The AM Forum

For those of you that follow AM broadcast radio ...

After almost 100 years of broadcasting, 900 CHML went off the air abruptly on August 14th (yesterday).

CHML was based in Hamilton, Ontario where I grew up and it lulled me to sleep nightly on a crystal radio that I built in woodshop class when I was a kid.  So this came as a bit of a shock. The 50KW signal was heard widely in Canada, the US and beyond.  If you listened over the last few years you may know them for their nightly old time radio show broadcasts. 
The parent company apparently had financial issues and CHML disappeared into the noise without fanfare and just a brief announcement.  https://youtu.be/-J-9sRLLJug?t=692 (https://youtu.be/-J-9sRLLJug?t=692)

Last night after hearing the news I tuned to 900. Two new stations though I have not identified them yet. I started DX’ing the AM band in the mid 60’s, and I think I may have a QSL from CHML. We will be loosing WCBS on 880 on 8/26 to a new all sports format. Even more sad they will retire the WCBS call letters.

I listened last night and there seemed to be so many signals on that frequency that it was hard to make any of them out. According to Wikipedia there is nothing on that frequency in the mainland US over 500 watts at night.   There is a 100KW station in Mexico City though.

SAM KS2AM said:"♫♫♫.....I heard it! I heard it! I heard it on the X.....♫♫♫"  ;)

This is 900 CHML. We've been part of the lives of four generations of listeners for nearly 97 years. Well anyway, good bye.


Wow. Perhaps Corus, the current owner, can't make it profitable as a 50kW station but it does have the ability to run a 5kW day and night with fewer towers (they use an astonishing -eight- towers now). Perhaps a buyer will emerge...

I occasionally listen to 740AM CFZM out of Toronto.  They play oldies music. Hopefully they stick around for a while.

Thats another one. CBL-740 Toronto aka CBC Radio One (gubmint radio) had a 50KW station on 740 from 1937 to 1999 and just abandoned the frequency.  It eventually morphed into the current CFZM.  Not sure if CFZM uses the original taxpayer funded CBL-740 facilities or not.
Article from the Hammond Museum of Radio https://www.hammondmuseumofradio.org/cbl (https://www.hammondmuseumofradio.org/cbl)

I believe they do lease the site from CBC, which is a diplex site with 860 CJBC.

And another.

WCBS News Radio 880 signs off after nearly 60 years and is replaced by another goofy sports radio cesspool.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zXAKh33u6Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zXAKh33u6Q)

Sad to see 880 go after a lifetime of it being there.  They have a gigantic signal throughout New England.  Their programming was listenable and not overly slanted to an agenda. And they gave the time, weather and traffic regularly - so I could say "Glad I'm not on the BQE tonight".  It is a true end of an era.

The goofy sports cesspool is now the rival to 770ABC's Curtis Sliwa vs Anthony Weiner debate team.

Of course, 660 went all sports a long time ago. And isn't there at least one other NYC station that is all or mostly sports (IIRC in the mid part of the band)?

WINS 1010 out of NYC is all news but it may not have the coverage as 880 and may not have the exact same format.