CJEG-FM

On March 10, the CRTC approved an application for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station in Bonnyville, Alberta. The proposed station would operate at 101.3 MHz (channel 267B) with an effective radiated power of 27,000 watts. Newcap proposed to operate the station in a contemporary pop music format targeted to listeners between the ages of 18 and 45 years. The format would cover many musical genres, including pop, hip hop and rock. The station would provide a comprehensive schedule of local news with 53 newscasts weekly. News reports would also originate from the Alberta News Network based in Edmonton. In addition, the station would air daily features profiling community events, gatherings, meetings and other community information, and assist the region’s arts scene by featuring live bands, theatre productions, concerts and art shows. The licence would expire August 31, 2012. Newcap indicated that, if this application were approved, it would not implement the transmitter in Bonnyville, which was approved in CKSA Lloydminster – Conversion to FM band, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-461, 18 December 2002.

CJEG-FM began on-air testing May 5th, with official sign-on two weeks later (May 19) as “KOOL 101.3 FM”. The station had a Hot Adult Contemporary music format featuring a variety of hit songs from the 80’s, the 90’s and Now.

On August 8, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CJEG-FM until August 31, 2013.

New Program Director at ZED98.9 was Jeff Murray, promoted from PD at Newcap’s seven station network (95.9 Lloyd FM, 93.7 Wayne FM, KEY 83 Wainwright, 101.1 KOOL FM Bonnyville, 97.7 The Spur St Paul, 103.5 Big Dog Lac La Biche and 95.3 FM K-Rock Cold Lake) in northeast Alberta. He began in Red Deer the first week of April.

On October 23, the CRTC approved an application by Newfoundland Capital Corporation Limited, on behalf of Newcap Inc. and its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, for authorization to effect a change in the ownership and effective control of various radio and television broadcasting undertakings in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, so that effective control of the undertakings would be exercised by Eric Boyko (Stingray Digital Group Inc.). Stingray took ownership of the stations just a few days later.

In January, Stingray expanded the footprint of the 90.3 AMP Radio Calgary morning show. It was now being heard on Kool FM Bonnyville and Wayne FM Wainwright.