CKRM

CKRM
City Regina, Saskatchewan
Broadcast area Regina, Saskatchewan
Branding 620 CKRM
Slogan The Source
Frequency 620 AM
First air date 1926
Format country
Power 10 kWs
Class B
Callsign meaning Canada Knows Regina Music
Former callsigns CJRM
Owner Harvard Broadcasting
Sister stations CFWF-FM, CHMX-FM
Webcast CKRM listen live
Website www.620ckrm.com

CKRM is an AM radio station in Regina, Saskatchewan, broadcasting at 620 kHz. Owned by Harvard Broadcasting, CKRM broadcasts a full service country music format.

Alongside music programming, CKRM is notably the flagship station of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, and the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

History

CKRM was established in 1926 in Moose Jaw under the call letters CJRM. [1] Its original owner was the Winnipeg, Manitoba grain merchant James Richardson and Sons.

In 1928, the Richardsons opened CJRW in Winnipeg and networked their two stations. CJRM opened a studio in Regina in 1933, and by 1935 all station operations were based in Regina. The stations were purchased by the Sifton family, owners of the Regina Leader-Post and CKCK Radio in 1940, and CJRM became CKRM. In 1944, CKRM affiliated with the CBC's Dominion Network until 1962 when the network was disbanded and CKRM became independent.

In late 1971, CKRM dropped its easy listening format and became a country music station.

In 2001, the station would relocate from 980 AM to 620 AM, shortly after the original CKCK radio closed down.[2] The move gave CKRM access to the second-most powerful transmitting facility in Saskatchewan, and one of the largest coverage areas in North America. Due to its location on the lower end of the AM dial, transmitter power, and Saskatchewan's flat land (with near-perfect ground conductivity), CKRM now covered most of Saskatchewan's densely populated area, as well as parts of North Dakota and Montana. CJME, formerly at 1300 AM, took CKRM's former spot.

CKRM changed hands a number of times before its acquisition by Regina's Hill family, then-owners of CKCK-TV in 1981, under the Harvard Broadcasting banner. By this time the station's country format had become quite popular. CKRM also acquired the radio rights to the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

The station moved into its current facility in April 2006. It is at the corner of 12th and Rose in downtown Regina.

Notable past and present personalities

References

  1. ↑ Historical information on CJRM-AM (1926-1940) at Canadian Communications Foundation
  2. ↑ Decision CRTC 2001-739

External links

Coordinates: 50°19′36″N 104°37′16″W / 50.32667°N 104.62111°W / 50.32667; -104.62111

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