CKWB-FM (97.9

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...

) is a Canadian radio station in

Westlock, Alberta Westlock is a town in central Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1913, the town is primarily an agricultural, business, and government administration centre serving communities and rural areas within surrounding Westlock County. Geography Westlock i ...

. The station also serves the

Barrhead Barrhead (, ) is a town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, southwest of Glasgow city centre on the edge of the Gleniffer Braes. At the 2011 census its population was 17,268. History Barrhead was formed when a series of small textile-produ ...

area. The station currently airs a

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

format branded on-air as ''New Country 97.9'' and was owned by

Newcap Radio Stingray Radio Inc. is a Canadian radio broadcasting conglomerate owned by Stingray Group. It owns and operates 101 radio stations in Canada, making it the largest radio conglomerate in Canada. It also once owned two now-defunct television statio ...

until they were bought out by

Stingray Group Stingray Group Inc. (formerly Stingray Digital and Stingray Digital Group) is a Canadian music, media and technology company based in Montreal, Quebec, with offices in Toronto, Ontario, as well as in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, ...

History

It's uncertain when the station signed on as CFOK, however, the station dates back to the 1971 as a rebroadcaster of CKBA-FM. On December 24, 1974, Charest Communications Ltd. (the original owners) was granted a licence to operate a new AM radio station on 1370

kHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base uni ...

at Westlock with a power of 10,000 watts (directional at night). Over the years, the station has gone through different brandings, formats and ownerships.

Move to FM

On October 8, 2009, CFOK applied to convert to 97.9

. The station received

CRTC The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC; ) is a public organization in Canada tasked with the mandate as a regulatory agency tribunal for various electronic communications, covering broadcasting and telecommunic ...

approval on February 19, 2010. In August 2011, CFOK began testing on their new frequency at 97.9 MHz. After the official launch of the new station on 97.9 FM, the station's call sign would be CKWB-FM. On September 6, 2011, at 6:00 am MDT, CFOK dropped its classic hits format and made its official move to 97.9 MHz as ''97.9 The Range'' with its new

call sign In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...

CKWB-FM and a

format. CFOK's old AM 1370 transmitter was shut down. In November 2016, CKWB rebranded under the ''Real Country'' brand, as with other Newcap-owned country stations in Alberta. On March 4, 2024, CKWB rebranded as ''New Country 97.9'' to match the company’s other country music stations.

References

External links

*
CKWB-FM
at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the

Canadian Communications Foundation The Canadian Communications Foundation (CCF) was a Canadian nonprofit organization which documented the history of broadcasting in Canada, particularly radio and television networks, programs and broadcasters. The organization was established in ...

* (Current frequency) * (Old frequency) KWB KWB KWB Westlock County Radio stations established in 2011 2011 establishments in Alberta {{Alberta-radio-station-stub