Vancouver loses an AM

[KilowattKat]

50,000 watt CJVB 1470 will shut down permanently on March 5. The Chinese language programming will be absorbed into their co- owned Mandarin CHKG-FM (the call letters stand for Hong Kong). CJVB was multilingual.

Radio station shutters its AM channel after 30 years on the air

The closure of AM 1470 will remove around 24 hours of weekly Chinese community programming from the airwaves.

www.richmond-news.com

 

[fordranger797]

This raises a question from me:

If I understand correctly, 96.1 and 1470 used to rotate programming throughout the day to cater to both Cantonese and Mandarin speaking listeners. While one station would air Mandarin in the morning, the other would air Cantonese programming. Does shutting down 1470 restrict the way programming is delivered for someone who seeks out Mandarin-specific or Cantonese-specific content?

With that information aside, it seems like there aren't many AM radio stations left in Vancouver. Ironically, 1470 was among the more powerful radio stations in the market to boot. Now, there's only a handful of stations left.

 

[RF101]

Since March 2, CJVB 1470 has been running a loop announcing the closedown and the migration to 96.1 . The loop runs in English and (I believe) Cantonese.

 

[Gregg.]

For those who are curious, Mandarin words can only end in vowels, R or N. You can tell if it's Cantonese because that language has words also ending in T and D. The characters for Mandarin and Cantonese are pretty much the same. But when spoken, Mandarin and Cantonese are not mutually understood. There is an AM station at 1320 that also broadcasts to the Chinese community but I'm not sure if it runs shows in both languages or concentrates on one.

In recent years, Vancouver has lost several AM stations in addition to 1470: They include CFTE, formerly CFUN, at 1430, 50,000 watts, airing Business News from Bloomberg. It lost CKST 1040, also 50,000 watts, which had an all-comedy format. And it lost 50,000 watt 980 which had been the former home of top-rated AM talk station CKNW. That station moved to 730, which had been a 24 hour Traffic station.

 

[radiofan2023]

There’s also still 600 CKSP, though it’s only 50,000 watts day and 20,000 at night. Also 1130 CKWX.

 

[The New Chico]

With that information aside, it seems like there aren't many AM radio stations left in Vancouver. Ironically, 1470 was among the more powerful radio stations in the market to boot. Now, there's only a handful of stations left.

It is definitely a shrinking roster. What do we have left?
600 50/20
650 20/4
690 25/25
730 50/50
1130 50/50
1200 25/25
1320 50/50

Am I missing any?

 

[fordranger797]

For those who are curious, Mandarin words can only end in vowels, R or N. You can tell if it's Cantonese because that language has words also ending in T and D. The characters for Mandarin and Cantonese are pretty much the same. But when spoken, Mandarin and Cantonese are not mutually understood. There is an AM station at 1320 that also broadcasts to the Chinese community but I'm not sure if it runs shows in both languages or concentrates on one.

In recent years, Vancouver has lost several AM stations in addition to 1470: They include CFTE, formerly CFUN, at 1430, 50,000 watts, airing Business News from Bloomberg. It lost CKST 1040, also 50,000 watts, which had an all-comedy format. And it lost 50,000 watt 980 which had been the former home of top-rated AM talk station CKNW. That station moved to 730, which had been a 24 hour Traffic station.

Yes, the message airing on 1470 is in Cantonese. You can tell the difference between mandarin and Cantonese by sound, but a lot of people would not know the difference if they didn’t know what to listen for. 1320am primarily broadcasts in Cantonese, so it serves that community well. I believe there are some evening programs in mandarin.

It’s hard to say what the decision to close 1470 means for mandarin and Cantonese speakers. From a glance, this seems like a bit of a bad thing, given the fact that Fairchild was able to air one language on 96.1 while airing the other on 1470 (and then switch later on in the day to comply with the CRTC regulations on foreign language programming).

 

[fordranger797]

It is definitely a shrinking roster. What do we have left?
600 50/20
650 20/4
690 25/25
730 50/50
1130 50/50
1200 25/25
1320 50/50

Am I missing any?

Yep… that’s all that’s left now.

You could perhaps throw in CFAX 1070, but they are a Victoria station (which I can’t even hear most of the time at my place in Richmond). There’s also KRPI 1550 and KVRI 1600. Only KVRI 1600 sounds decent these days. The technical issues at 1550 make it sound almost non existent. Lastly, KARI 550 could technically be counted. All in all, there’s not much left.

I’m actually surprised CBC is still on from the Steveston 690 site. I actually run/bike by it all of the time, and it looks like it’s seen better days. I think it SHOULD stay on, since it’s one of the better AM signals in the market providing coverage to remote areas that CBC can’t reach with their main FM transmitter. Even at 50% power, it’s arguably just as strong as CKWX or CKNW. The FM coverage is not as good.

 

[Gregg.]

Yep… that’s all that’s left now.

You could perhaps throw in CFAX 1070, but they are a Victoria station (which I can’t even hear most of the time at my place in Richmond). There’s also KRPI 1550 and KVRI 1600. Only KVRI 1600 sounds decent these days. The technical issues at 1550 make it sound almost non existent. Lastly, KARI 550 could technically be counted. All in all, there’s not much left.

I’m actually surprised CBC is still on from the Steveston 690 site. I actually run/bike by it all of the time, and it looks like it’s seen better days. I think it SHOULD stay on, since it’s one of the better AM signals in the market providing coverage to remote areas that CBC can’t reach with their main FM transmitter. Even at 50% power, it’s arguably just as strong as CKWX or CKNW. The FM coverage is not as good.

I understand 690 CBU's transmitter site had a fire some years ago and the CBC decided not to invest in a total repair. That's why it's now at 25,000 watts around the clock instead of 50,000 watts. CBU is still a rare CBC Radio 1 station that has both AM and FM outlets, AM 690 and FM 88.1. It's also true in Winnipeg, Regina/Saskatoon and a few other cities.

But in most places, you only get CBC Radio 1 and Radio-Canada Premiere on FM now. The CBC gave up powerful, clear-channel, 50,000-watt AM stations in Toronto (740 CBL), Montreal (940 CBM) and the Maritimes (1070 CBA) and for its French network, in Montreal (690 CBF) and Chicoutimi (1580 CBJ). A few 50,000 watt clear channel CBC stations remain in Western Canada and Radio-Canada's 860 CJBC Toronto.

 

[fordranger797]

I understand 690 CBU's transmitter site had a fire some years ago and the CBC decided not to invest in a total repair. That's why it's now at 25,000 watts around the clock instead of 50,000 watts. CBU is still a rare CBC Radio 1 station that has both AM and FM outlets, AM 690 and FM 88.1. It's also true in Winnipeg, Regina/Saskatoon and a few other cities.

But in most places, you only get CBC Radio 1 and Radio-Canada Premiere on FM now. The CBC gave up powerful, clear-channel, 50,000-watt AM stations in Toronto (740 CBL), Montreal (940 CBM) and the Maritimes (1070 CBA) and for its French network, in Montreal (690 CBF) and Chicoutimi (1580 CBJ). A few 50,000 watt clear channel CBC stations remain in Western Canada and Radio-Canada's 860 CJBC Toronto.

It’s a shame, because many of those 50kw CBC stations provide coverage to listeners who can’t listen to CBC on FM. I think this is why 690am is still on the air. Even with the power reduction, they boom in crystal clear many parts of Vancouver island and the Sunshine Coast that I have no reception from 88.1 (and no repeater).

I’m not sure I would invest in refurbishing their entire AM site, but I hope they keep up with the maintenance to keep it operational.

 

[radiofan2023]

It’s a shame, because many of those 50kw CBC stations provide coverage to listeners who can’t listen to CBC on FM. I think this is why 690am is still on the air. Even with the power reduction, they boom in crystal clear many parts of Vancouver island and the Sunshine Coast that I have no reception from 88.1 (and no repeater).

I’m not sure I would invest in refurbishing their entire AM site, but I hope they keep up with the maintenance to keep it operational.

The CBC also has Low Power AM stations, too.

 

[Kent]

For those who are curious, Mandarin words can only end in vowels, R or N. You can tell if it's Cantonese because that language has words also ending in T and D.

I'm having to go back about 30 years because it's been that long since I've spoken Chinese, but, if I remember correctly, the "R" ending is only in the north of China. Cantonese also has words ending in a "K" sound. The ultimate reason you learn romanization in that language is to get rid of it. So, I don't remember it well at all anymore. It's a language that really gets away from you if you don't use it. At one time, I was hoping to build a career out of knowing it, but that was not to be.

It’s a shame, because many of those 50kw CBC stations provide coverage to listeners who can’t listen to CBC on FM. I think this is why 690am is still on the air. Even with the power reduction, they boom in crystal clear many parts of Vancouver island and the Sunshine Coast that I have no reception from 88.1 (and no repeater).

Much like in the US, AM isn't really used by very many people in Canada anymore. It might get slightly more use in Canada, but it's not much more. Since Canada didn't clutter up its FM dial by allowing radio stations anytime enough people to fit in a phonebooth showed continuing interest in a potential station, it has moved its AM stations to FM in most every market except for the largest ones. It might have a few smaller market stations that remained on AM for technical or financial reasons, but I don't think it's very many of them.

 

[The New Chico]

Yep… that’s all that’s left now.

You could perhaps throw in CFAX 1070, but they are a Victoria station (which I can’t even hear most of the time at my place in Richmond). There’s also KRPI 1550 and KVRI 1600. Only KVRI 1600 sounds decent these days. The technical issues at 1550 make it sound almost non existent. Lastly, KARI 550 could technically be counted. All in all, there’s not much left.

I’m actually surprised CBC is still on from the Steveston 690 site. I actually run/bike by it all of the time, and it looks like it’s seen better days. I think it SHOULD stay on, since it’s one of the better AM signals in the market providing coverage to remote areas that CBC can’t reach with their main FM transmitter. Even at 50% power, it’s arguably just as strong as CKWX or CKNW. The FM coverage is not as good.

Not sure 1550 will ever be a "Vancouver" station agan at this rate. They of course made the bid to become a true border blaster some years ago- the attempt to move to Pt. Roberts. When that failed, they were left with the original physical plant in Ferndale that apparently was not in great repair even back then. And it certainly has not gotten better since.

They have been running on an STA for like 3 years now. In theory they are running 50kW days and 800 watts at night. I can beleive the night power, but days I am pretty dubious. Day or night, they are not putting a quality signal into the lower mainland like they once were able

 

[Mediafrog+]

It’s a shame, because many of those 50kw CBC stations provide coverage to listeners who can’t listen to CBC on FM. I think this is why 690am is still on the air. Even with the power reduction, they boom in crystal clear many parts of Vancouver island and the Sunshine Coast that I have no reception from 88.1 (and no repeater).

CBU used to have a shortwave simulcast via CKZU on 6160 kHz, but that ended about ten yeats ago when the transmitter died. I recall regularly hearing it in Houston years ago.

 

[Gregg.]

I'm having to go back about 30 years because it's been that long since I've spoken Chinese, but, if I remember correctly, the "R" ending is only in the north of China. Cantonese also has words ending in a "K" sound. The ultimate reason you learn romanization in that language is to get rid of it. So, I don't remember it well at all anymore. It's a language that really gets away from you if you don't use it. At one time, I was hoping to build a career out of knowing it, but that was not to be.

I was learning Mandarin for a while but it was hard and I've forgotten some of what I've learned. R is used at the end of quite a few Mandarin words. The number two is pronounced AR or ER, depending on what region you are in. Pinyin is a good system but you have to understand the code to make it work. Most of the letters are what you assume they are but not all.

Almost every English-speaking newscaster mispronounces Xi, the name of the President of China, not knowing what X represents. It's not SHE, the female pronoun in English. X is pronounced SY. So it's like YEE, but with an S in front. President SYEE.

And yes, I should have mentioned that K can also be an ending for Cantonese words but not Mandarin.

 

[fordranger797]

I was learning Mandarin for a while but it was hard and I've forgotten some of what I've learned. R is used at the end of quite a few Mandarin words. The number two is pronounced AR or ER, depending on what region you are in. Pinyin is a good system but you have to understand the code to make it work. Most of the letters are what you assume they are but not all.

Almost every English-speaking newscaster mispronounces Xi, the name of the President of China, not knowing what X represents. It's not SHE, the female pronoun in English. X is pronounced SY. So it's like YEE, but with an S in front. President SYEE.

And yes, I should have mentioned that K can also be an ending for Cantonese words but not Mandarin.

I think it's also worth noting that Cantonese speakers seem to be able to understand Mandarin a bit better than Mandarin speakers and Cantonese. I am not an expert on either language, but of the two, I believe Cantonese is the more complex one. And as you correctly pointed out, pronunciation is everything.