CKLW-AM (Windsor, Ontario)

 radio station  Add category

The home of radio broadcasters CKWW-AM, CIMX-FM, CIDR-FM and CKLW-AM, once the seventh most listened to radio station in North America.

CKLW began in 1932 as CKOK but following a merger with a London station it became CKLW. The "LW" stands for "London-Windsor". It moved to 800 on the radio dial in 1941 and by 1949 it's power was increased to 50,000 watts.

From the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s and broadcasting from 825 Riverside Drive East, it was known as the "Big 8" and was one of the most influential Top 40 stations in Canada and the U.S., both at the same time. By 1970 only 6 other radio stations, all in New York City or Chicago, had a larger audience. During this period on air personalities included, Tom Shannon, Dave Shafer, Terry Knight, Tom Clay and newsmen, Byron McGregor and Randall Carlisle.

In 1970 to meet government imposed Canadian ownership requirements the station was acquired by Baton Broadcasting from American owned RKO. New studios and offices were constructed in 1972 at the present Ouellette Avenue address. With the introduction of Canadian content rules in 1975 and a change in format to adult contemporary in 1977 the popularity of the station declined.

When the CHUM Group from Toronto acquired the station in 1993 it was combined with stations CKWW and CIMX and converted to a news talk format serving a largely local listener community in Windsor and Essex County.