CKRK-FM facts for kids
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| Frequency | 103.7 MHz (FM) |
|---|---|
| Branding | K1037 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Community Radio/ variety |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Mohawk Radio Kahnawake Association |
| History | |
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First air date
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March 30, 1981 |
| Technical information | |
| Class | A1 |
| ERP | 250 watts |
| HAAT | 50 meters (160 ft) |
| Links | |
| Website | www.k1037.com |
CKRK-FM is an English-language radio station located in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory. This is a First Nations reserve near Montreal, Quebec. The station is known as "K1037" and has been broadcasting since March 30, 1981. It plays a variety of music and offers special community programs.
Contents
K1037: Your Local Radio Station
K1037 broadcasts on 103.7 MHz (megahertz). It uses a power of 250 watts. This means the station can be heard very well in Kahnawake. It also reaches nearby towns in the southwest part of the Montérégie region. You can even pick up the signal on the island of Montreal, especially in the south and southwest areas.
How K1037 Started
CKRK-FM first started broadcasting on 103.5 MHz. Back then, it only used 50 watts of power. In 1996, the station moved to its current frequency of 103.7 MHz. It also increased its power to 250 watts. This change happened because another station, CJLM-FM, started broadcasting on the same channel in Joliette. This was causing problems with the signal.
Music and Shows
When K1037 first went on air, it mainly played country music. In 1995, the station changed its style. It started playing adult contemporary music. This is a mix of popular songs for grown-ups. They also added a lot of hip-hop music during weeknights.
Even today, K1037 still plays country music on the weekends. A recent survey showed that many people in Kahnawake still listen to K1037 for country music. This is true even though another station in the area plays only country songs.
Special Programs
The Kanien'kehaka Onkwawenna Raotitiohkwa Language and Cultural Centre helps with a special show. Every Wednesday, from noon to 1 p.m., K1037 broadcasts a show in Kanien'keha. This is the Mohawk language.
One of the most popular shows on K1037 is "Radio Bingo." This happens every Friday night from 7:30 PM to about 10:30 PM. Hundreds of people from Kahnawake and nearby communities play this on-air bingo game every week. It's a big part of the station's income.
Sports and Community Help
K1037 Radio often broadcasts live play-by-play games. They cover Kahnawake hockey and lacrosse games throughout the season. In the past, CKRK-FM even aired Montreal Expos baseball games in 1991 and 1992. This happened when another station, CJAD, couldn't broadcast them due to conflicts with Montreal Canadiens hockey games.
In 2008, K1037 worked with the Kahnawake Fire Brigade. They held a 55-hour-long "Radiothon." This was a special event to raise money for a new ladder truck for the fire department. K1037 successfully raised over $450,000 Canadian dollars. This helped a lot towards the $1.1 million cost of the vehicle.
Changes and Growth
In April 2010, a well-known Montreal radio host named Ted Bird joined K1037. He had worked at CHOM 97-7 for 25 years before coming to K1037. He later left CKRK-FM in May 2012.
Around mid-2019, K1037 started playing mostly a Hot AC (Adult Contemporary) format. This included many songs from the 80s and 90s. The station's audience began to grow. During the 2020 pandemic, K1037 reached its highest number of listeners. It had 42,000 listeners per day!
The station now averages about 28,000 listeners per day during weekdays. Its weekend country music format has also become much more popular. In June 2022, it was announced that Chris Reiser, a radio expert from Montreal, would join the team as the program director.
