Regulators have approved a plan for Corus Entertainment’s “Power 97” (CJKR-FM/97.5 Winnipeg) to drop its grandfathered “superpower” status but retain its existing coverage area.
The move comes after an April 7, 2021, fire destroyed the station’s antenna. The station has been operating at reduced power since then, using a repaired portion of the damaged antenna.
The filing says Corus attempted to repair the entire antenna but parts are no longer available. It also found that modern antenna designs would require an extension of 300 meters to the tower, which is not possible because it is on a flight path.
CJKR-FM is currently licensed for a maximum power of 310kW at 69 meters above average terrain. Though CJKR-FM is licensed as a Class C station, the low antenna height resulted in a coverage area that is only slightly larger than a class B or C2 station using 50kW/150m.
Under the plan approved by the CRTC, CJKR will move about 5 kilometers southeast to the Dufferin Communications site, using a maximum of 93.9kW from a directional antenna at 184m shared with Dufferin’s CKJS-FM/92.7. (As previously noted, Dufferin has also applied to move its other two Winnipeg FM stations to the site.)
The increase in antenna height will make up the difference caused by the reduction in power. Coverage maps submitted with the application show there will be a slight increase CJKR’s signal strength to the southeast and a slight decrease to the west.
The CRTC says it did not receive any interventions to the proposal.
CJKR-FM will also add an HD signal with the move.