CBCL-FM

CBCL 93.5 (CFPL-FM’s original frequency) signed on the air July 5 as a full-time rebroadcaster of CBL 740 Toronto. The transmitter was located near Byron. Antenna height was 707.5’ or 215.6 metres. Effective radiated power was 100,000 watts. All programs on CBCL would originate with CBL-AM Toronto except for 6-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. when programming would come from CBL-FM in Toronto. 

CBC Radio added overnight programming to its schedule on May 1, with “CBC Radio Overnight”. The programming started out on certain CBC stations and was expanded to all of its stations by September. The program aired between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. (local time) and offered reports from public broadcasters in 25 countries, with Canadian news on the hour. The program service was provided by the World Radio Network in London, England.

On September 28, approval was given for the addition of local programming on CBCL. In fact, the CBC had to treat the application like that for a brand new radio station because it was a rebroadcast transmitter of CBLA-FM (formerly CBL-AM). CBCL would now be allowed to broadcast 2 hours and 30 minutes of local programming per broadcast week. This included 10 minutes of local programming each hour between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays. The remainder of the programming would be identical to that of CBLA-FM Toronto.

Studios were opened at 208 Piccadilly Street, Unit 4.

On January 31, CBCL was given permission to reduce effective radiated power from 100,000 to 69,300 watts. The coverage loss in the direction of Toronto resulting from this modification would be covered by CBLA-FM-2 Paris. The reduction was part of the CBC’s plan when CBL 740 became CBLA 99.1 (Toronto). It would reduce power on 93.5 London and change the 93.5 Peterborough frequency to 98.7 in order to allow the drop-in of a new 93.5 station in Toronto (CFXJ-FM).

On May 12 the CRTC renewed the licence of CBCL-FM.

On August 9, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CBCL-FM to August 31, 2011.

On August 25, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CBCL-FM to March 1, 2013.

Louis Saint-Cyr was the new Regional Operations Manager at CBC Windsor, responsible for stations at London and Kitchener-Waterloo. The 28-year CBC vet had been with CBC Toronto where he was Supervisor for Post Production at CBC Media Post Production Services. He began in Windsor on September 24.

On February 22, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CBCL-FM to August 31, 2013.

On May 28, the CRTC renewed the licence of CBCL-FM London for a five year term to August 31, 2018.

On March 7, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to amend the broadcasting licence CBCL-FM in order to operate a transmitter in Tillsonburg, operating at 88.7 MHz with an average ERP of 2,060 watts (maximum ERP of 8,180 watts) with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 78.9 metres.

On February 2, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to decrease ERP from 8,180 to 1,320 watts (average ERP from 2,060 to 1,320 watts) for CBCL-FM-1 Tillsonburg. The transmitter would be relocated and EHAAT (directional to non-directional) reduced.

In September, the CRTC approved an application from the CBC to reduce the power of CBCL-FM-1 Tillsonburg from 1,320 to 1,280 watts (average and maximum ERP). CBCL-FM-1 Tillsonburg (88.7 MHz with ERP of 1,280 watts) became operational in December.

On April 19, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to change the technical parameters of CBCL. Average ERP would be reduced from 69,300 to 65,200 watts. Maximum ERP would remain 100,000 watts. Antenna height would be raised from 231.2 to 267.2 metres (EHAAT). CBC Radio announced plans to expand its presence in London by launching a new morning show and a local news website. No launch date was announced but the expansion could include the hiring of eight people.

CBC Radio Windsor’s afternoon show relocated to CBC London in the spring. The move coincided with the opening of the CBC’s new station (CBCL) in London. Three of four jobs associated with the show moved to London while a reporter remained in Windsor.

CBC announced its London station would open June 12 from new studios inside the central branch of the London Public Library. A spokesperson said the station would take a digital-first approach with a strong online presence in addition to being home to CBC London’s new morning show (6 to 8:30 a.m.), and the afternoon show which would move from Windsor to London. Afternoon drive would remain a two-hour regional program focused on south-western Ontario.