CHED's move from 1080 to 630

[mike marshall]

Mike Marshall

Can I use that solid gold pix - or are you in the biz?
I will send you a couple of links for web sites I do

Jack

No problem, Jack. RadioWest PM sent.
mike

[albertaboy4life]

Commenting on jon's point earlier re: CHED and "Million Dollar Music" . . .

From June Bundy's "Vox Box" in the 18 January 1960 edition of Billboard -

At CHED, production manager Jerry Forbes reports: "As of January 4 [1960], we revamped our entire program policy, throwing out hard rock, reducing the irritation factor in everything we present and have embraced a music policy of much wider appeal." Forbes describes CHED's new "Sweet, Swinging Sound" as "giving much greater emphasis to album music, particularly the best of the unobjectionable hit parade." He adds: "We moved into this policy while still dominating this market of six stations. Our last daytime Elliott Haynes rating survey gave us a comfortable 40 per cent of the audience and our night-time survey a striking 54 per cent of the audience." (p 33, Billboard)

[mike marshall]

From June Bundy's "Vox Box" in the 18 January 1960 edition of Billboard -

At CHED, production manager Jerry Forbes reports: "As of January 4 [1960], we revamped our entire program policy, throwing out hard rock, reducing the irritation factor in everything we present and have embraced a music policy of much wider appeal." Forbes describes CHED's new "Sweet, Swinging Sound" as "giving much greater emphasis to album music, particularly the best of the unobjectionable hit parade."

Yes, never heard it but that was my guess, as I wrote to AB4La few days ago. The move away from anything hard meant CJCA had the Top 40 audience all to itself. It probably didn't take them very long, at all, to turn the market around.

Late 1963, when I got there, CHED had already abandoned Million Dollar Music and was back to playing the hits.

Another guess says they went back to that when they started broadcasting on 630, simply because it would've been a logical time to make the move -- station's in trouble, new dial position, so why not a format flip, too. The 'All New 630 CHED.'

What blew me away was the number of currents: it was probably close to 130. There was a single-line rack behind us that seemed to stretch forever. It resembled, quite possibly was, the guts of a professionally manufactured old jukebox and *every* slot was filled.

As someone who'd never done Top 40 but listened to the likes of 'KB in Buffalo, it was stunning to behold.

Billboard, Cashbox and the kids on the phones became guides between 7 and midnight. I played 30-35 currents and included the occasional past hit. We beat the syndicated Dick Clark Show on CJCA in Spring 1964.

A while back, when the time of the move from 1080 to 630 was under discussion, I came across a Jerry Forbes/Santa's Anonymous interview or piece written by Jerry somewhere. It either stated or led to another link that confirmed the date. Can't remember. Can't find it.

[freqfreak2]

I did some deep searching some time ago on another radio board that I was once allowed to be on.

If there was a thread there, along with a date, it's been 'disappeared.'

[albertaboy4life]

And the answer is 6:30 AM on Tuesday May 14, 1963. (According to the May 13, 1963 Edmonton Journal pp. 10-11)

[freqfreak2]

Way to go AB boy!

Finally ... I've been sleepless for nearly two years worrying about this one.

Good job.

[radiofan]

I am amazed. Thank you AB Boy. I have wondered about that for about 30 years now!

Up next .. when did CFCW switch from 1230 to 790? (Research is required here, Mr. 79 doesn't have a birth certificate!)

[jon]

[jon]

Coming soon: a dedicated page on edmontonbroadcasters.com with readable copies of each relevant article, ad and picture on these two pages.

Stay tuned for details!