Closing in on 100 years, CKUA Radio could go dark without cash infusion

'Perfect storm' of inflationary pressures and a lack of government support is taking its toll on one of Canada's oldest radio stations

I recall when CKUA was a contender, but years ago, I stopped listening.

Originally CKUA was an Alberta Govenment station, carrying programming relating to Alberta Government programmes and matters of interest to farmers and rural folk as well as those in cities. Then it was cut loose to fend for itself and veered off into other things. IT seems whenever I remember them and try to listen again they have a fund raiser.

Perhaps the newly refocused UCP govenment could regain control of CKUA and return the network to its original mandate to provide a sensible Alberta counterbalance to the CBC's Federal Government bias.

FWIW, I was at one time a all-day CBC listener while working but that faded and CHQR became more favoured in afternoons, spite of its brain-dead advertising.

Lately I listen to CBR drive-time sometimes and occasionally CHQR and CBR, and podcasts.

CBC had good news at one time, but as I recall, CKUA was CBC's equal or better. Frankly, the 'News" on all stations these days is an insult to any intelligent and informed person. It is delivered in dramtic tones and tends to the sensational.

The big advantage of both CBC and CKUA over commercial radio was and is lack of ads.

That may have changed in the last decade to some extent on CKUA.

Maybe it is time for the Alberta government to regain interest in CKUA, support and refocus and put the network back to good use, getting the Alberta message out to Albertans.

Apparently CKUA is an Alberta crown corporation. Right now, you would never know it.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/ckua