// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did CKJR say to its radio friend? You're on the right frequency.
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Broadcast area | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1440 kHz |
| Branding | Sports 1440 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports radio |
| Affiliations | Fox Sports Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Stingray Group |
| CFCW, CFCW-FM, CIRK-FM, CKRA-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | November 18, 1971 |
Former call signs | CJOI (1971–1994) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | CRTC |
| Class | B |
| Power | 10,000 watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 52°58′13″N 113°22′48″W / 52.9703°N 113.3799°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | sports1440 |
CKJR (1440 AM, "Sports 1440") is a radio station licensed to Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. Owned by Stingray Radio, it broadcasts a sports format primarily serving the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. CKJR's studios are located alongside its metropolitan sister stations at the West Edmonton Mall.
CKJR broadcasts with a non-directional pattern during the daytime hours and a directional signal (using a three-tower array) during nighttime hours. CKJR is the only station in Canada broadcasting at 1440 AM, and the only station with a sports radio format in western Canada after CFAC in Calgary and CISL in Vancouver shut down since July 7, 2026.
History
[edit]The station started in November 18, 1971 as CJOI on 1440 kHz, with 1,000 watts power.[1]
In 1974, CJOI started using 10,000 watts power.
CJOI became CKJR in 1994. The former callsign now belongs to CJOI-FM in Rimouski, Quebec.
In 2002, Standard Broadcasting purchased stations and sold parts to Newcap Broadcasting and Rogers Communications.[clarification needed]
In late September 2006, CKJR flipped from country to oldies as W1440.
In August 2023, Stingray announced that CKJR would flip to a sports talk format on September 5, 2023, as Sports 1440, in collaboration with former CFRN afternoon host Jason Gregor (via his company Just a Game Productions) and The Nation Network. The new format primarily targets the Edmonton market, restoring a sports station to the area after the June 2023 closure of CFRN by Bell Media.[2][3]
The station launched with four local programs, including the morning show The Kevin Karius Show, Fantasy Frenzy, The Lowdown with Lowetide, and The Jason Gregor Show on afternoon drive.[2] In October 2023, the station added a Fox Sports Radio affiliation, carrying its morning show Two Pros and a Cup of Joe, The Jason Smith Show, The Ben Maller Show, and its weekend programming.[4] In February 2024, Paul Sir revived his previous CFRN show The Basketball Show on CKJR.[5] In June 2026, Karius retired from broadcasting, and former CFRN host Tom Gazzola was announced as CJKR's new morning host beginning July 6.[6]
References
[edit]- ↑ "New radio station". The Calgary Herald. Calgary, Canada. November 18, 1971. p. 42. Retrieved May 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Thiessen, Connie (2023-08-14). "Stingray bringing sports radio back to Edmonton". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ↑ "TSN 1260 off the air in Edmonton as Bell Media pulls the plug | Offside". dailyhive.com. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ↑ "CJKR Sports 1440 Edmonton Adds FOX Sports Radio". Radio Online. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ↑ "Radio & Podcast News - Vista Radio launches 98.1 The Ranch in Lethbridge". Broadcast Dialogue. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ↑ Thiessen, Connie (2026-06-26). "Tom Gazzola moves into mornings on Edmonton's Sports 1440 AM". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- CKJR-AM at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
- CKJR in the REC Canadian station database
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