CHED (880

kHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base uni ...

) is a

radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...

licensed to

Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

. Owned by

Corus Entertainment Corus Entertainment Inc. (often simply known as Corus) is a Canadian mass media and television production company. The company was founded in 1987 as Shaw Radio Ltd. as a subsidiary of Shaw Communications and was spun-off from Shaw in 1999. It h ...

, it broadcasts a

news/talk Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, interviews ...

format, and first signed on in 1954. Its studios are located on 84th Street and Roper Road in Edmonton, while its transmitters are located southeast of Edmonton. The station originally began broadcasting on March 3, 1954, on the frequency of 1080 kHz, and moved to 630 kHz on May 14, 1963. On June 26, 2024, as part of cuts by the company, Corus disbanded CHED's

All-news radio All-news radio is a radio format devoted entirely to the discussion and broadcast of news. All-news radio is available in both local and radio syndication, syndicated forms, and is carried on both major US satellite radio networks. All-news sta ...

sister station

CHQT CHQT was an AM broadcasting, AM radio station in Edmonton, Edmonton, Alberta. Owned by Corus Entertainment, the station first launched in August 1965. In June 2008, after having broadcast various music-based formats, CHQT flipped to an All-news r ...

, and began simulcasting CHED's programming on CHQT's 880 kHz frequency due to its better signal. After several months of simulcasting, CHED permanently moved to CHQT's signal on October 9, 2024. CHED broadcasts at 50,000

watt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of Power (physics), power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantification (science), quantify the rate of Work ...

s, using a

non-directional antenna In radio communication, an omnidirectional antenna is a class of antenna which radiates equal radio power in all directions perpendicular to an axis (azimuthal directions), with power varying with angle to the axis (elevation angle), declining t ...

in the daytime. As AM 880 is a clear channel frequency, CHED must use a

directional antenna A directional antenna or beam antenna is an antenna that radiates or receives greater radio wave power in specific directions. Directional antennas can radiate radio waves in beams, when greater concentration of radiation in a certain directio ...

at night. The station formerly broadcasting in

C-QUAM C-QUAM (Compatible QUadrature Amplitude Modulation) is the method of AM stereo broadcasting used in Canada, the United States and most other countries. It was invented in 1977 by Norman Parker, Francis Hilbert, and Yoshio Sakaie, and published in ...

AM stereo AM stereo is a term given to a series of mutually incompatible techniques for radio broadcasting stereo audio in the AM band in a manner that is compatible with standard AM receivers. There are two main classes of systems: independent sideban ...

History

Originally owned by Hugh Sibbald, Lloyd Moffat, and E. A. Rawlinson, the station first signed on to 1080 kHz at 8:00 p.m. on March 3, 1954, from studios on the corner of 107 Street and 100 Avenue in Downtown Edmonton. On May 14, 1963, at 6:30 am, CHED switched to 630 kHz. Beginning in 1959, CHED aired a Top 40/CHR format. Jerry Forbes ran the first 630 CHED Santas Anonymous in 1955. The charity provided 600 toys to children in its first year and is still run annually as of 2020. In the latest edition, the toy drive provided toys to over 20,000 children. In 1970,

Bob Layton Bob Layton (born September 25, 1953) is an American comic book artist, writer, and editor. He is best known for his work on Marvel Comics titles such as ''Iron Man (comic book), Iron Man'' and ''Hercules (Marvel Comics), Hercules'', and for co-fo ...

joined the station as a writer for Frank Robertson. The following year after Frank left the station, Bob went on the air as his replacement, beginning a near 50-year career in broadcasting. He would go on to win several national awards for his radio editorials. According to the 1976 BBM Weekly Reach survey, CHED was the most-listened-to radio station in Edmonton. This marked a period in which the Top-40 format lead CHED to become "the" radio station in the region. This continued until FM frequencies began pulling listeners away and on December 1, 1993, the station relaunched with a news/talk format. On July 6, 2000,

acquired the broadcast license for CHED from

Western International Communications WIC Western International Communications Ltd. (or WIC) was a Canadian media company that operated from 1982 to 2000, with operations including broadcast and specialty television, radio, and satellite distribution via a majority interest in Ca ...

. Throughout the 2010s, CHED was consistently in the top 3 of the most-listened-to radio stations in the Edmonton market, with a listener share reaching as high as 11.5 in 2016. As of February 28, 2021, CHED is the 4th-most-listened-to radio station in the Edmonton market according to a PPM data report released by Numeris. On June 26, 2024, CHED's programming began to be simulcast on 880 AM

. Corus stated at the time that the simulcast was an interim measure and that the company would ultimately only operate one news-talk AM station in Edmonton, but did not specify its plans for the signal. 630 CHED Logo

On August 28, 2024, Corus announced that the CHED intellectual unit, including its call letters and format, would move permanently to 880 AM, effective October 9, citing that facility's improved coverage. While both stations operated at a power of 50 kilowatts, the 880 AM transmitter is non-directional during the day whereas 630 is directional at all times. Corus intends to then return the 630 AM licence to the CRTC for cancellation, and sell the land on which that transmitter facility currently sits.

Programming

CHED has been operating a news/talk/sports format since 1993. The station's current morning show is hosted by Stacey Brotzel and Daryl McIntyre. Former morning hosts have included Ryan Jespersen, who was fired in September 2020 after comments he made regarding a city councillor's staff, and Shaye Ganam, who began hosting a 9 a.m. show simulcast with Calgary sister station CHQR on April 12, 2021. Its afternoon lineup features Courtney Theriault, followed by Bryn Griffiths on afternoon drive. CHED has been the flagship station of the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

since 1995; its contract with the Oilers was most recently renewed through the 2026–27 season. The station also broadcasts ''Oilers Now'', a daily talk show hosted by the team's radio colour analyst Bob Stauffer. It is also the flagship station of the

Edmonton Elks The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division (CFL), West Division and plays their home games at Commonw ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

. The talk show '' Charles Adler Tonight'' was syndicated on CHED every weeknight from 2016 to 2021. During off peak time and on weekends, the station features several local and syndicated programs. These include The Garden Show, Money Talks, The Shift, and Couch Potatoes.

References

External links

630 CHEDCHED-AM
at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the

Canadian Communications Foundation The Canadian Communications Foundation (CCF) was a Canadian nonprofit organization which documented the history of broadcasting in Canada, particularly radio and television networks, programs and broadcasters. The organization was established in ...

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ched (Am) Hed Hed Hed Radio stations established in 1954 1954 establishments in Alberta