The station has its roots in a weekly radio show that was broadcast overnights on CFPL-FM starting in 1971. The University Students' Council subsequently launched a carrier current station, which was added to the city's cable FM service in 1978 and was available on AC radios in some university buildings at 610 kHz. The station was available on 91.5 through the Rogers cable service until it was moved to digital channel 943 in 2007. In January 1980 the station formally organized as CHRW and applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for an FM license, which was granted in 1981. The station moved to the public airwaves in October of that year, with 50 watts at 94.7 on the FM dial. CHRW's chief announcer, John R. Quain, played CHRW 94.7 FM's first song, "On the Air" by Peter Gabriel, on October 31, 1981. In 1987, CHRW increased its power from 50 to 5,000 watts and decreased it from 5,000 to 3,000 watts in 1990. In November 2003, the station increased power again, to 6,000 watts, moved to its current frequency, and its tower was moved to One London Place from its previous location in the city's Cherryhill area. The station can be heard across London, and through several counties in southwestern Ontario, reaching past Woodstock, St. Thomas and surrounding communities between Lake Erie and Lake Huron. The station regularly broadcasts Western Mustangs sports games. One of CHRW's first on-air broadcasts in 1981 was Saturday afternoon football. CHRW continues regular live coverage of men's and women's basketball, and men's hockey, during the regular season and throughout the playoffs. In 2000, CHRW was recognized for Outstanding University Sports Coverage with the Fred Sgambati Media Award. The station is operated primarily by volunteers from both Western and the greater London community, although it is managed by a small team of industry trained staff and governed by a Board of Directors. In January 2018, the Western UniversityStudents' Council held a referendum to determine if the station was still relevant to students' funding. The vote resulted in a decrease in student tuition funding from $12 to $10.50 over a period of three years. In November 2018, a previously unreleased recording of an interview with Kurt Cobain from 1991 had been released by a former volunteer.
Notable alumni
- former Global National anchor got his start in broadcasting at CHRW when he was a student at Western, shortly after the station signed on and became the station's first News Director. Dan Shulman – Started "From The Cheap Seats" now ESPN Major league baseball Stephen Brunt - hosted a jazz show on CHRW while at Western before turning his attention to Sports writing Elliotte Friedman – CBC Hockey Night in Canada Adrienne Arsenault – CBC News Thalia Assuras – formerly of Global News and ABC News Rob Faulds – Rob was involved in Radio Western before it became CHRW; now at Rogers Sportsnet. James Rocchi - Former CHRW Program Director who went on to join Netflix and is currently a freelance film critic in Los Angeles. Bryan Webb - former CHRW Music Director, now lead vocalist for the Constantines. Steve Argintaru – TSN John McKenna - Executive Producer, News, CHCH TV Hamilton Basia Bulat - Singer/songwriter was also a student at Western when she started her performing career at the station. Her first EP was recorded at CHRW. Avis Favaro - CTV News Medical Correspondent Steve Patterson - renowned Canadian comedian Paul Vermeersch - Canadian poet co-hosted a comedy program on CHRW from 1994-1996. John R. Quain - Former CHRW Chief Announcer, journalist and current contributor to The New York TImes
