CHRX-FM, Sun FM, Fort St. John
Bell Media Inc.
| Station | Year | Freq. | Power | Owner/Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHRX-FM | 2013 | 98.5 | 20,000 | Bell Media |
| CHRX-FM | 2007 | 98.5 | 20,000 | Astral Media Inc. |
| CHRX-FM | 2002 | 98.5 | 20,000 | Standard Radio Inc. |
| CHRX-FM | 1997 | 98.5 | 20,000 | Telemedia Radio (West) Inc. |
1996
On September 27, Nornet Broadcasting Ltd., owner of CKNL-AM, received CRTC approval for a new FM station at Fort St. John, operating on 98.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 20,000 watts.
1997
CHRX signed on the air.
1998
November 18, Nornet Broadcasting Ltd. was purchased by Okanagan Skeena Group Limited.
1999
On October 18, Telemedia Radio Inc. was given approval to purchase Okanagan Skeena Group Limited.
2000
On February 3, OKS Broadcasting Corporation (Okanagan Skeena Group Limited) was given approval to add a transmitter for CHRX at Dawson Creek, operating on 95.1 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 1,800 watts.
2001
Brian Stephenson became operations manager for CHRX-FM/CKNL. He would also be responsible for CKRX-FM Fort Nelson and CJDC Dawson Creek. He had held the same post at CKVH in High Prairie.
2002
On April 19, Standard Radio Inc. purchased the Ontario and Western operations of Telemedia Radio Inc. In turn, Standard sold a number of those stations to other companies. CHRX was among the stations retained by SRI.
2003
CKNL-AM became CKNL-FM.
2007
On September 27, Astral Media Radio G.P. received CRTC approval to acquire the assets of the radio and TV undertakings owned by Standard Radio Ltd., subject to certain conditions. The purchase included CHRX-FM and CHRX-FM 1.
2009
Andrew Hopkins, formerly of NL Broadcasting Kamloops, moved to the Peace Region as News Director at Astral Media Radio Fort St. John.
2010
Engineer Rob McBride, after a year with WIRED 96.3FM, moved to Astral Fort St. John. He started October 25.
2011
On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHRX-FM and its transmitter CHRX-FM-1 Dawson Creek until March 31, 2012.
CHRX-FM (and CHRX-FM-1 Dawson Creek) rebranded from Energy FM to Sun FM.
Roy McKenzie, the regional sales manager for Astral’s B.C. Interior stations, was no longer with the company. His position was eliminated.
2012
On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHRX-FM Fort St. John, British Columbia and its transmitter CHRX-FM-1 Dawson Creek to August 31, 2012. On July 10, the licence was administratively renewed to March 31, 2013.
Janine Kraft, Brand Director at Astral Radio BC North, worked her last day there October 4. Kraft had been with the operation for the past 11 years, the last two as BD. She left for opportunities outside broadcasting.
2013
On February 6, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CHRX-FM Fort St. John and its transmitter CHRX-FM-1 Dawson Creek to August 31, 2013.
On June 27, 2013, after a previous such application had been denied in 2012, the CRTC approved an application by Astral Media Inc. to sell its pay and specialty television channels, conventional television stations and radio stations to BCE Inc., including CHRX-FM.
The story continues elsewhere…
Effective September 1st 2019, we will only be adding new material to these station histories in exceptional circumstances. Our intent to chronicle the early days of these radio and television stations has been achieved, and many new sources and technologies, from the CRTC website to Wikipedia, and others, are now regularly providing new information in these areas.