Canadian allocations changes under NARBA
Encyclopedia
The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
took effect on March 29, 1941, requiring nearly all radio station
s in North America
to change frequency. This article details the major Canadian allocations changes under NARBA.
The principal desideratum for Canada
in entering the NARBA negotiations was to gain more clear-channel allocations for Canadian stations, particularly for the CBC
, which at that time was both Canada's public broadcaster and also its broadcasting regulator. Up to that point, these allocations had been dominated by commercial stations from the United States
. Canada had only six clear-channel frequencies: 540, 690, 730, 840, 910, and 1050, of which 540, 730, and 910 were shared with Mexico
, and 1050 was shared with the United States
.
The result of the treaty for Canada was to add new clear-channel allocations at 740, 990, and 1010; with the expansion of the AM band to 1605 kHz, Canada would later add 1580.
Most stations throughout North America were minimally affected by the allocations changes. Their channels simply moved up (or in a few cases down) the dial to a new frequency which was shared (or not) with the same stations as were there before. Major Canadian cities, however, saw more changes, as the creation of the three new clear channels invited a reshuffle of channels among the existing broadcasters. (No new Canadian stations were licensed as a part of this process.) The major changes were as follows:
North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, usually referred to as NARBA, is a treaty that took effect in March 1941 and set out the bandplan and interference rules for mediumwave AM broadcasting in North America. Although mostly replaced by other agreements in the 1980s, the basic bandplan...
took effect on March 29, 1941, requiring nearly all radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to change frequency. This article details the major Canadian allocations changes under NARBA.
The principal desideratum for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in entering the NARBA negotiations was to gain more clear-channel allocations for Canadian stations, particularly for the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, which at that time was both Canada's public broadcaster and also its broadcasting regulator. Up to that point, these allocations had been dominated by commercial stations from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Canada had only six clear-channel frequencies: 540, 690, 730, 840, 910, and 1050, of which 540, 730, and 910 were shared with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and 1050 was shared with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The result of the treaty for Canada was to add new clear-channel allocations at 740, 990, and 1010; with the expansion of the AM band to 1605 kHz, Canada would later add 1580.
Most stations throughout North America were minimally affected by the allocations changes. Their channels simply moved up (or in a few cases down) the dial to a new frequency which was shared (or not) with the same stations as were there before. Major Canadian cities, however, saw more changes, as the creation of the three new clear channels invited a reshuffle of channels among the existing broadcasters. (No new Canadian stations were licensed as a part of this process.) The major changes were as follows:
- In the Maritimes, CBACBA (AM)-External links:** at Canadian Communications Foundation...
in Sackville, New BrunswickSackville, New BrunswickSackville is a Canadian town in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.Mount Allison University is located in the town...
moved from 1050 to 1070. There were (and are) no other clear-channel stations in the Maritimes. - In QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, all of the important stations were located in MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. CKAC on 730 remained unchanged. CBF moved from 910 (which would have become 940) to 690, paving the way for CBMCBME-FM- External links :* * at Canadian Communications Foundation...
to move from 960, a regional channel, to clear-channel 940. - In OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, changes were again limited to the largest city, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. CBL moved from 840 (which would have become 860) to the new clear, 740. This allowed CFRB to move from 690 to 860, freeing up 690 for use in Montreal. - In ManitobaManitobaManitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, WinnipegWinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
's CKYCBW (AM)CBW is the callsign of the CBC Radio One station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The station broadcasts at AM 990, and this frequency functions as a Class A clear channel under former North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement allocations.-History:...
moved from 910 to 990. (The channel would eventually be taken over by the CBC.) - In AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, CJCACJCA (AM)CJCA is a Canadian radio station. It operates at 930 AM with the current brand name "AM930 The Light" in Edmonton, Alberta. It was first licensed on May 1, 1922 and it first broadcast on May 22, 1922, becoming Alberta's first radio station...
in EdmontonEdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
moved from clear channel 730 to regional channel 930. (This would make it possible for the CBC to later build CBXCBX (AM)CBX is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 740 AM in Edmonton, Alberta. It broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio One network.-History:...
in Edmonton on 740 kHz.) In CalgaryCalgaryCalgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, CFCNCKMX (AM)CKMX is a Canadian radio station in Calgary, Alberta with a classic country music format at AM 1060 kHz and is owned by Astral Media.The station dates back to 1921 when it was founded as CFCN. It was a phantom station affiliate of the Canadian National Railway radio network and later of the...
moved from 1030 to 1010; that channel would also eventually be taken over by the CBC. - In British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Vancouver's CBRCBU (AM)CBU is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio One network in Vancouver, British Columbia. The station broadcasts from Steveston on 690 AM and from Mount Seymour on 88.1 FM....
moved from 1100 to 1130, both secondary assignments on a U.S. clear channel. (It would only later move to 690, opening up the 1130 allocation for a commercial station in Vancouver.)