1 of 1- haydenmatthews14
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Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
Remember the CHCH TV Tower that was demolished back in Nov 2023 and March 2024 and had to bulid a new site just on the outskirts of Hamilton because of property development on the mountain? Well now I am beginning to wonder if that will happen to the radio tower in West London. If you didn't know the tower is located near the Byron neighbourhood in West London. But with the west part of London growing I have a feeling that property where the tower is could be purchased by the city or some other property developer and would be demolished. What will happen to the TV/Radio signals that broadcast from there? Will they have to relocate somewhere else just like the CHCH TV Tower did? Also if you didn't know the radio stations signals on the tower are: CBC Radio One London 93.5 FM, 97.5 Virgin and 99.3 FM (rebroadcast of CJBC from Toronto) and 100.5 FM CBC Music.
As for the new houses being built in the area a street is proposed to be built where the TV/radio tower is. So the question is: Could this iconic TV/Radio be demolished soon or no? 
Last edited by haydenmatthews14 (February 16, 2025 6:37 pm)
- turkeytop
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
I've lived in London almost 30 years and never knew that tower was there. I just assumed everyone was using the big CFPL tower.
When I get back home from Florida, I'll have to take a drive out there and see it, before it's gone.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- LOSat
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
The tower is owned by TVO and the London TVO signal is broadcast from there, as well as the repeaters for CFMT and CJMT. When CBC TV had a transmitter in London (CBLN) it broadcast from this tower as well as the French TV network. Even though CBC TV (English) was largely just a rebroadcaster of CBLT TV from Toronto it had its own call letters CBLN and a bunch of CBLN associated transmitters CBLN-1 through 6 serving Chatham, Sarnia, Wingham, Wiarton, Normandale and Paris/KW
So it would not just be disruptive to radio but TV as well.
- turkeytop
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
LOSat wrote:
The tower is owned by TVO and the London TVO signal is broadcast from there, as well as the repeaters for CFMT and CJMT. When CBC TV had a transmitter in London (CBLN) it broadcast from this tower as well as the French TV network. Even though CBC TV (English) was largely just a rebroadcaster of CBLT TV from Toronto it had its own call letters CBLN and a bunch of CBLN associated transmitters CBLN-1 through 6 serving Chatham, Sarnia, Wingham, Wiarton, Normandale and Paris/KW
So it would not just be disruptive to radio but TV as well.
I lived up in the Wiarton area when the CBC xmtr first came on. The tower at Wingham was picking up the signal from London OTA and rebroadcasting it OTA. Wiarton was picking up the signal from Wingham OTA and rebroadcasting it. So the picture quality was kind of degraded by the time it got to us.
Now there is no CBC OTA to London or western Ontario at all? As our National broadcaster that should be mandated.
Last edited by turkeytop (February 17, 2025 11:14 am)
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- Glen Warren
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
The tower is owned by TVO and the London TVO signal is broadcast from there, as well as the repeaters for CFMT and CJMT. When CBC TV had a transmitter in London (CBLN) it broadcast from this tower as well as the French TV network. Even though CBC TV (English) was largely just a rebroadcaster of CBLT TV from Toronto it had its own call letters CBLN and a bunch of CBLN associated transmitters CBLN-1 through 6 serving Chatham, Sarnia, Wingham, Wiarton, Normandale and Paris/KW
So it would not just be disruptive to radio but TV as well.
Global's original CKGN Ch. 6 transmitter was located in Ayr. Original construction was summer of 1973.
At a later point, the Ayr transmitter was moved to Paris, Ontario. With this re-location, CBC established a rebroadcaster of CBLT Toronto on the new Global tower at Paris.
Regarding the TVO transmitter site in London and future development, I would think it would depend if TVO owned the property outright, or if TVO was only a lessee of the site property.
Last edited by Glen Warren (February 17, 2025 10:09 pm)
- darcyh
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
Is TVO actually broadcasting a OTA signal from this tower? I thought many TVO transmitters were shut down.
Another tower site in London is the more centrally located CFPL-TV tower on Communications Road. It sits in the middle of what is now a large residential area that is one of the most sought after locations in the city.
The value of this property if developed for residential lots would be substantial.
,+ON/@42.950526,-81.2679101,720m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x882ef20ea88d9b0b:0x28c7d7699a056b95!8m2!3d42.9849233!4d-81.2452768!16zL20vMGIxdDE?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIxMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
- LOSat
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
Yes TVO broadcasts a signal from London.
- Skywave
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
At a later point, the Ayr transmitter was moved to Paris, Ontario. With this re-location, CBC established a rebroadcaster of CBLT Toronto on the new Global tower at Paris.
Regarding the TVO transmitter site in London and future development, I would think it would depend if TVO owned the property outright, or if TVO was only a lessee of the site property.
The original Global installation was never relocated. It was named Paris because that happened to be the nearest, more populated location.
TVO owns the site outright, and established it around 1974 as part of its southwestern Ontario expansion plan. Hard to believe that the tower is 50 years old. Relocating a 1000 foot tower isn't trivial, as it requires a substantial amount of land for the guy anchors (case in point, CHCH). The other challenge is that the TV and FM channels operating from the existing tower are somewhat site-sensitive because of the separation requirements to other co-channel and adjacent channel stations.
The CFPL-TV site is indeed worth a fortune, and at some point Bell may decide that CFPL-TV is worth more dead than alive.
- andysradio
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
CBC Radio 1, CBC Music, and IRC Premiere radio are on this tower [TVO]. They rent.
Last edited by andysradio (February 18, 2025 11:59 am)
- andysradio
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
I thought many TVO transmitters were shut down.
Most were but London was a survivor.
- haydenmatthews14
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Re: Could this radio tower be demolished soon?
At a later point, the Ayr transmitter was moved to Paris, Ontario. With this re-location, CBC established a rebroadcaster of CBLT Toronto on the new Global tower at Paris.
Regarding the TVO transmitter site in London and future development, I would think it would depend if TVO owned the property outright, or if TVO was only a lessee of the site property.
The original Global installation was never relocated. It was named Paris because that happened to be the nearest, more populated location.
TVO owns the site outright, and established it around 1974 as part of its southwestern Ontario expansion plan. Hard to believe that the tower is 50 years old. Relocating a 1000 foot tower isn't trivial, as it requires a substantial amount of land for the guy anchors (case in point, CHCH). The other challenge is that the TV and FM channels operating from the existing tower are somewhat site-sensitive because of the separation requirements to other co-channel and adjacent channel stations.
The CFPL-TV site is indeed worth a fortune, and at some point Bell may decide that CFPL-TV is worth more dead than alive.
Your right. I wonder if they will keep the TVO tower where it is or build a new one somewhere else.
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