CICZ-FM

Midland-Penetang Broadcasting Ltd. opened CKMP on July 1, with studios at 196 Dominion Street in Midland. CKMP operated on 1230 kHz with a power of 250 watts, full-time (non- directional). The transmitter and single 150 foot tower were located on part of Lot 102, Concession 1, Tay Township. The “MP” in the call letters was for the towns of Midland and Penetanguishene.

R. B. Armstrong was president of Midland-Penetang Broadcasting and manager of CKMP. B. Armstrong was program director. Ken Rowland was morning man. Jim Armstrong was chief engineer.

On April 17, CKMP increased power to 1,000 watts day and 250 watts night, (non-directional), using the existing transmitter site and tower. 

Countryside Stations slogan: Home town radio – specializing in home town reporting, home town entertaining, home town interest, home town buying.

Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (85%) and Gordon V. Marratto (15%) received approval to acquire CKOX Woodstock (100%), CJCS Stratford (100%), CFOR Orillia (100%), CKAR Huntsville and Parry Sound (87.9%) and CKMP Midland (51%) from Countryside Holdings Ltd. and T. G. Ferris. Eastern owns stations in the Maritimes and has a major interest in the Northern Broadcasting group in northern Ontario. Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. is owned by Jack W. Schoone, J. Irving Zucker, and Gerald W. Kennedy. The CRTC noted that the new owners are to improve the technical quality and overall performance of the stations, appointing at least one local director for each. The sations would continue to operate under the Countryside banner. CKMP had operated under the Midland-Penetang Broadcasting Ltd. name.

CKMP’s studios were rebuilt. Engineer Rick Downe returned to CFTR in Toronto after the work was done in Midland.

On February 28, approval was given for the transfer of CJCS Ltd. (CJCS Stratford), Midland-Penetang Broadcasting Ltd. (CKMP Midland), and Orillia Broadcasting Ltd. (CFOR Orillia) by Ranger Communications Ltd., and for the transfer of CKGB/CFTI-FM (Timmins Broadcasting Ltd.) Timmins and CFCH/CKAT-FM (Northern Ontario Broadcasting Ltd.) North Bay by Northern Broadcast Management Ltd. (owned by Eastern Broadcasting), to 93238 Canada Inc. 93238 was indirectly controlled by Philippe de Gaspe Beaubien. He controlled Telemedia Communications. Other shareholders in 93238 Canada Inc. were Ralph Burford (20%) and Keith Campbell (15%). Five per-cent of the shares were issued to senior officers. Keith Campbell was president of the new company, which promised to upgrade news service on the stations and make use of a Telemedia mobile unit to record local talent. Ranger also sold CKDK Woodstock to Gordon V. Marratto.

Following the purchase by Telemedia of Foster Hewitt’s CKFH, and its renaming to CJCL, the Toronto station began feeding newscasts four times a day to the other Telemedia Ontario stations, while exchanging news with the company’s Quebec network.

With the addition of the Ontario stations, Telemedia claimed to be the world’s largest privately-owned broadcast group. President of the Ontario group of stations was John Van de Kamer. Leslie Sole was vice president of programming (Ontario), and Gary Hooper was in charge of engineering for Telemedia Ontario.

Bob Templeton, former manager of CKMP and Orillia’s CFOR, became general manager of Telemedia’s Opex rep house.

On February 13, the CRTC approved the application by Telemedia Communications Inc. for a licence for an English-language radio network that included CKMP, for the purpose of broadcasting the hockey games of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1983-84 season of the National Hockey League. 

On December 13, CKMP was granted an increase in night-time power – from 250 watts to 1,000 watts.

Susan Davies was CKMP’s new news director.

Bob Johnson was named general manager of Telemedia Ontario’s Vacation Stations – CKMP, CFOR Orillia and the new FM station at Muskoka. He had been general sales manager of Telemedia’s CJCL in Toronto. 

The stations owned by Telemedia Communications Inc. in Ontario were transferred to new subsidiary company Telemedia Communications Ontario Inc.

CKMP increased night power to 1,000 watts. Daytime power was already a thousand watts. CKMP would now operate with a single directional pattern rather than non-directional. 

In May, CKMP and Telemedia Community Newspapers opened a new combined office in Midland. A number of local dignitaries and advertisers were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Jack Latimer was manager of CKMP, Doug Young was engineer, and Sherie-Lynn Baker was one of the station’s announcers.

On June 3, CKMP was given permission to rebroadcast the programming of co-owned CFOR Orillia between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. (with local inserts). When the simulcast began, CKMP’s format changed from AC Gold to Country.

Telemedia received approval to convert CKMP to the FM band. The station would move from 1230 kHz to 104.1 MHz and have an effective radiated power of 129 watts. CKMP would change its program format from Gold Adult Contemporary to Country. It would simulcast Telemedia’s CFOR (also country and moving to FM) in Orillia between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. daily, while running its own news, spots and public service announcements.

In the fall, CKMP-AM was replaced by CICZ-FM “KICX Country”.

CICZ (CKMP) AM left the air in January. 

CICZ-FM received approval to increase effective radiated power from 129 watts to 1,550 watts, over objections from CFOS in Owen Sound which had plans for a new AM rebroadcaster in Collingwood.

The power increased before the end of the year.

Larche Communications Inc. purchased CICZ from Telemedia Communications Inc. The sale was approved July 23 and Larche assumed ownership on August 29.

On December 1, CICZ increased power from 1,550 to 9,170 watts from a new transmitter site located just north of Barrie, at Edgar (37 kilometres souteast of the existing site). The tower was 235.7 metres (EHAAT). It should be noted that studios and offices were now located at 355 Cranston Crescent.

On October 5, approval was given for CICZ to increase effective radiated power from 9,170 to 9,354 watts, reflecting the “as built” technical parameters. 

On January 1, Larche Communications (CICZ Midland) and Rogers Broadcasting (CICX Orillia) began a sales representation agreement with Larche representing the Orillia station.

On December 24, the CRTC approved applications by Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. and Larche Communications (Kitchener) Inc., for authority to exchange the assets of CICX-FM Orillia and CIKZ-FM Kitchener. Rogers is the current licensee of CICX-FM Orillia and a minority shareholder of Larche with a 29.9% voting interest in Larche. Larche is the current licensee of CIKZ-FM Kitchener. Larche is controlled by Larche Communications Inc., which holds 70.1% of the voting interest in Larche. Pursuant to an agreement between Rogers and Larche, Rogers would purchase the assets of CIKZ-FM Kitchener. Payment would include the transfer of CICX-FM Orillia’s assets to Larche. Some of the remainder would be paid through Rogers’ delivery of a promissory note that would, in turn, be used to redeem the 29.9% ownership interest held by Rogers in Larche.  

On March 3 at 5:30 a.m., Larche Communications launched a new FM station in Central Ontario and moved the dial position of another. Country station KICX 104 moved from 104.1 MHz Midland to 105.9 MHz Orillia as KICX 106. JACK FM which had been on 105.9 MHz was replaced by The Dock on 104.1 MHz (104.1 The Dock…The Greatest Rock & Roll Of All Time!) with a mix of classic rock and classic hits. Both stations now operated from the Orillia studios at 7 Progress Drive. The Dock still has facilities in Midland as well, at 355 Cranston Cres. 

Matt Mise was named -promotions director at 104.1 The Dock. He had held the same post at 92.3 The Dock in Owen Sound. He took over in Midland on March 1.

On June 4, the CRTC denied an application by Larche Communications Inc. to modify the technical parameters of CICZ-FM Midland by changing its class from B to C1 and increasing the effective radiated power of the transmitter from 9,354 to 33,500 watts (maximum ERP from 20,000 to 100,000 watts). All other technical parameters would remain the same. The licensee stated that the requested power increase, which has been made possible by recent changes to the Department of Industry’s rules would address coverage deficiencies in Midland/Penetanguishene as well as in Orillia and Barrie.

On February 14, the CRTC approved the application by Bell Media Inc. to acquire CICZ-FM Midland, CICX-FM Orillia, CJOS-FM Owen Sound and CICS-FM Sudbury from Larche Communications Inc. The Commission considered the transaction to be in the public interest.