, Vancouver
South Asian Broadcasting Corp. Inc.
| Station | Year | Freq. | Power | Owner/Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CKYE-FM | 2005 | 93.1 | 4,200 | South Asian Broadcasting Corp. Inc. |
2005
On July 21 the CRTC approved application for a new ethnic FM station to operate at 93.1 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 2,800 watts. Kulwinder Sanghera, founder of affiliated company Music Waves Productions Ltd, which produces TV programs for Shaw Cable and Vision TV, headed up the application. In each broadcast week, 90% of total programming was to be ethnic, with direct programming to a minimum of 15 ethnic groups in a minimum of 15 different languages with not less than 75% ethnic programming in each broadcast week in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu languages.
Previously, most Punjabi-language radio programming had come from stations across the U.S. border in nearby Washington State. On December 21 the CRTC approved application to change the average ERP from 2,800 watts to 4,200 watts directional (8000 watts peak) with a decrease in antenna height. CKYE-FM signed on the same day, with the station identifying itself as “RED FM” for “Reflecting Ethnic Diversity”.
2011
On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CKYE-FM until March 31, 2012.
2012
On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CKYE-FM to August 31, 2012. On August 28, the licence was administratively renewed to March 31, 2013.
2013
On March 27, the CRTC renewed CKYE-FM’s licence to August 31, 2019. The Commission approved the licensee’s proposal to delete its condition of licence dealing with Canadian talent development. During the next licence term, the licensee would be required to make contributions to Canadian content development as set out in section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986.
2016
On November 28, the CRTC approved CKYE’s application to add a rebroadcast transmitter at Surrey. It would operate at 89.1 MHz with an average ERP of 83 watts (max. 250 watts with EHAAT of 123.3 metres).
2017
In December, the 250 watt rebroadcast transmitter (CKYE-FM-1 89.1), went on the air in Surrey. The transmitter was needed because of interference south of the Fraser River to the primary 93.1 signal from KISM 92.9 in Bellingham, WA.
2019
On June 26, CKYE received CRTC approval to amend the condition of licence that stated the minimum number of cultural groups served and the minimum number of languages broadcast be reduced from from 15 to 12.
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.