CKBT-FM

On May 14, Global Communications Ltd. was granted its second Canadian radio licence (the first was for CJZZ-FM in Winnipeg). It was for a new Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio FM station serving Kitchener-Waterloo. The station would operate at 91.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 3,600 watts. Competing applications by Rogers Communications, CKMW Radio Ltd. and Telephone City Broadcast Ltd. were denied. Global is a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Television Network Inc., a corporation controlled indirectly by Israel Asper of Winnipeg. Global Television is one of Canada’s largest private broadcasters. Through Global, Global Television owns over-the-air television stations and transmitters serving large and small communities across Canada.  Although Global owns no broadcasting outlet or newspaper targeted specifically to the Kitchener-Waterloo market, the applicant does operate two television stations, the signals of which are available to area residents, primarily through cable television subscriptions. One of the two signals is that of CIII-TV Paris; this and several other Global transmitters located elsewhere in the province provide a regional television service to Ontario residents. The second signal is that of CHCH-TV Hamilton, a station that broadcasts news and other local programming focused on Hamilton, Halton County and the Niagara region.
In October, “91.5 the Beat” began on-air testing.

I. H. “Izzy” Asper passed away on October 7.

CKBT officially signed on the air with live personalities on January 31. The station operated from a fully digital state-of-the-art street-level facility located at 235 King Street East in downtown Kitchener. CKBT’s antenna was on the Global Television tower at Paris.

On October 27, the CRTC approved the transfer of effective control of CanWest MediaWorks Inc. and its subsidiaries, licensees of various broadcasting undertakings across Canada, from the late Mr. Israel Asper to Mrs. Ruth Miriam Asper, and subsequently from Mrs. Ruth Miriam Asper to the children, through their control of the board of directors of CanWest Global Communications Corp., pursuant to a nomination agreement between them and CanWest Communications Corporation, a corporation controlled by Mrs. Ruth Miriam Asper. (Note: CanWest Mediaworks was now the parent of Global)

Approval was granted for the transfer of ownership of CanWest MediaWorks Inc. through the transfer of the beneficial ownership of CanWest Global Communications Corp., the parent corporation of CMI, from Mrs. Ruth Asper to David, Gail and Leonard Asper, holding together, through their personal holdings, 88.95% of the voting rights of CGCC. 

On July 6, the CRTC approved the purchase by Corus Premium Television Ltd. (Corus Entertainment) of CKBT-FM Kitchener and CJZZ-FM Winnipeg, from CanWest MediaWorks Inc. CKBT-FM offered a mainstream format featuring urban top 40 or rhythmic contemporary hits. Corus proposed to broadcast a minimum of 42 hours of local programming during each broadcast week, which would include three hours of news, sports and surveillance. The applicant also proposed to devote a minimum of 70% of news coverage to local news.

CKBT-FM changed format from CHR-Rhythmic to CHR. It was still known as “The Beat”.

Mr. D. (Damian Rickards) added the title of music director at 91.5 The Beat. He would also continue to host the evening show at the station.

Curtis Bray left Corus Radio Kitchener for 89.3 K-Rock in Kentville, NS. Will MacKay, formerly of Corus Radio Kitchener, became General Manager/General Sales Manager at Newcap’s K-Rock 89.3 Kentville June 28. MacKay, with 15 years experience in sales and marketing, was a Senior Sales Rep with Corus.

There were a number of changes at Corus Entertainment related to its organization review to streamline decision-making and clarify roles and mandates. Among the changes: Reporting to Hal Blackadar, Executive Vice President and interim President of Corus Radio – Chris Sisam, VP/GM, Corus Radio, Southwestern Ontario (based in London, Sisam would be responsible for Corus Guelph, Corus Kitchener/Cambridge and London). Lars Wunsche, GM of CJDV-FM/CKBT-FM was now GSM at Corus Radio Toronto.

91.5 The Beat named Waterloo Region resident Sophie Moroz as the newest member of The Beat Breakfast with Carlos (Benevides), Sophie and Dave (Jutzi). Sophie had been with the Beat for a few months doing on air work. She joined the morning show (5:30 to 9:30 a.m.) on January 31. Scot Turner was Program Director. Adele Newton left 91.5 The Beat to re-join CHYM 96.7. As of January 31, Sophie Moroz joined Carlos Benevides and Dave Jutzi as The Beat’s breakfast team.