CKMH-FM

On May 28, Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. received approval for a new FM station to serve Medicine Hat. Rogers proposed to operate its new station on a frequency of 105.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 77,900 watts. The station would offer a classic rock and adult rock format designed to appeal to those between 25 and 54 years of age with a core audience of males aged 25 to 44. 

On January 29 at 11:30 a.m., Rock 105.3 FM began on air testing.

CKMH-FM (Rock 105.3) signed on the air at 1:05:30 p.m. on February 25. Studios and offices were located at 208 – 1741 Dunmore Road S. E. in Medicine Hat. At the start, the station operated from a “boom box” and trailer beside the Trans Canada Highway. 

On November 6, Rogers Broadcasting Limited received approval to change the authorized contours of CKMH-FM by moving the transmission facilities from a tower owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to one owned by the CKUA Radio Foundation. Rogers indicated that the tower owned by CKUA would provide coverage over a wider area with a more consistent signal. 

Trapper John was named program director for Rock 105.3. He had been music director and afternoon drive host at The Wolf (CFWF-FM) in Regina. His first day at Rock 105.3 was March 22.

Jason Manning was the new Program Director at Rogers Victoria (98.5 The OCEAN and Jack FM). He moved from Rock 105.3 Medicine Hat where he was also PD and where he’d been since December of 2007. Before that, he was Music Director at Sonic 102.9 Edmonton.

Tony Marsh added General Manager duties for The River/Rock 106 Lethbridge while retaining that title at Rock 105.3 Medicine Hat. Marsh had been with Rogers for 14 years, first as an Account Manager in Calgary and then as General Sales Manager at Rogers Victoria.

Jim Blundell succeeded Kevin McKanna and is the Acting General Manager of the 13 Rogers Radio stations in Alberta. Blundell had been the Vice President & GM at CTV Vancouver Island, C-FAX and KooL FM Victoria and left Bell Media in September of last year. Blundell’s background included being the Market Manager for the CHUM radio stations in Brockville, Kingston and Peterborough. In 2007, he was promoted to VP/GM of then Star-FM London and, in 2009, he was promoted again to take the lead at CHUM’s (now Bell Media’s) Victoria properties. 

In the summer, CKMH rebranded from Rock 105.3 to 105.3 Rock.