CBK (AM)

CBK

City of license	Watrous, Saskatchewan
Broadcast area	Southern and Central Saskatchewan
Branding	CBC Radio One
Frequency	540 kHz (AM)
First air date	July 29, 1939
Format	public broadcasting
ERP	50,000 watts
Class	A
Transmitter coordinates	51°40′48″N 105°26′48″W
Callsign meaning	Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Henry Kelsey (the first explorer to reach the Canadian Prairies)
Owner	Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Website	CBC Saskatchewan

CBK is a Canadian clear-channel station, broadcasting the CBC Radio One network at 540 AM to most of southern Saskatchewan. The AM transmitter is located in Watrous, the city of license, but the studios are in the CBC Regina Broadcast Centre, 2440 Broad Street in Regina. This facility also houses CBK-FM and CBKT.

The station operates as a 50,000-watt clear-channel station. Due to its dial location, transmitter power and Saskatchewan's flat land (with superb soil conductivity), CBK's daytime signal reaches most of the southern two-thirds of the province, including Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Swift Current, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert. It also provides grade B coverage as far west as Calgary and as far east as Winnipeg, and coverage into parts of the Midwest, as far south as North Dakota. At night, it can be heard across much of the western half of North America. However, it is strongest in Western Canada, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota.

History

The station was launched by the CBC in 1939, serving most of Saskatchewan from the single transmitter site. It was originally intended as the CBC's clear-channel operation for the Prairies (CKY in Winnipeg, now CBW, was also a clear-channel, but was a private CBC affiliate at the time). However, it initially aired no local programs. All programming was initially fed from Toronto, then after 1948 from Winnipeg. A local studio didn't open until 1954, on 2440 Broad Street in Regina.

For most of World War II, it aired programming in both English and French.

CBK was almost forced to move dial locations in 1947, when the International Telecommunications Conference considered designating 540 for a group of low-powered stations. Eventually, the ITC agreed to allow CBK to use 540 until an alternate location could be found.

Due to urban AM reception issues during the day, the cities of Regina (CBKR-FM 102.5) and Saskatoon (CBK-1-FM 94.1) are now served by FM rebroadcasters of the AM signal. The remainder of the station's broadcast area continues to be served by the main 540 AM signal. The station also has an FM rebroadcaster (CBKM-FM 98.5) in Meadow Lake, a city on the fringe of the AM station's reception area.

There has recently been an effort by the town of Watrous to designate the transmitter a historic site.

Local programming

The station's local programs are The Morning Edition in the mornings from 6 a.m.-8:30 a.m. CST, Blue Sky from 12 noon-2 p.m. CST and The Afternoon Edition in the afternoons from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. CST.

Rebroadcasters

CBK has the following rebroadcasters:

City of licence	Frequency	Callsign
Athabasca Hydro Station	88.1 FM	VF2280
Beauval	101.5 FM	CBKB-FM
Buffalo Narrows	103.5 FM	CBKD-FM
Cumberland House	94.9 FM	CBKV-FM
Creighton	94.3 FM	CBKO-FM
Fond du Lac	100.1 FM	CBKG-FM
Île-à-la-Crosse	105.1 FM	CBKC-FM
Island Falls	105.1 FM	CBKN-FM
La Loche	95.5 FM	CBKE-FM
Meadow Lake	98.5 FM	CBKM-FM
Montreal Lake	93.3 FM	CBKL-FM
Patuanak	105.5 FM	CBKK-FM
Pelican Narrows	105.9 FM	CBKW-FM
Pinehouse Lake	94.1 FM	CBKJ-FM
Regina	102.5 FM	CBKR-FM
Saskatoon	94.1 FM	CBK-1-FM
Southend	91.7 FM	CBKP-FM
Stony Rapids	93.3 FM	CBKH-FM
Stanley Mission	95.5 FM	CBKI-FM
Uranium City	105.1 FM	CBDH-FM

Though separately licenced, CBKA-FM in La Ronge is a full-time satellite of CBK. Until 2009, that station produced its own noon-hour show and regional news updates, although it aired both The Morning Edition and The Afternoon Edition.

External links

• Radio locator info on CBK-AM
• CBC Saskatchewan
• CBK (AM) history at Canadian Communications Foundation
• Query the REC's Canadian station database for CBK