CFXW-FM

Around this time, Yellowhead Broadcasting Ltd., owner of CJYR 970 in Edson, opened CFYR at Whitecourt. The station rebroadcast stome programming from CJYR.

On June 2, the licences were renewed for CJYR Edson and its rebroadcasters CFYR Whitecourt, CKYR Jasper and CKYR-1 Grande Cache and its partial rebroadcaster CIYR Hinton.

On January 9, Yellowhead Broadcasting Ltd. was given approval to add an FM transmitter for CJYR at Whitecourt, operating on 96.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 9,000 watts. The transmitter would replace CFYR-AM. The new station was the first in the CJYR group to offer a stereo signal. As a result of the stereo operation, the studios at Edson had to be upgraded.

When CJYR’s licence was renewed on July 11, it was noted as operating CFYR-FM Whitecourt, CKYR Jasper and CKYR-1 Grande Cache.

On September 23, approval for Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd. to purchase CIYR Hinton and CJYR Edson and its transmitters CKYR Jasper, CKYR-1 Grande Cache and CFYR-FM Whitecourt from Yellowhead Broadcasting Ltd. was approved.

On October 7, approval was given for Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd. to effect an intra-corporate reorganization. OKS would transfer the assets of its television and radio stations in British Columbia and Alberta to 3537412 Canada Ltd., one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
On October 18, approval was granted for the transfer of ownership and control of Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd. through the transfer of all of its issued and outstanding shares to Telemedia Radio Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telemedia Communications Inc. Initially, Okanagan had applied for the transfer of its shares to TCI Acquisition Corporation. However, on August 31, by letter of authority, the CRTC approved the merger of Okanagan with TCI. The resulting company kept Okanagan’s name. Also, Telemedia advised the Commission that, effective September 1, 3581713 Canada Inc. amalgamated with Telemedia Radio. As a result of these mergers, Telemedia Radio was now the company that acquired the shares of Okanagan.

On April 19, the CRTC approved the sale of a number of radio and television stations in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia by Telemedia Radio Inc. and Telemedia Radio (West) Inc. to Standard Radio Inc. Standard was then allowed to sell certain of these stations to Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. and 3937844 Canada Inc. (subsidary of Newcap Inc.). Newcap acquired 15 Alberta radio stations and related transmitters (Newcap 76.34%, Standard 23.66%). CJYR was one of the 15 stations that would now be owned by Newcap.

In order to improve service to Whitecourt and area, office space was leased downtown (5120 – 50th Street) for a local news office, studios and sales office. A digital link was established between Whitecourt and Edson. With this facility, Whitecourt was able to originate some local programming (which was fed back to Edson and then back to Whitecourt and throughout the Yellowhead community).

On May 12 at 8 p.m., CJYR and its rebroadcast transmitters vanished into history. From that time until 7 a.m. the following day, listeners were treated to continuous TV show themes, then the group relaunched as The Fox Radio Group, with a classic hits format. The call letters were changed to CFXE Edson, CFXG Grande Cashe, CFXH Hinton, CFXP Jasper and CFXW Whitecourt.

On May 20, Newcap was given approval to operate an FM station at Whitecourt, operating on 96.7 MHz with effective radiated power of 9,000 watts. Antenna height would be 382.5 metres. The transmitter would replace CFXW-FM (formerly CFYR). The station would offer a “classic hit” format based on Adult Contemporary music. Newcap indicated that it would provide approximately 72 hours of local programming from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, and at least six hours of local programming each Saturday and Sunday. Some programming during evenings and weekends would originate from CJYR Edson. Syndicated programming would be offered periodically.

CFXW launched as a stand-alone station, known as “96.7 The RIG”. The classic rock format featured artists like The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Supertramp, ZZ Top, and AC/DC. Stusios and offices were located at 5118-50th Street in Whitecourt. 

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

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CFXW-FM to August 31, 2012. On August 28, the licence was administratively renewed to December 31, 2012. On December 21, the licence was renewed to August 31, 2019.

On January 23, the CRTC approved Newcap’s application for CFXW to operate a transmitter at Fox Creek, at 98.1 MHz with an average ERP of 610 watts (non-directional).

The repeater of 96-7 The RIG went on the air December 10 at Fox Creek.

In July, CFXW rebranded from The Rig to Boom 96.7.

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 96.7 was among the stations to add the show.