CKKX-FM

Peace River Broadcasting Corp. Ltd., owner of CKYL-AM, opened CKKX-FM at Peace River.

CKKX was given approval to add a transmitter at High Level, operating on 106.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 8,765 watts. 

Chris Myers became promotions director at KIX 106.

On July 4, Peace River Broadcasting received approval for the addition of transmitters for CKKX-FM and CKYL at Valleyview. The CKKX-FM transmitter would operate on frequency 106.9 MHz and CKYL’s transmitter, on 105.7 MHz. The transmitters would share a broadband directional antenna and operate with an effective radiated power of 75,000 watts. Valleyview is located within the Peace River radio market. That market is widely dispersed and stations within it reach only a small portion of the market. There are no local radio stations operating in Valleyview. Most of the stations received there offer country music. Many community organizations and individuals sent petitions and letters to the applicant requesting the extension of CKKX-FM to Valleyview because they wanted to receive its pop/rock music format and local content.

On June 20, the transfer of control and shares of Peace River Broadcasting Corporation Ltd., (CKHL-FM High Level, CKKX-FM and CKYL Peace River, and CKLM-FM Lloydminster) was approved. The transfer was of the voting shares held by J. Stewart Dent and Anita Dent in Peace Radio Network Ltd., a company holding all the issued and outstanding shares of Peace River Broadcasting Corporation Ltd., to 937593 Alberta Ltd., a company jointly owned by Terrence Babiy and Cynthia Babiy. Following the transaction, 937593 Alberta Ltd. would amalgamate with Peace Radio Network Ltd. This would be the first step of a multi- step transaction. Mr. and Mrs. Dent would subsequently, acquire the assets of CKLM-FM Lloydminster, through 912038 Alberta Ltd., their personal holding company.

Chris Myers joined Kix 106 and CKYL as program director. He had been part of the morning show at Regina’s Kiss 92.

On December 11, approval was given for the transmitter CFFC-FM Fox Creek to be deleted from the licence of CKYL and added to the licence of CKKX-FM. This amendment would allow the listeners of Fox Creek to receive the programming service of CKKX-FM instead of CKYL. There would be no technical changes to the CFFC-FM Fox Creek transmitter.

On March 7, Peace River Broadcasting Corp. Ltd. received approval for new transmitters for CKKX in Fairview and High Prairie. Both transmitters would operate on 106.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 930 watts atFairview and 2,000 watts at High Prairie. The CRTC noted that the licensee did not implement the transmitter for CKKX-FM in Valleyview that was to be operated at 106.9 MHz. This transmitter was approved in 2000.

CKKX was given permission to increase effective radiated power for transmitter CJHP-FM High Prairie, from 2,000 watts to 2,700 watts and to increasing the antenna height.

On July 5, CKKX was authorized to add a transmitter at Manning, operating on 92.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 950 watts. Antenna height would be -4.2 metres. CKKX had proposed to use a tower owned by the town but it proved unsuitable so the station would build its own tower nearby and invite the town to move its operations to the station tower. CKKX proposed to use the CKMG call sign for the Manning transmitter.

Q99 program director Paul Ouellette added morning show duties, taking over from Kent Schumaker who moved to YL/KIX Peace River as program director.

In January, Sales Manager Chris Black moved into the General Managers office while Kent Schumaker joined the team as Operations Manager. Will Nash became the new host of the drive show on KIX FM. 

Q99 Grande Prairie morning host Kent Schumaker moved to become Program Director at YL/KIX Peace River. He departed Q99 January 15.

The CRTC approved the change to the ownership structure of Peace River Broadcasting Corporation Ltd. through the transfer of the shares of the parent corporation of Peace River to a new corporation owned by the initial shareholders of the parent corporation. This transaction does not affect the effecitve control of Peace River, which is exercised by Terrence and Cynthia Babiy. Peace River is the licensee of CKHL-FM High Level, CKKX-FM Peace River and its transmitters and CKYL Peace River and its transmitters, Alberta.

On October 21, the CRTC renewed the licence for CKKX-FM Peace River and its transmitters (CJHP-FM High Prairie, CKKF-FM Fairview, CKKX-FM-1 Manning, CFFC-FM Fox Creek and CFKX-FM High Level) to 31 August 2014. This short-term licence renewal would enable the Commission to review, at an earlier date, the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 and with its conditions of licence. 

On March 7, the CRTC approved the application by CKKX-FM to change the authorized contours by changing the antenna radiation pattern from directional to non-directional, increasing the average ERP from 989 to 2,500 watts (max. ERP from 2,993 to 2,500 watts), increasing the EHAAT, and by changing the antenna’s location on the tower to reflect a correction of the existing coordinates.

Rebroadcast transmitter CFFC 92.1 Fox Creek was shut down due to escalating costs.

On June 20, the CRTC approved CKKX’s application to relocate its transmitter, change the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, increase the average ERP from 2,500 to 30,128 watts (maximum ERP from 2,500 to 50,000 watts), change the transmitter’s class from A to C1 and increase the EHAAT from 155.2 to 219.9 metres.

On August 25, CKKX received a short-term licence renewal to August 31, 2023 due to ongoing issues of non-compliance.