CKRW-FM

CKRW signed on the air on November 17. It broadcast on a frequency of 610 kHz and had a power of 1,000 watts. CKRW operated farther north and farther west than any other Canadian radio station. The station had a Middle of the Road music format. Al Jensen was manager and Ron Mcfadyen was production manager. 

CKRW was listed on 610 kHz with a power of 1,000 watts.

Glen Darling was general manager.

CKRW was listed using a single directional pattern for day and night operation on 610 kHz with 1,000 watts of power.

As of 2000, Klondike Broadcasting Company Limited operated the following CKRW rebroadcast transmitters: VF2266, VF2267, VF2063, VF2269, VF2268, VF2270 and VF2143.

On May 10, Klondike Broadcasting Company Limited was given approval to add an FM transmitter at Whitehorse, operating on 96.1 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 380 watts. The transmitter would provide an FM stereo service to the city of Whitehorse and surrounding area, while 
continuing to provide service on the AM band to those area residents who are unable to receive the new FM signal.  
 
CKRW officially launched “The Rush 96.1 FM” on September 14. CKRW-AM 610 simulcasts the new FM signal.

CKRW has rebroadcasters at Watson Lake 98.7, Teslin 98.7, Haines Junction 98.7, Faro 98.7, Mayo 98.7, Carmacks 98.7 and in Dawson City 106.9.

On January 31, CKRW was authorized to operate transmitters at Atlin, British Columbia and Inuvik, Northwest Territories. The Atlin transmitter would operate on a frequency of 98.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 36.1 watts. The Inuvik transmitter would use 98.7 MHz with an ERP of 44 watts. 

On August 23, the CRTC approved the application by Klondike Broadcasting Company Limited to amend the broadcasting licence for CKRW Whitehorse in order to add a low-power FM transmitter in Inuvik to rebroadcast the station’s programming. The new transmitter would operate on frequency 98.7 MHz (channel 254LP) with an effective radiated power of 44 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 30 metres). Klondike stated that the addition of the new transmitter would allow it to adequately serve the population of Inuvik. The licensee further stated that the Inuvik rebroadcasting transmitter previously approved in CKRW Whitehorse – New transmitters at Atlin and Inuvik, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-44, 31 January 2007, could not be implemented due to management turnover and extended negotiation for a binding agreement to lease the transmitter site.

The CRTC approved the change in the effective control of Klondike Broadcasting Company Limited for estate planning purposes. Klondike was the licensee of CKRW Whitehorse.

On April 5, the CRTC approved CKRW’s application to authorize the station to originate programming from its rebroadcasting transmitter CKRW-FM Whitehorse under its existing technical parameters until April 5, 2018. The licensee explained that the structural integrity of the existing tower for CKRW-AM had been compromised and posed a potential safety risk. As a result, it intended to remove the tower and submit an application to operate CKRW-FM as an originating station on a permanent basis.

CKRW-AM left the air in the spring with all operations moved to the former nested FM at 96.1 on the dial.

In August, the owner of VF2240 Uranium City, SK, voluntarily surrendered the licence for the 40 watt RDU which had simulcast the programming of CKRW.

On January 4, the CRTC gave CKRW permission to replace its AM transmitter with the existing FM rebroadcast transmitter. The AM facility was in need of extensive repairs and the cost of restoring the facility and equipment would be unreasonably high. CKRW-FM’s operation: 96.1 MHz (channel 241B) with an ERP of 4,400 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 359 metres). The remaining rebroadcasting transmitters associated with CKRW would be reassigned as rebroadcasting transmitters of the new FM station. CKRW-FM would maintain the Adult Contemporary music format and broadcast 126 hours of programming per broadcast week, including 100 hours of local programming. Of this, 6 hours and 30 minutes would be dedicated to local, national and international news.