The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / CFCO approved to move to FM

**Posted by andysradio** April 14, 2025 11:37 am

CFCO Chatham-Kent received approval to move to FM today:
https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2025/2025-88.htm
91.3 at 1.25kW's. When the move takes place, they will close the nested repeater that is at 92.9.

With this decision, this leaves Southwestern Ontario with only 4 AM stations:
CKWW and CKLW Windsor
CFPL London and
CHOK Sarnia

**Posted by WindsorWatcher** April 14, 2025 11:49 am

Add CBEF 1550-AM in Windsor with Radio-Canada programming.

**Posted by andysradio** April 14, 2025 11:50 am

WindsorWatcher wrote:
Add CBEF 1550-AM in Windsor with Radio-Canada programming.

Righto!

**Posted by Marsden** April 14, 2025 2:30 pm

CFCO Chatham was the station where I started in radio as an operator.

After being there for only 3 months the station was sold to a man named Hildebrand. The day he took over everyone was terminated except for the morning person. That was Frank Proctor. David Crichton who had been hired only a few months before myself was also fired.

The new Program Director was a guy named Sandy Hoyt.

**Posted by gch** April 15, 2025 8:37 am

Have they set a date for the change of frequency?

I will certainly miss hearing CFCO on AM..........I was down near Brantford yesterday and 630 was quite listenable
I remember in the 60's or 70's they would have the slogan
from Chicago to Toronto, from Erieau to Owen Sound.........
I remember Dave Hodge as their sports announcer, and Pete McGarvey as their main news anchor....

People in Sarnia will actually have trouble getting the new signal because Port Huron has a low powered education station on the same frequence.........(I guess they'll have to stick with CHOK)

**Posted by andysradio** April 15, 2025 9:08 am

gch wrote:
Have they set a date for the change of frequency?

I think 630 is safe for a few months. Transmitter, plant, etc all have to be set up.

Last edited by andysradio (April 15, 2025 9:17 am)

**Posted by turkeytop** April 15, 2025 9:10 am

gch wrote:
I remember in the 60's or 70's they would have the slogan
from Chicago to Toronto, from Erieau to Owen Sound.........

I grew up in the Owen Sound area back in the 60s. They used to pound in like a local during the day.
An acquaintance of mine near Dayton OH used to listen to them before they flipped to cowboy music.

**Posted by darcyh** April 15, 2025 12:15 pm

CFCO 630 AM has a robust, well traveled signal.

The land around Chatham is fairly flat, but a 1.25 KW FM signal even from a tall tower will not carry very far especially into buildings. Maybe 25 miles? I don't expect the new FM signal to reach London or Grand Bend.

Given CFCO already had a FM repeater at 92.9 to cover the city with a stereo signal, I am not sure there will be much advantage shutting down the powerful AM signal and replacing it with an anemic FM one. Perhaps they will sell the land for the AM transmitter site and save some electricity costs.

Last edited by darcyh (April 15, 2025 12:20 pm)

**Posted by gch** April 15, 2025 12:25 pm

Those towers near the Dillon SIde Rd have been sort of landmark in the west part of the former Kent County.
I have so many memories of the station

They featured Sunday church services on the on radio from several Chatham churches, including First Presbyterian, where I was organist in the mid 1970s.
First Presbyterian had the first & last broadcast of local churches on 630.
A lot of the radio station personalities were a part of the community, and really great people to meet...

I also remember the days of live, with a real announcer, all-night shows, and calling in song requests at 1:00 am
I also remember when they had a studio in Wallaceburg on Dufferin Street. Most locals would remember
the sung slogan "CFCO in Chatham"

**Posted by darcyh** April 15, 2025 3:38 pm

You can see the towers from the 401. If you like looking at AM transmitter sites, you might want to do so sooner than later.