CBQT-FM

On July 18, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was awarded a licence for a new AM station at Thunder Bay, using the old CJLX frequency of 800 Khz (CJLX had lost its licence earlier in the year). There was strong competition for the new station from applicants like National Dream Corp., Richard George Andison, Alden E. Diehl, F. Baxter Ricard, Walter J. Clemens… and Ralph H. Parker Ltd. (to change the frequency of CFPA to 800 kHz).

The CBC’s new station – CBQ 800 – went on the air. The station broadcast local programs in addition to those offered by the main CBC Radio network.

CBQ purchased two Nautel transmitters: a 10,000 watt unit for regular use and a 1,000 watt standby unit. Both were expected to be installed in August.

CBQ-FM was opened by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on August 13. It offered programming from the CBC Stereo (FM) network, originating with CBL-FM in Toronto. CBQ-FM broadcast with an effective radiated power of 23,500 watts on a frequency of 101.7 MHz. 

On November 27, the CBC received approval for a new FM transmitter at Geraldton on the frequency of 89.1 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 11,900 watts to rebroadcast CBQ. The CBC would cease the operation of CBLG Geraldton, CBLL Longlac and CBLN Nakina, low-power AM stations which rebroadcast the programs of CBQ Thunder Bay, no later than one year following the date on which the new FM transmitter becomes operational. 

The CBC received permission on September 9 to operate a new FM transmitter at Manitouwadge on the frequency 89.7 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 46,400 watts to rebroadcast CBQ. The CBC would cease operation of its low-power AM stations CBEB Manitouwage and CBLM Marathon (rebroadcasters of CBL Toronto), within one year of the date on which the proposed FM becomes operational. 

On December 22, the CBC received approval to move CBQ from the AM band to the FM dial. It would operate on a frequency of 88.3 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 23,700 watts. The station would rebroadcast the programs of the CBC Radio network and some programming originating from studios in Thunder Bay.  

On September 28, CBCH-FM Fort Hope was authorized to change its program source from CBL Toronto to CBQ.

CBQ 800 became CBQT 88.3 on March 1. The “CBQ” name remained with the FM Stereo sister station.

CBC Radio added overnight programming to its schedule on May 1, with “CBC Radio Overnight”. The programming started out on certain CBC stations and was expanded to all of its stations by September. The program aired between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. (local time) and offered reports from public broadcasters in 25 countries, with Canadian news on the hour. The program service was provided by the World Radio Network in London, England.

The CBC Radio network (CBC Radio) was renamed “CBC Radio One” and the FM Stereo network “CBC Radio Two” on September 1.

In September, the CBQT noon-hour show was replaced by a new provincial noon-hour show Ontario Today, hosted by Dave Stephens from CBO in Ottawa. Cathy Alex would be the Thunder Bay correspondent for the show.

CBQT received approval October 27 to reduce the level of local programming from a minimum of 31 hours each broadcast week to a minimum of 29 hours each broadcast week.

As of 2001, CBQT operated the following rebroadcast transmitters: CBOL Armstrong (on air since July 19, 1974), CBLE Beardmore (July 25, 1953), CBOI Ear Falls (July 11, 1973), CBLH Hornepayne (November 23, 1944, CBQW Hudson (October 28, 1977), CBES Ignace (August 14, 1967), CBLM Marathon (April 4, 1951), CBLN Nakina (April 27, 1944), CBLB Schreiber (April 6, 1950), CBLS Sioux Lookout (June 14, 1943), CBEH Terrace Bay (September 4, 1964), CBLW White River (April 3, 1951), CBQI-FM Atikokan (March 25, 1983), CBQH-FM Dryden (December 23, 1977), CBCF-FM Fort Hope (October 5, 1978), CBQQ-FM Fort Frances (December 12, 1983), CBLG-FM Geraldton (February 1, 1989), CBQX-FM Kenora (March 5, 1978), CBEB-FM Manitouwadge (February 1, 1989), CBQY-FM Nipigon (May 13, 1982), CBQN-FM Osnaburgh (January 10, 1977), CBQP-FM Pickle Lake (January 10, 1977), CBQU-FM Pikangikum (May 1, 1977), CBEA-FM Red Lake (December 4, 1979), CBQL-FM Savant Lake (January 10, 1977), CBQV-FM Sandy Lake (May 1, 1977) and CBQS-FM Sioux Narrows (December 23, 1977).

On April 17, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to amend the licence for CBQT-FM Thunder Bay to replace its AM transmitters CBLS Sioux Lookout and CBQW Hudson with an FM transmitter at Sioux Lookout. The new FM transmitter would operate at 95.3 MHz (channel 237A) with an average effective radiated power of 500 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 182 metres). The CBC stated that the new transmitter was needed to improve the quality of the signal, increase Radio One’s coverage and provide savings on operational costs.

On May 8 the CRTC approved the application by the CBC to amend the licence for CBQT-FM Thunder Bay in order to operate a low-power FM transmitter in Hornepayne to replace the existing AM transmitter CBLH Hornepayne. The CBC also requested authorization to simulcast the programming of CBQT-FM on CBLH for a period of three months to ensure proper coverage during the transition. The licensee submitted that this change would result in a better quality signal for listeners to the station. The new transmitter would operate at 92.3 MHz (channel 222LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 59.9 metres). 

On the same date the Commission approved the CBC’s application to amend the licence for CBQT-FM in order to operate a low-power FM transmitter in Armstrong to replace the existing AM transmitter CBOL Armstrong. The CBC also requested authorization to simulcast the programming of CBQT-FM on CBOL for a period of three months to ensure proper coverage during the transition. The CBC submitted that this change would result in a better quality signal for listeners to the station. The new transmitter would operate at 91.3 MHz (channel 217LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 59.8 metres).

CBQT-FM operated the following transmitters CBCF-FM Fort Hope, CBEA-FM Red Lake, CBEB-FM Manitouwadge, CBLG-FM Geraldton, CBQH-FM Dryden, CBQI-FM Atikokan, CBQL-FM Savant Lake, CBQN-FM Osnaburgh, CBQP-FM Pickle Lake, CBQQ-FM Fort Frances, CBQS-FM Sioux Narrows, CBQU-FM Pikangikum, CBQV-FM Sandy Lake, CBQX-FM Kenora, CBQY-FM Nipigon, CBEH Terrace Bay, CBES Ignace, CBLB Schreiber, CBLE Beardmore, CBLH Hornepayne, CBLM Marathon, CBLN Nakina, CBLS Sioux Lookout, CBLW White River, CBOI Ear Falls, CBOL Armstrong, and CBQW Hudson.

On August 15, the CRTC approved the deletion of transmitters CBLS Sioux Lookout and CBQW Hudson from the licence of CBQT-FM.

On October 18, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to change the technical parameters of CBQQ-FM Fort Frances, to change the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, to decrease the average effective radiated power from 50,000 to 11,400 watts (maximum ERP from 50,000 to 25,000 watts) and to decrease the effective height of the antenna above average terrain from 142 to 141.1 meters. 

On November 22, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to change the authorized contours of CBEB-FM Manitouwadge, a transmitter for CBQT-FM Thunder Bay, by decreasing the average ERP from 46,400 watts to 4,780 watts (non-directional antenna), and by increasing the effective height of antenna. 

On May 21, the CRTC approved the application for CBQH-FM Dryden to change the transmitter’s class from C to A, decrease ERP from 100,000 to 1,300 watts, and decrease EHAAT from 120 to 105.2 metres. On July 28, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to amend the broadcasting licence for CBQT-FM in order to operate an FM transmitter in Nakina. It would replace the AM transmitter CBLN, and operate at 98.1 MHz (channel 251LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 9.1 metres). After 42 years in broadcasting, Gary Rinne retired after as news producer role at CBC Thunder Bay, a position he held for 12 years. Before that, Rinne spent 30 years at CKPR-TV Thunder Bay where, for more than 20 of those years, he was the news director.

Early in the year, CBLN 1240 Nakina left the air after being replaced by FM 98.1 MHz. On May 10, the CRTC approved technical changes for CBLN 98.1 in Nakina by lowering the antenna height (EHAAT) from 9.1 to 8.8 metres with the relocation of the transmitter site.

CBLH 1010 Hornepayne left the air and was replaced by CBQT-FM-1 92.3.

On May 10, the CRTC approved technical changes for CBLN 98.1 in Nakina by lowering the antenna height (EHAAT) from 9.1 to 8.8 metres with the relocation of the transmitter site.

On September 8, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to change the authorized contours of CBLG-FM Geraldton by correcting the transmitter site coordinates, changing the class from B to B1, and decreasing the effective radiated power from 11,900 to 5,950 watts and the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 134 to 133.1 metres. The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding this application.

In January the CRTC approved an increase in ERP for CBQX Kenora from 38,000 to 41,222 watts. Antenna height would be reduced from 100 to 96.1 metres (EHAAT).

On March 16, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application for CBQT-FM to operate an FM transmitter at White River to replace the low power AM transmitter CBLW. It would operate at 97.7 MHz (channel 249LP) with an ERP of 50 watts and an EHAAT of 24.2 metres.

On May 31, the CRTC approved CBQT’s application to operate an FM transmitter in Marathon to replace the low-power AM transmitters CBLM Marathon and CBEH Terrace Bay. The new transmitter would operate at 107.5 MHz (channel 298B) with an average ERP of 2,187 watts (maximum ERP of 3,935 watts with EHAAT of 279.9 metres).

On November 27, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to change the authorized contours of CBQL-FM Savant Lake by relocating its transmitter site, increasing the ERP from 78 to 135 watts, and decreasing the EHAAT from 87.5 to 10.73 metres.

On February 5, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application for CBQT to operate an FM transmitter at Ear Falls to replace CBOI-AM at that location. The new transmitter would operate at 95.5 MHz with an ERP of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 15.1 metres).

A few days later (Feb. 8), the commission gave CBQT approval to change the authorized contours of CBLG-FM Geraldton by changing the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, changing the class from B1 to B, increasing the maximum ERP from 5,950 to 25,123 watts, decreasing the average ERP from 5,950 to 3,492 watts and increasing the EHAAT from 133.1 to 157.1 metres.

In July, CBLM Marathon moved from AM 1090 to FM 107.5. Power increased from 40 to 3,395 watts. Listeners could still also tune in to the old 1090 kHz AM frequency.

In August, CBQT received CRTC approval to increase power for CBCF-FM Fort Hope from 41 to 60 watts, lower antenna height, and relocate the transmitter.

On May 15, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to convert CBLB Schreiber from 1340 AM to 90.9 FM. The new station would operate with 130 watts of power.