CHMT-FM

On February 9, the CRTC approved the application by The Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. for a new FM station at Timmins. The new station offered a contemporary hit format and operate on a frequency of 93.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 3,600 watts. Haliburton owns French-language CHYK-FM in Timmins.

In early June, CHMT “Mix 93” with “Timmins’ Perfect Music Mix” began test broadcasts.

Standard Broadcasting acquired a 29.9% interest in Haliburton Broadcasting.

CHMT-FM flipped formats from adult contemporary as “Mix 93” to country as “Moose FM” on July 12.

On March 17, The Moose 93.1 devoted the entire day to hometown country artist Shania Twain, as it brought its country music format to an end. The station now had a classic rock format.

On June 3, the CRTC approved the application by Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. to change the technical parameters of the CHMT-FM by increasing the effective radiated power from 3,600 to 16,400 watts, by increasing the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 75.8 to 95 meters and by changing its class from A to B1. Haliburton stated that the technical changes requested in this application would allow it to better serve the community of Timmins.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHMT-FM until March 31, 2012.

The Moose morning show host Robert Wills was promoted to General Manager of the Haliburton North properties. Remaining at his Timmins base, Wills was now responsible for The Moose stations at Timmins, Kapuskasing, Cochrane and Iroquois Falls.

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHMT-FM to August 31, 2012. On August 28, the licence was renewed to December 31, 2012.

On October 19, the CRTC approved the application by Vista Radio Ltd. for authority to acquire from Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. the assets of Haliburton’s AM and FM radio stations and their transmitters located in Bancroft, Barry’s Bay, Bolton, Bracebridge, Caledon, Cochrane, Elliot Lake, Espanola, Fort Erie, Haldimand, Haliburton, Hearst, Huntsville, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Kemptville, Niagara Falls, North Bay, Parry Sound, Prescott, St. Catharines, Stratford, Sturgeon Falls and Timmins. Vista was a corporation controlled by Westerkirk Capital Inc., in turn controlled by Thompson Investments Limited. CHMT-FM was among the stations acquired by Vista.

Rob Wills, who was promoted to General Manager of the Haliburton North properties in Ontario last year, was no longer with the company. His responsibilities covered The Moose stations at Kapuskasing, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls and his base, Timmins. There was no successor. 

On August 31, CHMT (Moose FM) flipped format from Hot Adult Contemporary to Classic Hits.

Peter Hobbs joined Vista Radio as regional cluster General Manager/Sales Manager for the company’s stations in North Bay, Sturgeon Falls, Espanola and Elliot Lake as well as overseeing Timmins. Hobbs, based in North Bay, was most recently the General Sales Manager at the three-station Bell Media Hamilton cluster. He began at Vista on November 18.