CBK-FM

On May 1, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation opened station CBK-FM to provide the CBC Stereo (FM) service to the Regina area. CBK-FM braodcast on a frequency of 96.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts.

CBK finally errected a new permanent tower (465 feet) to replace the temporary one used since 1976.

CBKW-FM Pelican Narrows opened on February 9

In October, the CBC Regina studios and offices moved from 1840 McIntyre Street to 2440 Broad Street. The facility was to have opened in 1979-80. The new building accommodated both English and French radio and television. The CBC Saskatchewan broadcast centre included TV studios of 3,500 and 1,800 square feet, a packaging studio, two automated on-air booths and central equipment room. There were also seven remote electronic field production units, three electronic editing suites, six quad VTR’s, three telecine chains, character generators and electronic slide store units. The radio facilities included nine studios, multi-track mixing consoles, 16 listening/editing rooms and automated switching systems.

The CBC Stereo network went to 24 hour a day operation February 6.

On August 24, approval came for the relocation of the transmitter site for CBK-FM and CBKF-FM to Belle Plaine, as well as an increase in effective radiated power from 13,700 watts to 100,000 watts for CBKF. This proposal was part of the CBC’s transmitter consolidation plan which involved the relocation of these stations from their existing sites to a single transmitter site located in Belle Plaine, approximately 40 kilometers west of Regina and 32 kilometers northeast of Moose Jaw. 

On September 1, the CRTC approved the relocation of the transmitter site for CBK-FM and CBKF-FM from Belle Plaine to Regina and a decrease in effective radiated power for CBKF from 100,000 watts to 13,700 watts.

When CBK-FM had its licence renewed November 16, it was authorized to add CBKS-FM Saskatoon to its licence. CBKS did not produce any local programming of its own. CBKS-FM had been on the air since July 1, 1978.

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

On August 10, the CBC received approval to operate a transmitter for CBK-FM at Prince Albert on 89.1 MHz with effective radiated power of 24,980 watts.

As of 2001, CBK-FM Regina operated the following rebroadcast transmitters: CBK-FM-1 Prince Albert and CBKS-FM Saskatoon. CBK-FM broadcasts approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes of local programming each week from Regina.

On February 20, approval was granted for a power decrease for the Prince Albert transmitter, from 24,980 watts to 20,000 watts.

CBK-FM-1 Prince Albert signed on the air on January 29.

On February 24, the CRTC approved the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to amend the licence for CBK-FM Regina, in order to operate a transmitter in Warmley, Saskatchewan to broadcast the programming of Radio Two. The new transmitter would operate at 101.5 MHz (channel 268C) with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts. Antenna height would be 301.3 metres using the existing CBKT-TV-7 tower. The transmitter would also serve Weyburn and Estevan. 

On March 24, CBK-FM was given approval to operate a transmitter at Yorkton, operating on 91.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 57,000 watts. Antenna height would be 117.8 metres using the existing CBKT-TV-6 tower. 

On April 11, the CBC was authorized to operate a transmitter at Swift Current to rebroadcast the programming of CBK-FM. The transmitter would operate on 95.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 4,710 watts. This transmitter had been operated as CHSK-FM – a radiocommunication distribution undertaking – by C.O.R.B. Swift Current & District Inc. At C.O.R.B.’s request, its licence was revoked this date and a new licence was issued to the CBC. For the record, the transmitter operated from the 160.5 metre level of the CBKT-TV-4 tower. The Swift Current station had been on the air since August 28, 2001. 

CBK-FM-2 Warmley commenced operations on February 20.

On June 6, CBK-FM was given permission to add a transmitter at North Battleford, operating on 99.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 46,800 watts.  

On May 12 the CRTC renewed the licence for CBK-FM. The renewal included the following rebroadcast transmitters: CBK-FM-1 Prince Albert, CBK-FM-2 Warmley, CBK-FM-3 Yorkton, CBK-FM-4 Swift Current, CBK-FM-5 North Battleford and CBKS-FM Saskatoon.

On August 9, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CBK-FM (and its transmitters) to August 31, 2011.

On August 25, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CBK-FM and its transmitters to March 1, 2013.

On January 5, the CRTC approved the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to change the technical parameters of the transmitter CBK-FM-4 Swift Current by increasing the effective radiated power from 4,710 to 10,740 watts (non-directional antenna). All other technical parameters would remain unchanged. The CBC indicated that the change would maximize the use of its transmitter and improve signal quality in its coverage area.

On February 22, the CRTC administratively renewed the licences for CBK-FM Regina and its transmitters to August 31, 2013.

On May 28, the CRTC renewed the licence of CBK-FM Regina and its transmitters CBK-FM-1 Prince Albert, CBK-FM-2 Warmley, CBK-FM-3 Yorkton, CBK-FM-4 Swift Current, CBK-FM-5 North Battleford, and CBKS-FM Saskatoon, for a five year term, to August 31, 2018. The Commission considered that it was appropriate to impose conditions of licence on Radio 2 that: permit the broadcast of a maximum of four minutes of national paid advertising, as currently defined by the Commission, in any clock hour; and limit the number of times that programming can be interrupted for advertising to no more than twice per clock hour. The broadcast of advertising by Radio 2 was for a three-year trial period from September 1, 2013 until August 31, 2016.

On December 5, the CRTC gave approval to the CBC to introduce advertising on the Radio 2 and Espace Musique networks. Advertising would be limited to four minutes every hour. The CBC would need to seek permission to continue airing commercials on the two networks after three years.

On August 31, the CRTC denied the CBC’s application to continue commercial advertising on Radio 2 and ICI Musique beyond the initial three-year licence amendment. The CRTC found that CBC had failed to maintain satisfactory investment in radio and failed to meet ad revenue projections.

Radio 2 became CBC Music.