View source for CBU (AM)

{{short description|CBC Radio One station in Vancouver}}
{{For|the Brazilian rugby union also known as CBRu|Brazilian Rugby Confederation}}
{{Infobox radio station
| logo = Cbc radio one vancouver.svg
| format = [[All-news radio|News]]/[[Talk radio|Talk]]
| former_callsigns = '''CNRV''' (1925–1933)<br />'''CRCV''' (1933–1936)<br />'''CBR''' (1936–1951)
| owner = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| name = CBU
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1925}}
| frequency = 690 [[Hertz|kHz]] ([[AM broadcasting|AM]])
| repeater = {{Radio Relay|88.1|CBU-2-FM|Vancouver}}
| city = [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]
| area = [[British Columbia Coast|British Columbia South Coast]]
| power = 25,000 [[watt]]s
| branding = [[CBC Radio One]]
| class = B
| coordinates = {{coord|49.138744|N|123.198774|W|region:CA-BC_type:landmark|name=CBU 690 Vancouver}}
| former_frequencies = 1100 kHz (1925–1941)<br />1130 kHz (1941–1952)
| website = {{URL|https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia}}
| webcast = [https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio Listen Live]
| sister_stations = [[CBU-FM]], [[CBUF-FM]], [[CBUX-FM]], [[CBUT-DT]], [[CBUFT-DT]]
| callsign_meaning = '''C'''anadian '''B'''roadcasting Corporation Vanco'''U'''ver
}}
'''CBU''' is a Canadian [[non-commercial educational station|non-commercial]] [[public radio|public]] [[radio station]], in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]].  It carries the programming of the [[CBC Radio One]] [[radio network|network]]. The station broadcasts on 690 [[AM broadcasting|AM]] (a [[clear-channel station|clear channel frequency]]) and on 88.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]] as '''CBU-2-FM'''. CBU's newscasts and local shows are also heard on a chain of CBC stations around the [[Lower Mainland]].  

CBU's [[radio studio|studio]]s and offices are in the [[CBC Regional Broadcast Centre Vancouver|CBC Regional Broadcast Centre]] at 700 Hamilton Street in [[Downtown Vancouver]]. The AM [[transmitter]] is in the [[Steveston, British Columbia|Steveston]] section of [[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]] and the FM transmitter is on [[Mount Seymour]].

CBU's AM transmitter power is 25,000 [[watt]]s, using a [[directional antenna]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-52.htm|title=CBU Vancouver – Technical changes|first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)|last=Government of Canada|date=February 7, 2018|website=crtc.gc.ca|accessdate=April 13, 2021}}</ref>  The FM station has an [[effective radiated power]] (ERP) of 36,900 watts (97,600 watts maximum), broadcasting from a [[radio masts and towers|tower]] at {{convert|605.8|m|ft}} in [[height above average terrain]] (HAAT), also using a directional antenna.<ref>[https://fccdata.org/?lang=en&canfm=CBU-2-FM FCCdata.org/CBU-2-FM]</ref>

== History ==

=== Cnrv, Crcv, Cbr ===
The station was launched in {{start date and age|1925}}.  The original [[call sign]] was '''CNRV''', using the slogan "The Voice of the Pacific."  It broadcast on [[1100 AM]] and was owned by the [[Canadian National Railway radio network]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/cbu-am|title=CBU-AM History of Canadian Broadcasting|publisher=Canadian Communications Foundation|access-date=October 27, 2017|archive-date=October 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028094711/http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/cbu-am|url-status=dead}}</ref> CNRV was acquired by the [[Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission]] in 1933, becoming '''CRCV'''. In 1936, the CBC was created, taking over the CRBC's operations, and CRCV became '''CBR'''.
The transmitter was located on No. 4 Road in Richmond. This site was in use from 1938 to 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.richmond.ca/plandev/planning2/heritage/HeritageInv/details.aspx?ID=76|title=Radio Canada Building|publisher=City of Richmond|access-date=March 21, 2019}}</ref>

The station moved to 1130 in 1941 after the enactment of the [[Canadian allocations changes under NARBA|North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement]] (NARBA).  In 1947, an FM [[simulcast]] was launched on [[CBU-FM|105.7 MHz]].  Distinct programming on the FM station was aired for the first time in 1964 when it joined the "CBC FM Network."

===CBU===
The frequency was moved to 690 AM in 1952 when the call sign was changed to its current '''CBU'''.  In 1967, a new transmitter was erected in [[Steveston, British Columbia|Steveston]], on the shoreline along the [[Strait of Georgia]].  The station began broadcasting at 50,000 [[watt]]s, the highest power authorized by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC), allowing it to be heard throughout the [[Metro Vancouver Regional District]] and around the [[British Columbia Coast]].

Among Radio One stations on the AM dial around Canada, CBU covers the largest area of population, since Montreal and Toronto are served by FM stations. CBM [[Montreal]] moved to [[CBME-FM]] in 1998, and CBL [[Toronto]] moved to [[CBLA-FM]] in 1999.

===FM simulcast===
In early 2008, the CRTC approved CBU's application for a new simulcast of its programming on the FM band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/db2008-252.htm|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-252|date=September 5, 2008|publisher=CRTC|access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref> On October 10, 2008, CBU began testing its FM simulcast on 88.1 FM as '''CBU-2-FM''' with an [[effective radiated power]] of 19,500 watts, and it officially signed on soon after. Around the same time, the CBC also applied to broadcast on separate transmitters into Nanaimo, as well as the Sunshine Coast, with the intent to shut down the AM transmitter on 690&nbsp;kHz if approved. The CRTC denied these other two transmitters due to the lack of available frequencies in the region.

In 2011, the CBC applied to the CRTC to increase the coverage area of CBU-2-FM's transmitter. The CBC proposed increasing the height of the antenna and raising the ERP to 36,900 watts (97,600 watts maximum). The ability to increase the signal coverage area was made possible when [[CHEK-DT]] in [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]] moved from VHF TV channel 6 to 49, as part of the over-the-air digital television transition.  (TV channel 6 is heard on the FM band at 87.75, which puts it close on the dial to 88.1, the frequency for CBU-2-FM.)  This CBC transmitter application was approved September 13, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-494.htm|title=Broadcasting decision CRTC 2012-494|date=September 13, 2012|publisher=CRTC|access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref>

===Fire damages AM transmitter===
In November 2018, CBU reduced its AM transmitter power from 50,000 to 25,000 watts.  A fire at the Steveston transmitting facilities destroyed part of the station’s equipment in 2017.  It was decided repairs to restore the full 50,000 watts would have been too costly. 

===HD Radio===
CBU-2-FM transmits using [[HD Radio]] technology on 88.1 MHz. {{As of|April 2022}}, this signal provides simulcasts of CBU-FM on [[digital subchannel]] HD2 and [[CBCV-FM]] on subchannel HD3.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwbroadcasters.com/|title=Northwest Broadcasters - Since 1997 - News you can trust for over-the-air radio & TV stations in coastal WA and southwest BC|website=www.nwbroadcasters.com|accessdate=April 26, 2022}}</ref>

==Shortwave relay==
In 1941, CBR established a [[shortwave]] relay for remote areas of British Columbia using the call sign '''CBRX''' and operating on a frequency of 6.16&nbsp;MHz (in the 49m band) with a power of 150 watts. The call sign changed to '''CBUX''' in 1952 when the AM station became CBU.<ref name="sw">{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/ckzu-sw|title=CKZU-SW &#124; History of Canadian Broadcasting|access-date=2021-06-06|archive-date=2021-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606044721/https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/ckzu-sw|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1965, the call sign changed to '''CKZU''', recognizing that the [[ITU prefix]] CB was not assigned to Canada, but to Chile. The station was given permission to increase its power to 1,000 watts in 1986. The transmitter was adjacent to CBU's AM transmitter.<ref name="sw"/>  The 2017 fire that destroyed part of the AM transmitter also damaged the shortwave broadcasting equipment.

In February 2017, the CBC announced that CKZU was unlikely to return to shortwave. The CBC stated that the transmitter was in a state of disrepair with no replacement parts available due to aging equipment. Purchasing a new transmitter would be too costly due to the minimal number of listeners who tune into the facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swling.com/blog/2017/02/ckzu-unlikely-to-return-to-shortwave/|title=CKZU unlikely to return to shortwave|author=Dave Zantow|date=23 February 2017|publisher=The Swling Post|access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiowest.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?p=12823906|title=No more CBU on shortwave|publisher=Radiowest.ca|access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref>

==Local programming==
CBU's [[CBC Radio One local programming|local programs]] are ''The Early Edition'', hosted by Stephen Quinn, in the morning; and ''On the Coast'', hosted by [[Gloria Macarenko]], in the afternoon. 

CBU also originates the lunch-hour show ''BC Today'', hosted by Michelle Eliot and simulcast over [[CBUT-DT]],<ref>https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/community/watch-bc-today-now-1.6873575, {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> as well as the weekend programs ''North By Northwest'', hosted by Margaret Gallagher, in the morning; and ''Hot Air'' on Saturday afternoons. These shows (except for ''The Early Edition'' and ''On the Coast'') are broadcast province-wide to Radio One's stations in [[CBCV-FM|Victoria]], [[CBTK-FM|Kelowna]], [[CBYK-FM|Kamloops]], [[CFPR|Prince Rupert]] and [[CBYG-FM|Prince George]], as well as their respective [[Broadcast relay station|rebroadcasters]].

==Transmitters==
{{RadioRebroadcasters
| rec              = true
| crtc             = true
| notes            = true
| callsign         = CBU
| call1            = CBU-1-FM
| freq1            = 88.5 FM<br />Moved from 101.7 on August 10, 2011
| watts1           = 7400
| class1           = B1
| city1            = [[Abbotsford, British Columbia|Abbotsford]]
| crtc1            = [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/db2007-348.htm 2007-348] [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-298.htm 2010-298]
| notes1           = {{coord|49|3|8|N|122|14|58|W|region:CA-BC_type:landmark|name=CBU-1-FM 88.5 Abbotsford}}
| call2            = CBYF-FM
| freq2            = 91.7 FM
| watts2           = 500
| class2           = A
| city2            = [[Chilliwack]]
| crtc2            = 
| notes2           = {{coord|49|6|35|N|121|50|52|W|region:CA-BC_type:landmark|name=CBYF-FM 91.7 Chilliwack}}
| call3            = CBYH-FM
| freq3            = 96.7 FM
| watts3           = 90
| class3           = A1
| city3            = [[Harrison Hot Springs]]
| crtc3            =
| notes3           = {{coord|49|17|37|N|121|46|40|W|region:CA-BC_type:landmark|name=CBYH-FM 96.7 Harrison Hot Springs}}
| call4            = CBUE-FM
| freq4            = 101.7 FM
| watts4           = 105
| class4           = A1
| city4            = [[Hope, British Columbia|Hope]]
| crtc4            =
| notes4           = {{coord|49|23|14|N|121|25|21|W|region:CA-BC_type:landmark|name=CBUE-FM 101.7 Hope}}
| call5            = CBU-3-FM
| freq5            = 91.5 FM
| watts5           = 262
| class5           = A
| city5            = [[Pemberton, British Columbia|Pemberton]]
| crtc5            =
| notes5           = {{coord|50|19|39|N|122|49|20|W|region:CA-BC_type:landmark|name=CBU-3-FM 91.5 Pemberton}}
| call6            = CBRU-FM
| freq6            = 98.3 FM<br />Originally 1350 AM, then 1260, then 1270
| watts6           = 3,000
| class6           = A
| city6            = [[Squamish, British Columbia|Squamish]]
| crtc6            = [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1984/DB84-282.HTM 84-282] [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2006/db2006-275.htm 2006-275] [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2002/db2002-432.htm 2002-432]
| notes6           = {{coord|49|46|24|N|123|7|44|W|region:CA-BC_type:landmark|name=CBRU-FM 98.3 Squamish}}
| call7            = CBYW-FM
| freq7            = 100.1 FM
| watts7           = 500
| class7           = A
| city7            = [[Whistler, British Columbia|Whistler]]
| crtc7            =
| notes7           = {{coord|50|4|45|N|123|1|4|W|region:CA-BC_type:landmark|name=CBYW-FM 100.1 Whistler}}
}}
CBU's signal on 690 AM also can be heard in [[Nanaimo]] and [[Gibsons]].

==Current on-air staff==
* Amy Bell, weekday morning traffic reporter
* Michelle Eliot, host of weekday noon-hour program ''BC Today''
* tbd, host of Saturday afternoon music program ''Hot Air''
* [[Gloria Macarenko]], host of weekday afternoon program ''On the Coast''
* Margaret Gallagher, host of weekend morning program ''North By Northwest''
* Stephen Quinn, host of weekday morning program ''The Early Edition''
* Robert Zimmerman, morning news editor

==Former CBU personalities==
* Rick Cluff, former host of ''The Early Edition''
* [[Anne Petrie]], former host of CBU radio program ''3's Company''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{GeoGroup}}
* {{Official website|https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia}}
* [https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-stations/british-columbia/british-columbia-vancouver/CBU-AM CBU-AM] at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the [[Canadian Communications Foundation]]
* {{RecnetCanada|CBU}}
* {{RecnetCanada|CBU-2-FM}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130228025245/http://www.bbm.ca/_documents/radio_market_ratings/december_6_2012/RD_ME_Topline_Radio_Report_Vancouver_06-12-2012.pdf Bureau of Broadcast Management; PPM Top-line Radio Statistics, Vancouver CTRL]
{{Vancouver Radio}}
{{CBC radio stations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cbu (Am)}}
[[Category:Radio stations in Vancouver|BU]]
[[Category:CBC Radio One stations|BU]]
[[Category:Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1925]]
[[Category:1925 establishments in British Columbia]]
[[Category:CNR Radio]]