CFMI-FM
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| Broadcast area | Metro Vancouver |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 101.1 MHz (FM) (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Rock 101 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Analog/HD1: classic-leaning mainstream rock HD2: CKNW simulcast HD3: CHMJ simulcast |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| Radio: CKNW, CHMJ, CFOX-FM TV: CHAN-DT, Global News: BC 1 | |
| History | |
First air date | March 22, 1970 |
Call sign meaning | C FM I (Roman numeral, reference to former on-air branding FM One) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 53 kilowatts average 100 kilowatts peak |
| HAAT | 368.4 metres (1,209 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 49°21′27″N 122°57′14″W / 49.357365°N 122.953776°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www.rock101.com |
CFMI-FM (identified on air and in print as Rock 101) is a Canadian radio station in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia. It broadcasts at 101.1 MHz on the FM band with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts (peak) from a transmitter on Mount Seymour in the District of North Vancouver. Owned by Corus Entertainment, the studios are located in Downtown Vancouver, in the TD Tower. The station has a classic rock format.
History
CFMI first signed on in early 1970. Over the years, the station added FM transmitters in most of British Columbia. On July 26, 2011, CFMI-FM received Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approval by increasing New Westminister's transmitter to the average effective radiated power (ERP) from 37,000 to 53,000 watts (maximum ERP from 75,000 to 100,000 watts), by decreasing the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 686 to 386.4 meters and by relocating its transmitter.[1]
On July 15, 2014, CFMI-FM dropped the word Classic from its name and shifted its format from classic rock to mainstream rock; such a move was also implemented on CILQ-FM in Toronto, which is also owned by Corus.
As of November 2016, the station shifted to "classic rock and the greatest hits of the 70's, 80's and 90's".
HD Programming
On October 13, 2015, CFMI-HD was launched as the first Canadian HD service west of Ontario:
- HD2 carries sister station CKNW AM 980.
- HD3 carries sister station CHMJ AM 730; this began on July 3, 2016 due to AM730's transmitter being damaged by the 2016 Burns Bog fire.
Overview
The station signed on with a very-short-lived country music format. This was followed by a light-popular music format ("pop for adults"). CFMI was distinguished in its earlier years by being a technical innovator of early automation systems. Stereo automation systems of the day relied heavily on reel-to-reel tape machines for music. CFMI's automation had no reel machines, but relied totally on cartridge carousels, which allowed greater programming flexibility ("random access"), but no broadcast cartridges of the day could reproduce quality stereo. The response of CFMI's engineers was to invent a new cartridge that could: the Aristocart. Parent company Western International Communications went on to develop a manufacturing division, exporting these improved cartridges to broadcasters around the world. Today's broadcasters use computer systems with large hard drives to reproduce music digitally, and have no need of tape systems. But in its heyday (circa 1975-1990), the Aristocart was an improvement to a technical problem shared by all commercial stereo broadcasters.
Among CFMI's programming innovations was Discumentary, a one-hour musical documentary of programming featuring a particular artist or a particular theme. This was developed in response to the CRTC's requirement for foreground programming. The Discumentary programs were written by Paul Wiggins and voiced by Dave McCormick, then Terry David Mulligan and syndicated throughout Canada, and broadcast internationally on the Anik D satellite. Later, CRTC regulations phased out the need for foreground programming, and CFMI phased out Discumentary.
Rebroadcasters
CFMI also operates on a number of low-power FM transmitters and cable channels.
Alberta
| City of license | Identifier | Frequency | RECNet | CRTC Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luscar | VF2213 | 96.5 FM | Query | CRTC 93-278 |
| Rainbow Lake | VF2293 | 92.3 FM | Query | CRTC 95-704 |
British Columbia
Newfoundland and Labrador
| City of license | Identifier | Frequency | RECNet | CRTC Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burgeo | VF2076 | 92.3 FM | Query | CRTC 89-423 |
Saskatchewan
| City of license | Identifier | Frequency | RECNet | CRTC Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrot River | VF2212 | 101.1 FM | Query | CRTC 2001-7 |
| La Ronge | VF2376 | 101.1 FM | Query |
Washington State
- Comcast Cable Channel 979 - Puget Sound area of Western Washington.
References
External links
- Rock 101
- CFMI-FM history - Canadian Communications Foundation
- CFMI-FM in the REC Canadian station database
