CFCB (570 kHz) is an AM radio station in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It broadcasts at a power of 10,000 watts by day and 1,000 watts at night. Owned by Stingray Group, CFCB first went on the air on October 3, 1960. The station was founded by Dr. Noel Murphy.

CFCB
Broadcast areaWestern Newfoundland
Frequency570 kHz (AM)
Branding590 VOCM
Programming
FormatFull-service radio
Ownership
OwnerStingray Group
CKXX-FM
History
First air date
October 3, 1960
Call sign meaning
Coming From Corner Brook
Technical information
ClassC
Power10,000 watts (day)
1,000 watts (night)
Links
Websitevocm.com

On March 26, 2012, CFCB rebranded, which included a new slogan, logo and programming. The "Local News Now" slogan was adopted from VOCM in St. John's, which had rebranded just weeks before. The new CFCB logo also features the VOCM color scheme, which includes yellow and red.

As of March 9, 2022, CFCB no longer originates any local programming from Corner Brook following the closure of its studios and termination of on-air personnel by Stingray.[1] All content of this station is now simulcast from VOCM in St. John's, with the exception of local commercials. CFCB's sister station, CKXX-FM, also shared the same fate as it shared studio facilities and personalities.

Rebroadcasters

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CFCB also operates rebroadcasters in the following locations:

The CFNW in Gros Morne National Park was knocked off the air due to an ice and wind storm in late 2011 which damaged the tower. When the transmitter site was constructed in 1971, the area was not a national park. As of 2012 the signal in this area was still off the air. On October 3, 2012, Newcap Broadcasting applied to convert CFNW to the FM band.[2] On January 25, 2013, the CRTC approved Newcap's application to convert CFNW to the FM band. CFNW now operates at 96.7 MHz.[3]

In September 2013, the CFCB transmission tower in Corner Brook was taken down. Construction on a new tower has been recently completed with a modern three-legged guyed mast radiator. The previous mast radiator was in terrible shape and over 50 years old prior to being taken down. The old mast radiator, according to the website www.broadcasting-history.ca, was a second hand tower that was erected and begun broadcasting at 1,000 watts in 1961. No CRTC or Industry Canada records indicate the station filed any application to do this work. However, according to the broadcasting-history.ca web site, the CRTC approved the daytime transmitting power to 10,000 watts from 1,000 watts which could be achieved with the new and more modern mast radiator now located on the same plot of land that the previous one had been erected. Photos of the old and new towers are illustrated below.

 
Old mast radiator tower for CFCB
 
New CFCB Mast Radiator tower

On April 2, 2001, the sale of Humber Valley Broadcasting Co. Ltd. to Newcap Inc. was approved.[4] This included a number of radio stations such as:

  • CFCB Corner Brook
  • CFDL-FM Deer Lake
  • CFNW Port-aux-Choix
  • CFNN-FM St. Anthony
  • CFSX Stephenville
  • CFGN Port-aux-Basques
  • CFCV-FM St. Andrew's
  • CFLN Goose Bay
  • CFLW Wabush
  • CFLC-FM Churchill Falls

In September 2016, CFSX and its repeaters were shut down by Newcap Radio without any notice. The station appears to now be serving as a full-time repeater of CFCB, changing its identity to VOCM. Before then, CFSX operated as a daytime station, and served as a nighttime repeater to CFCB.

References

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  1. ^ "Stingray has closed its Corner Brook radio station and let go two employees: Reports | SaltWire".
  2. ^ Newcap's application - CRTC to convert CFNW Port aux Choix from the AM band to the FM band - October 3, 2012
  3. ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-24, CFCB Corner Brook – New transmitter at Port au Choix, CRTC, January 25, 2013
  4. ^ Decision CRTC 2001-208
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48°56′13″N 57°59′28″W / 48.93694°N 57.99111°W / 48.93694; -57.99111