CIXF-FM

On December 19, Newcap Inc. was given approval to operate a new FM station at Brooks on 101.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 2,200 watts. Antenna height would be 45 metres. The new station would offer an Adult Contemporary format which would complement the existing Country format of sister station CIBQ-AM. All of the station’s programming would be locally produced, with the exception of up to 8 hours per week of syndicated programming.

“101.1 The Fox” (CIXF-FM) officially signed on the air on October 11 with a classic hits format. The launch followed a free sample weekend which began October 7.

Newcap New Brunswick General Manager Hilary Montbourquette, who ran FRED-FM Fredericton and CJMO-FM/CJXL-FM Moncton, became General Manager/General Sales Manager at Newcap’s Alberta Radio South Group of stations (CKGY-FM and CIZZ-FM Red Deer, CIBQ and CIXF-FM Brooks, CJPR-FM Blairmore, CKDQ Drumheller and CKSQ Stettler), based at Z99/KG Country Red Deer. He succeeded Ron Thompson who retired September 30 (2009). As a result of Montbourquette’s move, completed mid-January (2010), Dan Fagan was promoted to GM/GSM of the Moncton stations and Dan Gallant was promoted to GM/GSM of the Fredericton station. Brad Muir was promoted to Operations Manager of Moncton and would continue to program FREDFM.

On November 30, the CRTC renewed CIXF’s licence until August 31, 2017.

Chad Tabish moved from General Sales Manager at Newcap’s Alberta North East Hub to become GSM at Newcap Radio Red Deer and the Alberta South Radio Group (Stettler, Drumheller, Brooks and Blairmore). He had also been Station Manager at Lloyd FM Lloydminster. He began December 15.

On January 18, CIXF changed its branding as The Fox to The ONE @ 101.1. The format changed from Classic Hits to Hot Adult Contemporary, now targeting 25 to 54 year olds. Playing Today’s Best Music – The ONE offered today’s hits along with the variety of the 80’s and 90’s. The change took place at 1:01 p.m. on January 18 and the first song played was “Raise Your Glass” by Pink. Tyler Russell and Marcus Fitzgerald continued in morning drive. Paul McDonald hosted “The ONE Hour Lunch” and the drive home show.

On September 26, the CRTC approved the application by Newcap Inc. to change the technical parameters of CIXF-FM by increasing the effective radiated power from 2,200 to 8,600 watts (non-directional to a directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 45.6 metres) and by changing its class from A to B1. Newcap proposed the technical change in order to better serve the community of Brooks.

Al Lucas was promoted to General Sales Manager for Newcap’s Alberta Radio Group (South): KG Country/ZED 99 Red Deer, Q91Drumheller, Q14 Stettler, Mountain Radio Blairmore/Crowsnest Pass and Q105/The One Brooks. He moved up from Retail Sales Manager and Sales Manager at the Red Deer stations.

Steve Bohan was the new Program Director at Q105.7/The One 101.1. He remained as morning host at Q105.7.

In July, CIXF rebranded from The One to Boom 101.1.

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 began syndicating the Real Country 95.5 Red Deer morning show across its Real Country and boom-branded radio stations in rural Alberta, leading to the elimination of 14 on-air positions. boom 101.1 was among the stations to add the show.