CKGL

CKGL
City Kitchener, Ontario
Broadcast area Waterloo Region
Branding 570News
Slogan News. Talk. Sports.
Frequency 570 kHz (AM)
First air date 1949
Format news
Power 10 kW
Class B
Callsign meaning CK Great Lakes Broadcasting (a former owner of the station)
Affiliations CBS Sports Radio[1]
Owner Rogers Media, a division of Rogers Communications
(Rogers Radio)
Sister stations CIKZ-FM, CHYM-FM
Website www.570news.com

CKGL is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 570 AM in Kitchener, Ontario. The station currently broadcasts a News/Talk format branded on-air as 570 News. The station is owned by Rogers Media.

Following the 2009 conversion of CKKW to FM, CKGL is now the sole remaining AM station based in Waterloo Region, although some stations from nearby markets remain available as well.

History

For the history of the 570 AM frequency in Kitchener prior to 1993 (and its predecessors dating back to 1929), see CHYM-FM.

The station was originally launched in 1949 as FM 96.7 CKCR-FM, simulcasting the programming of CKCR.

In 1965, the stations were acquired by Great Lakes Broadcasting, a consortium that included Maclean-Hunter. Both stations changed their callsigns to CHYM that year. Among the first disc jockeys on CHYM (AM) were Gene Scott, Vic Thomas, Sandy Hoyt, Keith Sterling, and Larry Shannon.

Distinct programming was launched on CHYM-FM for the first time in 1968. In 1972, the FM outlet's callsign was changed again, to the current CKGL.

CKGL 96.7 logo

In 1982, Maclean-Hunter took over full ownership of the stations.

The CHYM and CKGL intellectual units (call signs, branding, and programming, but not the licences themselves) swapped frequencies in 1992, with CKGL moving to the AM band. (CRTC approval was required, but only as a format swap between the existing stations at 570 and 96.7, not a formal exchange of frequencies.)[2] The stations became part of Rogers Communications in 1994 when that company acquired Maclean-Hunter.

Original CKGL 570 logo

When CHYM and CKGL swapped frequencies, the CKGL country music format was moved to AM with CKGL. In 1997, this successful format was changed to news talk radio.

In late 2005, CKGL adopted the popular all-news format for the morning and afternoon drive time slots.

In 2007, 570 News won the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for "Best Newscast". The winning newscast aired Friday October 6, 2006 at 7 AM and highlighted RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie's intent to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins. 570 News had a reporter live in Pittsburgh when Balsillie made the announcement.

Programming

In addition to its news and talk programming, CKGL airs Kitchener Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs hockey, Toronto Blue Jays baseball and Buffalo Bills and NFL football.

References

  1. ↑ http://radio.cbssports.com/stations/
  2. ↑ "Decision CRTC 92-599". 1992-08-20. Retrieved 2011-12-16.

External links

Coordinates: 43°17′25″N 80°21′09″W / 43.29028°N 80.35250°W / 43.29028; -80.35250

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