CKRM

CKRM is an AM radio station in Regina, Saskatchewan, broadcasting at 620 kHz. Owned by Harvard Media, CKRM broadcasts a full service country format.

CKRM
Broadcast areaSouthern Saskatchewan
Frequency620 kHz (AM)
Branding620 CKRM
Programming
FormatCountry
NetworkCBC Dominion (1944-1962)
AffiliationsRegina Pats
Saskatchewan Roughriders[1]
Ownership
OwnerHarvard Media
CFWF-FM, CHMX-FM
History
First air date
1926 (in Moose Jaw; moved to Regina in 1935)
Former call signs
CJRM (1926-1940)
Former frequencies
665 kHz (1926-1928)
880 kHz (1928-1934)
960 kHz (1934, 1940-1941)
540 kHz (1934-1940)
980 kHz (1941-2001)
Call sign meaning
Canada Knows Regina Music
Technical information
ClassB
Power10,000 watts
Links
WebcastListen live
Website620ckrm.com

Alongside music programming, CKRM is notably the flagship station of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League,[2] and the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

History

CKRM was established in 1926 in Moose Jaw under the call letters CJRM.[3] Its original owner was the Winnipeg, Manitoba grain merchant James Richardson and Sons.

In 1928, the Richardsons opened CJRW in Winnipeg and networked their two stations. CJRM opened a studio in Regina in 1933, and by 1935 all station operations were based in Regina. The stations were purchased by the Sifton family, owners of the Regina Leader-Post and CKCK Radio in 1940, and CJRM became CKRM. In 1944, CKRM affiliated with the CBC's Dominion Network until 1962 when the network was disbanded and CKRM became independent.

In late 1971, CKRM dropped its easy listening format and became a country station.

In 2001, the station would relocate from 980 AM to 620 AM, shortly after the original CKCK radio closed down.[4] CJME, formerly at 1300 AM, moved to CKRM's former frequency. The move gave CKRM access to the second-most powerful transmitting facility in Saskatchewan, and one of the largest coverage areas in North America. Due to its location on the lower end of the AM dial, transmitter power, and Saskatchewan's flat land (with near-perfect ground conductivity), CKRM's daytime signal covers most of Saskatchewan's densely populated area, as well as parts of North Dakota and Montana.[5] CKRM changed hands a number of times before its acquisition by Regina's Hill family, then-owners of CKCK-TV in 1981, under the Harvard Broadcasting banner.

The station moved into its current facility in April 2006. It is at the corner of 12th and Rose in downtown Regina.

Programming

CKRM is the flagship radio station of the Regina Pats of the WHL,[6] and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.[7][8] Roughriders games are accompanied by pre- and post-game shows, Countdown to Kickoff and Rider Roundtable, all of which are syndicated as part of the Roughriders' radio network.[9] It also carries a drive time sports talk show on weekdays, The Sports Cage.[10]

Jim Smalley hosted CKRM's agricultural news program Saskatchewan Agriculture Today; Smalley retired from broadcasting on April 28, 2023, after a 50-year career on the agriculture beat spanning CKRM and the original CKCK.[11][12]

References
  1. "The Rider Radio Network is Growing!". 2 April 2015.
  2. "Home". 620ckrm.com.
  3. Historical information on CJRM-AM (1926-1940) Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine at Canadian Communications Foundation
  4. Decision CRTC 2001-739
  5. "CKRM-AM Radio Station Coverage Map".
  6. "Pats and 620 CKRM renew radio rights for next three seasons". 620 CKRM The Voice of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  7. "Sask. Roughriders introduce team's new play-by-play announcer". Global News. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  8. "Michael Ball poised to be new play-by-play voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders". leaderpost. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  9. "Michael Ball living the dream as voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders". leaderpost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  10. "Michael Ball living the dream as voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders". leaderpost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  11. "'Good afternoon and good farming': Long-time Sask. agriculture reporter Jim Smalley retires". Regina. 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  12. "Agribition's longest serving agricultural news reporter recognized". CTV News Regina. 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2023-05-01.

50°19′36″N 104°37′16″W

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