 | |
| Broadcast area | Waterloo Region |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 570kHz |
| Branding | 570 NewsRadio Kitchener |
| Programming | |
| Format | News/talk |
| Affiliations | Kitchener Rangers Toronto Blue Jays Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| CIKZ-FM,CHYM-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | 1949 |
Former call signs | CKCR-FM (1949–1965) CHYM-FM (1965–1972) CKGL-FM (1972–1992) |
Former frequencies | 96.7MHz (FM) (1949–1992) |
Call sign meaning | C KitchenerGreatLakes Broadcasting (broadcast area and former owner) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | CRTC |
| Class | B |
| Power | 10,000watts |
| Links | |
| Website | kitchener.citynews.ca/ |
CKGL (570AM) is a Canadianradio station inKitchener, Ontario. The station currently broadcasts anews/talk format branded on-air as570 NewsRadio Kitchener (formerlyCityNews 570). The station is owned byRogers Radio, a division ofRogers Sports & Media, and is an affiliate of theToronto Blue Jays Radio Network.[1] CKGL is also the radio broadcaster for theKitchener Rangers[2] and an affiliate of theHamilton Tiger-Cats Audio Network.[3]
The station was originally launched in 1949 asFM 96.7CKCR-FM, simulcasting the programming ofCKCR.
In 1965, the stations were acquired by Great Lakes Broadcasting, a consortium that includedMaclean-Hunter. Both stations changed their callsigns toCHYM (pronounced as "chime") that year. Among the first disc jockeys on CHYM were Gene Scott, Vic Thomas, Sandy Hoyt, Keith Sterling, and Larry Shannon.
Distinct programming was launched on CHYM for the first time in 1968. In 1972, the FM outlet's callsign was changed again, to the currentCKGL (evidently for "Kitchener,GreatLakes").
In 1982, Maclean-Hunter took over full ownership of the stations.TheCHYM and CKGL intellectual units (call signs, branding, and programming, but not the licences themselves) swapped frequencies on September 4, 1992 at 8:00 a.m, with CKGL moving to the AM band. (CRTC approval was required, but only as a format swap between the existing stations at 570 and 96.7, not a formal exchange of frequencies.)[4] The stations became part ofRogers Communications in 1994 when that company acquired Maclean-Hunter.
When CHYM and CKGL swapped frequencies, the CKGLcountry format was moved to AM with CKGL. On June 19, 1997, this successful format was changed tonews/talk.
In late 2005, CKGL adopted the popularall-news format for the morning and afternoon drive time slots.In 2007, CKGL won theRTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for "Best Newscast". The winning newscast aired Friday October 6, 2006 at 7 AM and highlightedRIM co-CEOJim Balsillie's intent to buy thePittsburgh Penguins. CKGL had a reporter live in Pittsburgh when Balsillie made the announcement.
In June 2021, Rogers announced that it would rebrand CKGL and its otherall-news andnews/talk radio stations under theCityNews brand beginning October 18, 2021.[5] As with similarly-branded Ottawa sister stationCIWW, the broadcast signal of Citytv'sToronto flagship station reachesWaterloo Region and is also available on cable, satellite, and fibre TV services, but Citytv Toronto does not cover local news in the market.
43°17′25″N80°21′09″W / 43.29028°N 80.35250°W /43.29028; -80.35250