CKNG-FM

Voice of the Prairies Ltd. (CFCN Calgary) had its application for an FM station at Edmonton turned down by the CRTC. If approved, the station would have broadcast on 105.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 64,000 watts.

On October 29, CFCN Communications Ltd. (division of Maclean-Hunter Ltd.) of Calgary was given approval to operate a new FM station at Edmonton. An application by Bob McCord was also approved. Competing applications by companies like CHQT-AM, Rogers Broadcasting, Redmond Broadcasting, Slaight Broadcasting and Moffat Communications were turned down. Both CFCN and McCord proposed Country music formats. McCord’s would target the 25 to 49 age group with a more traditional sound, while CFCN would offer a more rock-oriented Country sound, for young adults. The CFCN operation would use an effective radiated power of 64,000 watts on a frequency of 92.5 MHz.

On June 9, approval was granted for the proposed CJAX-FM to change the location of the transmitter site, increase effective radiated power from 64,000 watts to 100,000 watts and to change the antenna from directional to omni-directional.

CJAX-FM 92.5 signed on the air on August 11. The station used a Harris FM-25K transmitter. It operated from the 707 foot CKRA-FM tower which would also be home to the new CISN-FM. The three signals were combined using a Kathrein combiner and 8-bay antenna. CJAX had a staff of 30 headed up by vice president and general manager Ralph Connor. Bob McManus was news director and Scott Franklin was sports director. 

On January 11, the CRTC renewed CJAX-FM’s licence until September 30, 1985.

Dan Roman was program director.

CJAX received approval to switch from country to soft rock and ’60s and ’70s music.

CJAX-FM became CKNG-FM in June.

Jim Herbison joined CKNG to do sports. He had been with CHED.

General manager Dave Lyman left CKNG-FM for CKEY in Toronto. He was replaced by Dennis O’Neil who had been GM at CHNS in Halifax.

Jerry Bellikka left CKNG to become news director at CHEC Lethbridge.

Dennis O’Neil was general manager.

Dean Roberts became CKNG’s program director. He had held the same post at CIDC-FM in Orangeville. 

On September 28, the CRTC approved the applications by Moffat Communications Limited, representing a company to be incorporated, for authority to acquire CHED and CKNG-FM Edmonton from Moffat Communications Limited and CFCN Communications Limited. Under the proposed shareholders’ agreement, Moffat would hold 72.5% of the common voting shares with CFCN holding the remaining 27.5%. The shareholders’ agreement provided for CFCN’s share of the new company to be increased to 35% during the first three years of its operation, at the option of either CFCN or Moffat and that both CKNG-FM and CHED would be managed on a day-to-day basis by Moffat, with overall direction provided by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives of each of Moffat and CFCN.

The new company that acquired CHED and CKNG-FM was known as Moffat-MH Radio.

Rob Christie was morning man at Power 92.

On August 20, the CRTC approved the applications by a partnership between Moffat Communications Limited and Manipro Ltd. for authority to acquire the assets of CKNG and CHED Edmonton from Moffat-MH Radio. Moffat-MH Radio was a partnership in which Moffat Communications Limited had a 67.5% interest and CFCN Productions Limited a 32.5% interest. The basis of this transaction was for Moffat to acquire CFCN’s interest in this partnership and to continue the partnership in order to facilitate the sale of CKNG and CHED to a third party. As a result of this transaction, the effective control of the licenses would not change. Moffat’s interest in the partnership would be increased to 99%. Manipro Ltd. would have a 1% interest.

The Commission then approved the applications by Westcom Radio Group Ltd. for approval to subsequently acquire the assets of CKNG-FM and CHED. Westcom was part of Western Broadcasting Co. Ltd. of Vancouver.

Stan Ravndahl left CKNG-FM / CHED-AM.

Wayne Keen was named general sales manager for CKNG and CHED.

James Stuart was now program director at Power 92. He replaced Pat Cardinal who left for CILQ-FM in Toronto. Audie Lynds and Gary James hosted the morning show. Barry Harrison left the Power 92/CHED news department.

The Griffiths family holdings in WIC Western International Communications Ltd. were sold, subject to CRTC approval, to Shaw Communications Inc. and CanWest Global Communications Corp. 

Brad Kelly left Power 92 to become evening announcer at sister station Power 107 (CKIK) in Calgary. 

Power 92 program director James Stuart, was named director of FM programming for WIC Radio Alberta.

WIC Radio president Ted Smith left that position at the end of December. Doug Rutherford, of the WIC Edmonton stations (Power92/CHED) and vice president of programming for the WIC stations, stepped in to manage the WIC Radio assets until the deal with Shaw’s Mediaco was finalized.

Marc Libioron left CHED/CKNG for CFCW/CIRK/CKRA.

Following months of negotiation, agreements were filed with the CRTC on the split of WIC assets between CanWest Global, Corus Radio Company (formerly Shaw Radio), and Shaw Communications.

Corus Entertainment Inc. was formed September 1, 1999 from the media assets of Shaw Communications Inc. Corus became a separate and distinct, publicly traded corporation. The Shaw family continued to hold the majority of voting shares in Corus.

Jungle Jay Hamilton left Power 92 Edmonton after several years with the station.

Following an April hearing in Vancouver, in July, the CRTC announced the approval of the purchase of WIC Radio by Corus Radio Company, which included CKNG-FM Edmonton.

James Stuart, program director of Power 92 (CKNG) added PD duties for Power 107 (CKIK) Calgary. Rhubarb Jones moved from CKNG to CKIK.

On June 27, Power 92 became The NEW Power 92.5 FM – “True Variety – The best of the 80’s, 90’s and now.”

On January 13, Power 92.5 became Classic Hits JOE-FM at 5 p.m. JOE had been on sister CHQT-AM which returned to oldies as Cool 880.

On August 17, CKNG was given approval to decrease antenna height and relocate the transmitter. The changes were needed because listeners were experiencing signal problems in certain large sectors of the Edmonton area since the launch of radio station, CHBN-FM Edmonton.

Julie James, who moved back east from her Program Director position at JOE-FM Edmonton for personal reasons, was doing weekend and swing shifts at CHFI Toronto as well as assisting in the programming and music departments.

Gary James was Morning Show Host at 92.5 JOE FM.

On November 30, the CRTC renewed CKNG’s licence to August 31, 2017.

The new Promotion and Marketing Director at ENERGY 101.5 Calgary was Sonya Koson, an industry newbie. She succeeded Khazma Tichon who was now Promotions Director at 92.5 JOE FM Edmonton.

Tamara Konrad left Corus Edmonton as Operations Manager to become General Manager/General Sales Manager at CKEA-FM Edmonton.

Greg Johnson became Program Director at 92.5 JOE FM on August 2. He had been PD at Country 93.3/Rock 97.9 Fort McMurray, leaving there July 15.

Neil Cunningham, Director of Sales at Corus Radio Alberta and based in Edmonton, left that position for Spence Diamonds. Cunningham’s Corus position was not be filled. His duties were now shared amongst four sales management staff.

Doug Rutherford, after a combined 38 years with WIC/Shaw/Corus, left his vice president and general manager post with Corus Radio Alberta at the end of March. Rutherford was President/CEO of WIC in Vancouver from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, Shaw purchased the company and Rutherford was retained in the position of VP for the West and held that role when Shaw’s broadcast properties were moved under a Shaw-held new company, Corus.

Corus Entertainment announced the appointment of Garry McKenzie as regional general manager for Corus Radio Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, effective April 2. In his new role, Garry would provide leadership, strategic direction and vision to the three markets, bringing over 20 years of solid operating experience, a strong sales and marketing background and results-driven success to 10 radio stations. Most recently, Garry was general manager of Corus Radio Vancouver.

CKNG-FM changed format from Variety Hits to Variety Hits “with an edge”.

At 12:00 p.m., January 9, Corus Radio Edmonton launched its newest radio station, The New 92.5 Fresh FM, “bringing today’s freshest music and the best hits from yesterday” to Edmonton. The New 92.5 Fresh FM featured J’lyn Nye and Jonny Sullivan hosting weekday mornings. Derek Allen took listeners through the day. Alex Hindmarch hosted the afternoons and Taylor Smith was featured weeknights. “We are very excited to launch our successful Fresh radio brand in Edmonton,” said Garry McKenzie, Regional General Manager, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, Corus Radio. “Through market research and the proven success of Fresh in our other Corus markets, we know that The New 92.5 Fresh FM will reflect the fun, contemporary and vibrant culture that the city is known for with music that Edmontonians love to hear.” For the record, CKNG-FM changed from Variety Hits (Joe FM) to Hot Adult Contemporary (Fresh FM). The Joe format ended with Hotel California by The Eagles and the first song played on Fresh was Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars.

The new marketing manager at Corus Radio Edmonton (630 CHED/92-5 Fresh FM/CISN Country 103.9/iNews880) was Tammy DuChene-Bos, moving to broadcasting from financial services and the travel/tour industries. She began at Corus March 4.

CKNG changed branding from FRESH FM to FRESH RADIO.

In early August, CKNG flipped from Hot AC FRESH FM to THE CHUCK with Variety Hits. The station last had the Variety Hits format as JOE FM from 2004 to 2013.