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CKEN-FM

Kentville, Nova Scotia
Broadcast area	Kentville Middleton Digby Weymouth
Frequency	97.7 MHz (FM)
Branding	AVR
Programming
Format	Country
Ownership
Owner	Maritime Broadcasting System
Sister stations	CFAB, CKWM-FM
History
First air date	1947
Former frequencies	1490 kHz (AM) (1947–1953) 1350 kHz (1953–1979) 1490 kHz (1979–2003)
Call sign meaning	C KENtville (broadcast area)
Technical information
Class	B
ERP	18 kWs horizontal polarization only
HAAT	201 meters (659 ft)
Links
Website	avrnetwork.com

CKEN-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting from Kentville, Nova Scotia at 97.7 FM. The station currently plays a country format and is branded on-air as AVR (which is short for Annapolis Valley Radio). The station has been on the air since 1947.

The station originally broadcast at 1490 AM, then moved to 1350 in 1953, then back to 1490 in 1979. In July 2002, the station received CRTC approval to move to 94.9 FM, but instead moved to 97.7 FM in 2003. CKWM-FM moved to 94.9 and became Magic 94.9. Both stations are owned by the Maritime Broadcasting System.

Rebroadcasters

On November 15, 2011, MBS received CRTC approval to operate CKDY as a separate, locally originated station, with CKDY-1-FM continuing to repeat CKDY.

CKEN-FM's programming previously simulcasted on CFAB AM in Windsor; that station broke off from the AVR network in 2008, to broadcast as an independently operated station.

On February 26, 2020, the station's copper wiring and computer system was stolen by an unknown person. This has resulted in the AM signal being off-air, leaving listeners to rely on the FM signal in Weymouth. On February 28, 2020, an arrest was made involving a 40-year old unnamed woman, who has subsequently been facing charges in connection with theft and vandalization. She is due in the Digby provincial court in April.

In March 2020, the CRTC approved Maritime Broadcasting System's application to temporarily operate CKDY on FM at 99.7 MHz until the AM signal at 1420 kHz returns to the air. There's a potential that CKDY may remain on 99.7 FM if the radio station decides to permanently shutdown the AM signal.

On September 30, 2020, Maritime Broadcasting System Limited submitted an application for a broadcasting licence to operate an english-language commercial FM radio station in Digby, NS to replace its AM radio station CKDY Digby. The new station would operate at 99.7 MHz (channel 259B1) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 2.39 kW (directional antenna with a maximum ERP of 6.53 KW with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 165.7 metres).

On May 3, 2021, the CRTC approved Maritime Broadcasting System's application to move CKDY to 99.7 MHz.

On July 28, 2023, the CRTC approved MBS's application to operate a new temporary low-power transmitter at 99.7 MHz (channel 259LP) in Digby with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 33.5 watts (directional antenna with a maximum ERP of 50 watts and an effective height of the antenna above average terrain of 33.3 metres). On September 26, 2024, Maritime Broadcasting System Limited received CRTC approval to decrease the maximum effective radiated power (ERP) from 6,530 to 5,570 watts, increase the average ERP from 2,390 to 2,690 watts, decrease the effective antenna height above average terrain (EHAAT) from 165.7 to 24.5 meters, and amend the existing coordinates of the transmitter site. 

References

1. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-165
2. Decision CRTC 84-552
3. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-708
4. Woman charged following copper theft from Digby radio site, CTV News Atlantic, February 28, 2020
5. Digby loses radio service after thieves steal copper and equipment from transmitter site, The Chronicle Herald, February 27, 2020
6. 1420 CKDY former logo
7. CRTC approval to use 99.7 FM for CKDY. 2020-0512-7
8. CKDY on air in Digby at 99.7 FM, AVR Network, March 2020
9. 99.7 CKDY Logo
10. Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2020-344 2020-0175-9, CRTC, September 30, 2020
11. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2021-153, CKDY Digby – Conversion to the FM band, CRTC, May 3, 2021
12. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-231, CKDY Digby – New transmitter in Digby, CRTC, July 28, 2023
13. AppNo=202401587, CRTC, June 10, 2024
14. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2024-221, CKDY-FM Digby – Technical changes, CRTC, September 26, 2024

External links

• AVR Network
• CKEN-FM at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
• CKDY history - Canadian Communications Foundation
• CKAD history - Canadian Communications Foundation
• CKEN-FM in the REC Canadian station database

45°09′46″N 64°33′24″W / 45.16278°N 64.55667°W / 45.16278; -64.55667

• Radio stations in Nova Scotia
• Country radio stations in Canada
• Maritime Broadcasting System radio stations
• Radio stations established in 1947
• 1947 establishments in Nova Scotia