CINW

CINW was an English language Canadian radio station located in Montreal, Quebec.

Owned and operated by Corus Quebec, it broadcast on 940 kHz with a power of 50 000 watts as a clear channel (class A) station, using a slightly directional antenna solely for the purpose of improving reception in downtown Montreal. CINW's original incarnation, XWA, was Canada's first regularly operated commercial radio station, first signing on in 1919.

CINW, along with French-language sister station CINF, ceased operations at 7:00 p.m. ET on January 29, 2010.

History

XWA, CFCF, CIQC

The station that eventually become CINW started out on December 1, 1919 under the call sign XWA (for "Experimental Wireless Apparatus"). Experimental broadcasts continued from that date from the Marconi Wireless Company at 173 William Street (later re-numbered as 1017) after such time as the station began regular programming on May 20, 1920. As such, it has a claim to being the first commercial broadcaster in the world, although other stations, most notably KDKA and WWJ, have made similar claims. Its call letters were changed to CFCF on November 4, 1920. While the meaning of that call sign has never been officially confirmed, it is generally believed to be "Canada's First, Canada's Finest".