CKDQ-FM (92.5 FM New Country 92.5) is a radio station in Drumheller, Alberta. Owned by Stingray Group, it broadcasts a country format. Before the switch to FM, CKDQ was the only station in Canada that broadcasts on 910 AM, a Regional broadcast frequency.
| Frequency | 92.5 MHz |
|---|---|
| Branding | New Country 92.5 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Affiliations | Westwood One Drumheller Dragons |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Stingray Group |
| CHOO-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | 1958 |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| Power | 50,000 watts |
| Links | |
| Website | newcountry925.ca |
History
editThe station began broadcasting in 1958 as CJDV, until it changed to its current call sign in 1981. It is a Class B station broadcasting with a power of 50,000 watts, and using a two tower directional antenna daytime and a four tower directional antenna nighttime. The former CJDV callsign now belongs to a radio station in Cambridge, Ontario.
In 2016, the station became a semi-satellite of Camrose/Edmonton sister station CFCW, rebranding from Q91 to 910 CFCW; it carried a mix of CFCW and local programming. In October 2018, CKDQ rebranded as Real Country 910 (adopting a brand used by other Newcap-owned country stations in Alberta).[1]
On March 5, 2024, CKDQ rebranded as New Country 910 to match the company’s other country music stations.
AM to FM
editOn May 5, 2023, Stingray Radio Inc. submitted an application to convert CKDQ to 92.5 MHz (channel 223B) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 24,500 watts (directional antenna with a maximum ERP of 36,600 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain [EHAAT] of 39.4 metres). [2] The application was approved by the CRTC on February 9, 2024. [3] In June, CKDQ announced on its website that they would switch to FM, rebranding as New Country 92.5 on June 20, originally planning to shut off their AM signal on June 24, before then extending the AM simulcast to the first week of July. CKDQ would ultimately start testing their FM signal on July 11, before going full power on July 15. It was then expected that the 910 signal would be switched off on July 19,[4][5] though the signal was ultimately switched off on the morning of July 22 (local time). [6]
References
edit- ^ "Stettler's local radio station Q93.3 rebranded". Stettler Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-129 - Stingray Radio Inc. Drumheller, Alberta Application 2023-0030-0, CRTC, May 5, 2023
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2024-31, CKDQ Drumheller – Conversion to the FM band, CRTC, February 9, 2024
- ^ Make the Flip | New Country 92.5
- ^ New Country 92.5 Facebook announcement
- ^ Nigel Pimblett (July 23, 2024). "IRCA@groups.io | 910 CKDQ". groups.io. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
External links
edit- New Country 92.5
- CKDQ-FM at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
- CKDQ in the REC Canadian station database
51°02′27″N 113°17′35″W / 51.04083°N 113.29306°W
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