Golden West to "cut loose" Cochrane Repeater of Airdrie

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Golden West to "cut loose" Cochrane Repeater of Airdrie

Postby jon » Thu Jul 09, 2015 1:10 pm

The September 10th CRTC Hearing in Gatineau will include an application by Golden West to upgrade its CFIT-FM Airdrie repeater in Cochrane into a full fledged station of its own. With 100 times the power (maximum ERP) on a slightly lower tower.

Subject to review by Industry Canada before the Hearing.
Application by Golden West Broadcasting Ltd. for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station in Cochrane.

The station would replace CFIT-FM-1 Cochrane, the existing rebroadcasting transmitter of the radio station CFIT-FM Airdrie.

The applicant proposes to change the authorized contours of CFIT-FM-1 by changing the class from A1 to B1, by changing the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, by increasing the average effective radiated power (ERP) from 100 to 4,800 watts (maximum ERP from 100 to 10,000 watts), and by decreasing the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 135 to 115.7 metres. All other technical parameters would remain unchanged.

The applicant proposes a hybrid Country music format, consisting of music from the 80’s, 90’s and today.
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Re: Golden West to "cut loose" Cochrane Repeater of Airdrie

Postby merlin » Wed Jul 15, 2015 1:08 pm

How many stations can a company have in the greater Calgary area ??
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Re: Golden West to "cut loose" Cochrane Repeater of Airdrie

Postby jon » Wed Jul 15, 2015 2:25 pm

merlin wrote:How many stations can a company have in the greater Calgary area ??

There is no limit. There is a limit on the number of stations that can be owned in a CRTC-defined market, which in this case would be however the CRTC defines Calgary.

In Edmonton, for example, Newcap can own an FM station in Camrose without going over their limit of 2 FMs in Edmonton (CKRA-FM and CIRK-FM).

A lot depends on how much effort the owner has taken to make sure that the Major Market is at least partially protected with a directional pattern or low power. Both Newcap in Camrose and Golden West in Fort Saskatchewan were very careful that the signal into most of Edmonton was not "City Grade" from their respective FM stations.

Even though Golden West and Black Gold do not own stations in Edmonton, they have been careful to ensure that their stations surrounding Edmonton (Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc and Spruce Grove) do not have a City Grade signal into Edmonton. I am sure that helped them get their license applications approved by the CRTC.

The CRTC has, of late, been on the lookout for "Back Door" access to a Major Market, most notably in the case of the Wetaskiwin FM owned by the man who just lost his FM license for Salt Spring Island. He had asked for a major power increase and was turned down as the signal was predicted to be strong enough into Edmonton to allow him to sell into the market.
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Re: Golden West to "cut loose" Cochrane Repeater of Airdrie

Postby albertaboy4life » Wed Jul 15, 2015 2:33 pm

Merlin raises a great point.

Golden West would, should the CRTC approve this application, have four FM stations and one AM station audible in Calgary. A clever way to bypass the common ownership limits. If DRUM-FM ever gets a power increase it could mean a fifth FM station.

106.1 CFIT FM Airdrie has permission to significantly increase its power which will improve its signal into Calgary. 100.9 CKUV FM Okotoks/High River already has an excellent signal into Calgary and broadcasts from the CHRB AM transmitter site.

And the last time there was a call for applications for a FM license for Calgary, only Rawlco managed to get an agreement with Golden West for access to the CKUV transmitter site with the deal being a brand new tower to co-locate 100.9 and the last viable powerful signal for Calgary, a new station at 100.3 FM. Rawlco under the deal would have footed the bill for the new tower.

1140 CHRB AM High River is using the former 1140 CKXL/CISS/CFXX transmitter and outside of a minor adjustment to the signal to improve night-time signal south of the site, remains a station with a local quality Calgary signal.

The distinction between Airdrie, Calgary and Okotoks is becoming less defined by geographic separation as Calgary grows. We're not that many years away from Calgary homes and businesses reaching the city limits of its neighbouring muncipalities. In some areas the geographic boundaries are only separated by commercial properties in Rocky View County.

*Was typing this as jon posted his ahead of this post* Speedy dude that jon fellow :towel:
Faster cars, younger women, older cheese, more money . . .
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