The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Could Wingham Be About To Get A New Radio Station?

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 1, 2025 11:54 pm

I noticed in the week's preview of business at the CRTC a call for comments on whether Wingham and surrounding areas would have room for another radio station.

This always means that the Commission has received a request for a possible licence and has to hold a hearing to see if a) the market can support such a newcomer, b) how it would affect existing stations (who never want the competition) and c) to put out the word for anyone else who might want to apply for a station in the same market.

Should be interesting to get more clues about who this is when the Notice of Consultation is officially issued in the coming week.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** March 2, 2025 9:14 am

I'm guessing its blackbern or a community station.

**Posted by Aytononline** March 2, 2025 9:18 am

I'm wondering who this would be. It's not Bell, Rogers or Corus for sure. Back in the day when AM radio was King, only wingham and Owen Sound had a station. Today most of the local towns in that area have a small for profit or community FM station that is very focused on local. This has affected both CKNX and CFOS as regional stations. I'm not sure how much more local you can get in Wingham.

**Posted by paterson1** March 2, 2025 10:52 am

Does anyone know if CKNX AM 920 has applied yet for the move to FM? They are planning to shift, and this would give Blackburn 3 FM stations in Wingham. CBC Radio One also has a rebroadcaster licensed for Wingham.

Huron county has radio stations in Goderich and Exeter, so the county currently has 5 local stations broadcasting plus one CBC outlet. Wingham's population is about 3,000 with the county at 61,400.

Could be a commercial community station or religious outlet applying in Wingham.

Last edited by paterson1 (March 2, 2025 11:27 am)

**Posted by andysradio** March 2, 2025 12:40 pm

paterson1 wrote:
Does anyone know if CKNX AM 920 has applied yet for the move to FM?

They have not but there s speculation that they will.

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 2, 2025 12:51 pm

andysradio wrote:
paterson1 wrote:
Does anyone know if CKNX AM 920 has applied yet for the move to FM?
They have not but there s speculation that they will.

Would a move to FM be enough to trigger this hearing?

**Posted by andysradio** March 2, 2025 12:53 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Would a move to FM be enough to trigger this hearing?

I thought the very same thing

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 2, 2025 1:38 pm

andysradio wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
Would a move to FM be enough to trigger this hearing?
I thought the very same thing

But if you think about it, it's not really a new station per se, if they're switching from AM to FM. It's the same station relocated.

So why would that trigger a potential call to see if the market had room for another outlet? It's not really changing the amount of stations available there and wouldn't alter the number of advertisers or ad revenue etc.

It will be very interesting to see who's behind this.

**Posted by RadioAaron** March 2, 2025 2:04 pm

RadioActive wrote:
andysradio wrote:
paterson1 wrote:
Does anyone know if CKNX AM 920 has applied yet for the move to FM?
They have not but there s speculation that they will.

Would a move to FM be enough to trigger this hearing?

Yes.

The CRTC frames these flips as a new station that happens to be replacing the old one.

So Blackburn seems like the best guess. Maybe MBC.

**Posted by andysradio** March 6, 2025 12:02 pm

So it was CKNX that invoked this call:
https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2025/2025-72.htm

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 6, 2025 12:37 pm

I'm pretty sure that's what most of us thought it would be - a long time radio operator in that city. The only real question I can think of is would anyone else want a frequency in this rather small market at a time when radio is already struggling?

I suppose we'll find out soon, but since it's not an additional station - just a band swap - my guess is Blackburn will get its wish and swap CKNX to the FM band. I'll be curious to read who opposes this via interventions.

**Posted by paterson1** March 6, 2025 12:46 pm

If it's anything like the CFOS application when Bayshore Broadcasting applied to move to FM, there were no interventions against from the public or other competing broadcasters. They did have many letters of support from the public.

Here is CKNX AM 920's current pattern-

**Posted by andysradio** March 6, 2025 12:48 pm

Of note, Blackburn is still waiting on the CRTC to decide if it can move CFCO to FM.

**Posted by Aytononline** March 6, 2025 1:40 pm

My guess is the new FM station would join the other 2 FM stations on the TV tower in Formosa, about 30km north of Wingham. I only see letters of support for this as they have been trying to move to FM for as long as I can remember. I'm a little surprised to hear that the FM frequencies in this area is almost full. All of this is nice to hear and long over due. In my opinion the CRTC should have approved this the first time they applied instead of waiting untill it was almost too late.

**Posted by paterson1** March 6, 2025 8:12 pm

I didn't know that CKNX AM had applied for FM before. If they tried anytime after 2004/05 they wouldn't have got it since they already had two FM stations in Wingham and the regulations then wouldn't allow a third. I worked at CKNX in the early 90's but wasn't aware of them looking to move 920 AM to FM.

**Posted by Aytononline** March 7, 2025 5:50 am

This is what I'm referring too. My point is Blackburn knew there were issues with AM and were looking for solutions to deal there 920 signal.

https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/2013-238.htm?_ga=2.212684308.1800117163.1741279708-1376660640.1737766533

**Posted by paterson1** March 7, 2025 10:40 am

Thanks for the information. Blackburn should be successful this time since the regs have been changed to allow three FM licenses. At 16,700 and 28,000 watts max will give them a clear signal for their current coverage. And as mentioned, CKNX already has the tower in Formosa. Can't imagine anyone or group that would be against this. CKNX AM use to have huge hours tuned. Their listeners would have that station on all day and they had loyal local advertisers that had been with them for decades and decades.

Last edited by paterson1 (March 7, 2025 10:42 am)

**Posted by turkeytop** March 7, 2025 3:13 pm

CKNX is one of Canada's oldest radio stations. It's a part of Westen Ontario's heritage. It would be sad to see it gone.

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** March 7, 2025 3:17 pm

I don't think it will be gone, just switched from AM to FM if the CRTC gives permission.

**Posted by Aytononline** March 7, 2025 4:07 pm

For a small market I think they are still doing okay, but it's not like when AM radio was dominant in the media. Today they still have a morning and afternoon drive host, and double A and triple A hockey broadcast. Right now it does not look like they have a midday or weekend shows, except for news. I'm not sure if they still use CP, but I don't think they do. Also unlike many Toronto stations. They still have a local sports reporter.