A phantom radio station was a station which did not operate their own radio transmitter, rather leasing unused airtime from a station which owned the transmitter.
In the early days of radio, non-phantom stations (or "physical" stations) only broadcast for a few hours per day. The remaining unused time could then be rented to other stations, who would broadcast through the physical station's hardware. The relatively constant programming also would result in more public interest, who would be encouraged to buy receivers.
In
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
, the
Canadian National Railway radio network
CNR Radio or CN Radio (officially the Canadian National Railways Radio Department)CFCA, CFRB and CKGW. While leasing most of their airtime on other channels, the CNR also owned three stations; CNRA
Moncton
Moncton (; ) is the most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. Situated in the Petitcodiac River Valley, Moncton lies at the geographic centre of the The Maritimes, Maritime Provinces. The ...
, CRNO
Ottawa
Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
and CNRV
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
. The network was disbanded in 1932.
The rival
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
also operated its own radio network beginning in 1930 under the name CPR Radio, operating in Toronto under the call letters CPRY ('Canadian Pacific Royal York') out of studios at CP's Royal York Hotel while leasing time on CFRB and CKGW.