1967
The CBC applied for a licence to operate a French-language AM radio station at Windsor, broadcasting on 540 kHz. The application was approved by the Board of Broadcast Governors.
1970
On May 18, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Radio-Canada) launched French-language CBEF. The station operated on 540 kHz with a power of 2,500 watts day and 5,000 watts at night (one directional pattern for day and night). The transmitter site with four towers was located in Anderson Township, Essex County. CBEF was the Radio-Canada station for the Windsor area.
1974
Radio-Canada’s television service came to Windsor (CBEFT-TV).
1976
Radio-Canada had applied for an FM rebroadcaster of CBEF at Sarnia, operating on 103.9 MHz with effective radiated power of 3,000 watts. The application was withdrawn as the AM 540 signal from Windsor had been improved in the area.
1982
CBEF launched rebroadcast transmitter CBEF-1-FM Leamington on May 19.
1997
The main Radio-Canada network was renamed Première Chaîne on September 1.
2001
By this time, CBEF operated one rebroadcast transmitter: CBEF-1-FM Leamington. CBEF broadcast approximately 36.5 hours of local programming each week from Windsor.
2008
On May 9, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation received approval to operate nested FM rebroadcasting transmitters at Windsor for CBE and CBEF. The transmitter for CBEF would operate at 105.5 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 620 watts. The CBC stated that a significant number of residents in the Windsor region who describe themselves as CBC listeners indicate trouble receiving signals in downtown Windsor. The Department of Industry informed the CRTC that, should the CBC's application for the proposed FM transmitter for CBEF be approved, the application would only be technically acceptable once the CBC submits a revised technical brief indicating a decrease in that transmitter's maximum ERP from 2,940 watts to 2,400 watts and the resulting decrease in its average ERP from 620 watts to 506 watts. The Department indicated that the required technical change would serve to protect a station in Cleveland. The Commission notes that the CBC has agreed to comply with the Department's direction.
Updated by Bill Dulmage - June, 2010
