CJXX-FM

Due to poor economic conditions in the region, Pioneer Broadcasting Ltd. had its first application for a new AM station at Grande Prairie denied. The CRTC stated that while the application had merit, a new station would adversely effect existing stations in Grande Prairie and Peace River. Pioneer had proposed to operate the station on 1430 kHz with a power of 10,000 watts. The denial was issued on April 10.

On April 17, Pioneer’s next attempt at gaining a licence for a new AM station at Grande Prairie was successful. The new station would broadcast on 1430 kHz with a full-time power of 10,000 watts. Frank Valentini, a shareholder in Pioneer, would be General Manager of the new station. A competing application by CFGP-AM for a new FM station in the city was denied.

CJXX 1430 signed on the air on December 16. Studios and offices were located at 9913 – 100th Avenue.

On July 27, approval was given for the sale of Pioneer Broadcasting Ltd. to Central Alberta Broadcasting Co. (1961) Ltd. through the purchase of 53% of issued voting stock from Lynrose Holdings Ltd. (40.8%), Frank R. Valentini (10.2%), Paul G. Galway (1%) and Frank J. Lewis (1%). Control of Central Alberta was held by Monarch Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (50.2%). Monarch in turn was controlled by Willard H. Yuill (74.9%) of Medicine Hat. . Monarch owned CHAT Medicine Hat and CKRD Red Deer.

Central Alberta Broadcasting Ltd. received approval on December 17 to acquire CJXX from Pioneer Broadcasting Ltd. Central Alberta already controlled CJXX through its ownership of all the shares in Pioneer Broadcasting Ltd.

On February 3, Monarch Broadcasting Ltd.  received approval to acquire CJXX Grande Prairie and CKRD Red Deer from Central Alberta Broadcasting Ltd.  Central was wholly-owned and controlled by Monarch, so effective control of these stations would remain unchanged. 

Dwaine Dietrick became vice president of operations for Monarch Broadcasting. He succeeded vice president and general manager Merv Phillips, who retired. 

On February 15, CJXX received approval to change frequency from 1430 kHz to 840 kHz, and relocate the transmitter to a site approximately nine kilometres southwest of the present location. The station had also proposed to increase power from 10,000 watts day and night to 25,000 watts day and 10,000 watts at night. The power increase portion of the application was withdrawn.

On July 15, CJXX was given approval to move its transmitter to a site approximately eleven kilometres south-west of the present location. In 1991, the CRTC approved an earlier change in transmitter site for CJXX, and a change in frequency. Monarch Broadcasting did not move the transmitter, however, because of excessive water in the proposed new location.

On September 12, CJXX was granted a daytime power increase from 10,000 to 25,000 watts.  Night-time power would remain at 10,000 watts. Even with the move to a better frequency, CJXX still had difficultiy in maintaining a reliable signal throughout its coverage area at all times of the year. This change would hopefully help with that.

Ken Truhn joined CJXX as General Manager/General Sales Manager. He had been General Sales Manager at CKRD Red Deer.

Monarch Broadcasting received permission on October 19 to convert CJXX to the FM band. CJXX offered a country and country-oriented music format. Sixty-five percent of the news carried on the station was generated locally. The licensee planned to maintain this format on the new FM station. It would also continue the emphasis on local and regional news coverage. The new station would broadcast over 93.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts.

CJXX made the move from 840 AM to 93.1 FM.

On December 21, Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. received approval to acquire from Monarch Broadcasting Ltd. the assets of CHAT-TV Medicine Hat including its rebroadcasters CHAT-TV-1 Pivot, Alberta and CHAT-TV-2 Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, as well as radio stations CHAT Medicine Hat, CJXX and CJXX-FM Grande Prairie, CHLB-FM Lethbridge, CHUB-FM Red Deer, and CHHK-FM Taber.

On December 23, the CRTC approved the application by Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. (the general partner) and Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. (the limited partner) carrying on business as Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership, owned by James A. Pattison (the Pattison Group), for the authority to acquire the assets of all of the radio television undertakings (and their respective transmitters) currently licensed to corporate entities owned by James A. Pattison. This transaction was part of a corporate reorganization that would not affect the ultimate control of the broadcasting undertakings. The ultimate control would continue to be exercised by James A. Pattison, the sole shareholder of Jim Pattison Ltd.

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