CHBN-FM

On April 5, a licence for a new FM station at Edmonton was awarded to a partnership of CHUM Limited (51%) and Milestone Media Broadcasting Ltd. (49%). Milestone operated CFXJ-FM, Toronto. The new station would operate with an Urban format on 91.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts. Antenna height would be 227 metres.

CHBN-FM began testing in January, and signed on the air at 4 p.m., February 17. CHBN operated under the name “91.7 The Bounce”. The format was CHR/Top 40. The owners had originally planned to operate under the name “Vibe 91.7”.

On June 6, Milestone Media Broadcasting (Edmonton) Ltd. was authorized to acquire the 49% interest in CHBN owned by its parent company, Milestone Media Broadcasting Ltd. CHUM continued to hold the remaining 51%.

On July 12 it was announced that Bell Globemedia would pay C$1.7 billion for CHUM Ltd., in a deal that would see the company become part of the BCE-owned media conglomerate, subject to CRTC approval. On August 31, the two companies announced that BGM had been successful in its offer to acquire approximately 6.7 million common shares and approximately 19.2 million non-voting Class B shares of CHUM. The shares were to be placed in the hands of an independent trustee pursuant to a voting trust agreement approved by the CRTC.On December 12th, it was announced that Bell Globemedia would henceforth be known as CTVglobemedia.

A CRTC hearing on the CTVglobemedia application to acquire the assets of CHUM Limited was held on April 30th 2007. On June 8 the CRTC approved the acquisition of CHUM Ltd. by CTVglobemedia, on condition that CTV sell off its five City-TV stations, CITY-TV Toronto, CHMI-TV Portage La Prairie/Winnipeg, CKEM-TV Edmonton, CKAL-TV Calgary and CKVU-TV Vancouver. Rogers Communications announced on June 25th that a deal had been reached for them to buy these stations from CTV, subject to CRTC approval. Among the CHUM assets acquired by CTVglobemedia in the deal were seven television stations, 21 specialty channels and some 33 radio stations, including the 51% interest in CHBN-FM (Milestone holds the remaining shares).

Gisele Sowa, general manager, 91.7 The Bounce, announced the appointment of Andy Winford to the position of program director, effective May 17. 

Andy Winford was the new Program Director at 91.7 The Bounce. He had been with CBS Radio in Fresno, California. 

After three years with The Bounce, Broadcast Engineer Trevor Stuart moved across the street to Astral Radio Edmonton. He began October 13.

On November 24, the CRTC renewed the licence for CHBN to August 31, 2011. (This licence was administratively renewed from September 1 to November 30, 2010). This decision did not dispose of any substantive issues that may have existed with respect to the renewal of the licence. The Commission planned to issue a decision on the renewal application at a later date.

On December 23, the CRTC approved the application by Rogers Broadcasting Limited for authority to acquire, from CTV Limited and Milestone Broadcasting (Edmonton) Limited, partners (respectively 51% and 49%) in a general partnership carrying on business as Edmonton Urban Partnership (Urban Partnership), the assets of CHBN-FM (known as “The Bounce.”). Rogers was controlled by Rogers Communications Inc., and Urban Partnership was legally controlled by CTVglobemedia Inc. The Commission noted that Milestone Media Broadcasting Ltd. was looking to step out of the broadcasting industry. In this regard, CTV Limited filed an application for authority to acquire, from Milestone Radio Inc., their other indirectly held radio undertaking, CFXJ-FM. That application was also approved.

The sale of CTV/Milestone’s The Bounce to Rogers was completed February 1. The station would remain, for the time being, in the heritage building housing Rogers’ Citytv and OMNI Alberta. Rogers’ other stations, Sonic 102.9 and World FM 101.7 were located elsewhere in the city. 

Giselle Sowa left The Bounce. Also gone: general sales manager Shannon Neighbour and business manager Brit Carter. Marty Kreil, the creative director/assistant program director, resigned. Andy Winford left in April.

Al Ford added program director duties at The Bounce. He retained his PD spot at Sonic and as operations manager of the Rogers Edmonton cluster. Andrew Long became music director/assistant PD at The Bounce May 16. He had been PD at The Curve Winnipeg.

Adam Milne (a.ka. DJ Trouble) left The Bounce to host the evening show at SONiC in the Frasery Valley/Vancouver.

Andrew Long was now Assistant Brand Director/Music Director at Virgin Radio Toronto. Long had been PD at CURVE 94.3 Winnipeg (and its predecessor Q94 FM) for nine years and, just prior to joining Virgin Radio, was with 91.7 The Bounce Edmonton as Assistant Program Director.

The new program director at 91.7 The Bounce was Russell James. It’s a return to the Rogers station for James who, in the last go-round, was an on-air host. Most recently he was PD at Harvard Broadcasting’s HOT 107 FM (CJNW) Edmonton. Sherri Drewe became promotions director at Sonic/The Bounce. She’d held the post on an interim basis since last November. 

91.7 The BOUNCE announced that national television host and former reality star Arisa Cox would co-host the station’s new morning show. Hosting alongside current afternoon drive personality Ara Andonian, the new morning show was poised to hit the airwaves in July.

In February, CHBN changed branding from The Bounce to KISS 91.7. The format remained CHR.