Skywave wrote:

It's not the CJCL 590 site.  CJCL has nine towers. It's AM 640 (Corus), and actually old news.

Actually the 640 site's the one with nine towers. It's also a few k southwest on the escarpment near Smithville.

It looks like they've submitted an application to go back on the air, according to this CRTC letter dropping the July 13th deadline.

On 6 June 2026, Commission staff received from Trafalgar Broadcasting Limited (Trafalgar) an application 2026-0300-3 regarding the English language commercial radio programming undertaking CJYE Oakville and the Ethnic radio programming undertaking CJMR Mississauga, both of which ceased broadcasting on 13 January 2026.

This application presents a plan to resume broadcasting on both AM stations.

In light of the application filed and Trafalgar’s apparent willingness to continue the stations’ operations, staff is suspending the July 13, 2026 deadline until further notice.

It'll probably go the CHIN route, with a lower-power single-stick, since the land's already slated for development. (Note the boarded-up transmitter building in the second shot. This was taken after the 1250/1320 transmitters were re-sited at CKTB.):

RadioAaron wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

But do they get to keep and use their call letters? Or do they get returned for use elsewhere?

I noticed neither CJYE or CJMR are back on the list of available call signs in Canada. Technically, if they're not actually on air, should they still be using them?

They would no longer have the call letters, and they'll be made available at some point. Nothing really stopping them from using them as branding though.

Technically, while the stations are dormant, the licences are still active -- for a few more weeks anyway. The CRTC sent Whiteoaks this letter back on February 3rd:

Subject: CJYE Oakville, Ontario and CJMR Mississauga, Ontario — Receipt of off-air notice

The Commission has received notice that the English radio programming undertaking CJYE Oakville and the Ethnic radio programming undertaking CJMR Mississauga, both operated by Trafalgar Broadcasting Limited, have ceased broadcasting as of 13 January 2026.
Pursuant to Modernization of radio processes, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2025-265, paragraphs 161 to 171, Trafalgar Broadcasting Limited will have until 13 July 2026— 6 months from the off-air date (13 January 2026)— to either: 1) submit applications for a change in ownership and effective control of CJYE and CJMR; 2) apply for the revocation of CJYE’s and CJMR’s licence; or 3) return on-air.
[size=100]Should this process not be followed, the Commission will launch a public proceeding, consistent with paragraphs 9(1)(f) and 18(1)(b) and subsection 24(1) of the Broadcasting Act, to revoke the licences for these undertakings.[/size]

So it appears the calls won't go back on ISED's available list until the licences & techni

RadioActive wrote:

It's not quite the same thing, but on Monday, I heard an ad for CHCH-TV News on 680 of all places. 

One is TV, the other is radio, one is Hamilton, the other Toronto, but with all the Rogers properties - including City TV, which also does a nightly newscast - it struck me as a bit odd. 

Money is money. And Toronto has long been CH's bread and butter, more and more so since the 50s when they were the second station viewable in much of Toronto. That's why they kept increasing power, eventually to the max as they built a bigger tower to beam into the city (1961), breaking away from the CBC just as CFTO/CTV got going.

This was hinted at in an intervention to CINA's previous application for a change in its transmission site.

Posted on the CRTC site today:

1. This is a joint application by 1760791 Ontario Inc., the licensee for CINA-AM Mississauga
("CINA"), and by Big AM 820 Inc., the licensee for CHAM Hamilton (“CHAM”), for
technical amendments to the licences of each station to implement a frequency and
transmitter exchange. Each station is wholly owned by the Neeti P. Ray Family Trust, for
which Mr. Ray is trustee. The two stations are collectively referred to in this Application
as the “Stations”.
2. The Applicants propose that CINA would operate on the 820 AM frequency using the
existing transmitter and tower at its current location. CHAM would then operate on the
1650 AM frequency, using transmission facilities located on lands that are also used for
CKOC AM (Hamilton) (which is under common ownership). These lands are available
under the terms of a long-term lease.
3. If this application is approved, CINA would simulcast on both frequencies for a period of
up to 30 days. CHAM would need to pause its broadcasting activities for up to twelve
months while the 1650 AM transmitter facility (the one currently used by CINA) is
moved to the new site.
4. This application arises out of an urgent need for CINA to vacate its current transmitter
site. The Applicant was notified a few weeks ago that its lease will not be renewed
beyond May 31, 2025.1 Electrical power to the site has already been cut and the station
is operating on a diesel generator. There are no viable alternative transmitters or
transmitter sites for CINA other than CHAM’s current transmitter site. CHAM, on the
other hand, would be able to broadcast to its licensed market (Hamilton) from an
alternative site which is already controlled by Mr. Ray.

So much for 'Big 820'. Now it'll be 'Little 1650'!

torontostan wrote:

Hrick wrote:

I don't think 1010 and 1050 could be diplexed on 1050 as the frequencies are too close togather.

 
My guess is they’ll switch with CKOC to solve that issue. They’d rather be 1050 chum anyways I’d think

For that to happen Bell would have to buy 1150 back from Neeti Ray

Either the hamsters were frozen, or they're trying to see how low they go with the signal to cover the GTA while saving on electricity. They wouldn't be the first station to go that route

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:

I hope they bring back real soft AC.
Like the old CHFI format or Corus's own CHAY 93.1's format from 2004 to 2007.

It didn't get much softer than this:

Mid 60's, before it was renamed CKDS after its owner's death: Kenneth D Soble.
It transitioned to soft AC in the eighties before becoming CJXY in 1991.
Alan Cross had an anecdote about what happened when CJXY and CING swapped in 2001...
Something about how 95.3 boomed into the steel plants, but 107.9 didn't

Paul Jeffries wrote:

andysradio wrote:

Interesting! The only other ex AM sites I can think that is still standing in the area are CJTN Trenton and CHML. Others?

I believe CHML's towers were taken down about a couple of months ago. I seem to remember someone posting the pictures here a little while back.
PJ
 

They were! I made a return visit today. There's now a for sale sign ($3.9M asking), posted on the section of property that's the right-of-way for Enbridge Line 9. (Wonder what engineering issues that led to!)


The other tuning & tx shacks are still there, along with a cook stove. There seem to be fresh tracks.


The letters are still up at Main & Longwood. Wondering if Corus will spend a couple of thou out of the site sale to take them down. There's a for lease sign there but it's for main floor space, not the second floor where radio is. Broadcast Technology did a photo spread in their Sept-Oct 1986 issue when CHML had just moved in. Scroll down to page 14 of the PDF.

Bill Maher is back on CNN! 3rd Saturday in a row. Nobody tell Bell Media

Dale Patterson wrote:

CHML used to have a wonderful Hall of Fame display in their lobby, with pictures of all of those enshrined. I wonder what will become of that?

 

Not to mention the audio archive!

RadioActive wrote:

It's been off the air for months, but now the paperwork is official, and 97-year-old CHML is no longer in existence. 

CHML Licence Revocation 

Now that the death certificate's been issued, (nearly 3 months after Corus requested it; 5 months after it went dark)
the transmitter site at 1179 Valens Rd in Flamborough is being decommissioned. First step, topple the towers. As you can see below, that part's been done. The tuning shacks at the tower bases are still there:



At 875 Main St West (formerly named Radio Centre), a 'For Lease' sign is up - and so is the CHML lettering. Bright lights were seen from some of the upper floors; presumably spaces being emptied and repainted for future use. Amazingly, there's also a 900 CHML vehicle in the parking lot. It seems Corus is so tight they can't pay to get the vehicle reskinned, or the CHML lettering off the building.

Except CNN has been running 'next' promos for Real Time during the 7p hour on Saturday. Plus, why would it be off in the final weeks of an election campaign?

There were new day-after clips on YouTube until a few weeks ago. Presumably, Bell put a stop to those in Canada, just like it had for Late Night for Seth Meyers (which only lasted a few months. Afterward, Meyers even had a tag on the end of those videos thanking CTV for lifting its embargo!)

TV Guide's US national listings have Maher at 8 & 11p Saturday, with a new episode. Let's see what happens.

RadioActive wrote:

I was looking at the application to the CRTC for the long awaited acquisition of the Bell Media Niagara area properties that were sold to Whiteoaks Communications, owners of CJYE-AM 1250 (Christian) and CJMR-AM 1320 (Ethnic.) The owners new name will be Golden Horseshoe Broadcasting, but it's the same people.

In the paperwork, the Caine family has reiterated that it doesn't plan to make changes to any of the formats of their new prizes, which include CKTB, CHRE, CHTZ and CKLH. So listeners might not detect anything different when this sale finally closes. (Of course, there's nothing to stop them for altering things down the road.)

But there was one very interesting section of the documents that centred around the existing Whiteoaks stations and what might happen when the properties finally change hands. And the reasons are eye-opening, as well - AM being taken out of electric cars.
  
"The Applicant is also exploring the potential to implement IBOCHD transmissions on the CKLH-FM transmitter, as a way of ensuring that listeners continue to be able to receive the programming of CJYE AM and CJMR AM, if AM radio is removed from electric vehicles.

It is also anticipated that the land where the CJYE and CJMR transmitters are situated will be re-developed for residential and commercial use within the next 36 to 48 months. That would necessitate the relocation of the AM transmitters, and possible low-powered AM operation, due to technical constraints. The use of FM IBOC HD subchannels in order to continue to serve listeners of CJYE and CJMR may be required."

Something to keep in mind and listen for when this thing is finally done. No word yet on exactly when that might be. 

As noted back in August - admittedly more long-windedly - the brief hints that the CJYE/CJMR land sale has paid for a good part of the purchase. https://gta.boardh

RadioAaron wrote:

Binson Echorec wrote:

RadioAaron wrote:

They're talking about the static on 95.3 HD3, which is rather odd.

I'll take your word for it, I don't have HD radio. But if that was the subchannel dedicated to CHML and CHML no longer exists, what else would be there other than static?

There's no such thing as static on HD. It would either be silent or off. So it's actually re-broadcasting static.

HD3 has finally been shut off, saving Corus a few pennies on hydro. Drove past the antenna site last week and the towers were still up. 900 CHML signage us still in place at the studio but interestingly, the 95.3 signage is gone. Did Corus move them somewhere else? So how long does Corus hold that space for only one station? Or is Y108 being co-sited somewhere else?