CJFW-FM

Skeena Broadcasters under the direction of J. Fred Weber, owners of CFTK-AM-TV, opened CJFW-FM 103.1 with a power of 3160 watts.  The “JFW” in the call letters were Fred Weber’s initials.  Over the next two years, CJFW-FM-1 Kitimat, CJFW-FM-2 Prince Rupert, CJFW-FM-3 Sandspit, and CJFW-FM-4 Masset were added.  The station operated with a country music format.

On August 6, the CRTC approved the application for a licence for an English-language FM radio station at Burns Lake on the frequency 92.9 MHz, channel 225, with an effective radiated power of 4.5 watts. A licence was also issued for an English-language FM radio station at Houston on the frequency 105.5 MHz, channel 288B, with an effective radiated power of 3,470 watts. Also approved – an application for a licence for an English-language FM radio station at Smithers on the frequency 92.9 MHz, channel 225, with an effective radiated power of 50 watts. These stations would rebroadcast the programs of CJFW-FM Terrace with each licence expiring 30 September 1987. This term would enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at the same time as that of CJFW-FM Terrace.

The corporate name changed to Okanagan Skeena Group Limited. 

Rick Webber returned to CJFW / CFTK-AM-TV as news director

CHTK Prince Rupert operations manager Sharon Taylor was moved to Terrace to take over CJFW-FM.

CJFW was given approval to decrease effective radiated power from 3,160 watts to 1,550 watts.

The addition of a transmitter at Hazelton (CJFW-FM-8) on 101.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 50 watts was approved by the CRTC.

Telemedia Radio Inc. purchased Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd.

Rod Sterling left CFTK-CHTK-CKTK-CJFW where he was program director. He would be replaced by Craig Ellis who joined Telemedia West at Terrace from CJCI Prince George where he had been morning man for ten years.

Doug Anderson was now general manager. He had been operations manager at CFQX Winnipeg.

Standard Radio Inc. purchased the Western and Ontario operations of Telemedia.  Some stations were then sold to other companies but Standard Radio retained the Okanagan Skeena group.  Founder and pioneer broadcast engineer J. Fred Weber died May 7 in West Vancouver.

On April 15 the CRTC approved application to change the authorized contours of re-broadcaster CJFW-FM-1 Kitimat by increasing the effective radiated power from 50 watts to 170 watts, decreasing the antenna height and relocating the transmitter.  The decision changed the status of the station from a low-power unprotected service to a regular Class A1 transmitter.  

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 CJWF-FM. 

Rob Williamson was the new Program Director/Radio Operations Manager at Astral Media Radio Terrace. Williamson’s background included a stint at AM740 Toronto and United Nations Radio. 

Rob Williamson, who joined Astral Media Radio Terrace as Program Director/ Radio Operations Manager in February, was gone from the operation a short time later. 

Janine Kraft was promoted to Program Director/Radio Operations Manager at Astral Radio BC Northwest in Terrace. She’d held the interim position for the past eight months and officially began September 1. Also at Astral Terrace, Engineer Brian Sayewich resigned effective September 10.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CJFW-FM and its transmitters CJFW-FM-1 Kitimat, CJFW-FM-2 Prince Rupert, CJFW-FM-3 Sandspit, CJFW-FM-4 Masset, CJFW-FM-5 Burns Lake, CJFW-FM-6 Smithers, CJFW-FM-7 Houston and CJFW-FM-8 Hazelton until March 31, 2012. 

Roy McKenzie, the regional sales manager for Astral’s B.C. Interior stations, was no longer with the company. His position was eliminated.

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CJFW-FM and its transmitters CJFW-FM-1 Kitimat, CJFW-FM-2 Prince Rupert, CJFW-FM-3 Sandspit, CJFW-FM-4 Masset, CJFW-FM-5 Burns Lake, CJFW-FM-6 Smithers, CJFW-FM-7 Houston and CJFW-FM-8 Hazelton 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. 

Grant Scott joined Astral Radio Terrace November 15 as Brand Director.

On February 6, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CJFW-FM Terrace and its transmitters CJFW-FM-1 Kitimat, CJFW-FM-2 Prince Rupert, CJFW-FM-3 Sandspit, CJFW-FM-4 Masset, CJFW-FM-5 Burns Lake, CJFW-FM-6 Smithers, CJFW-FM-7 Houston and CJFW-FM-8 Hazelton 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 CJFW-FM.

In May, Bell Media rolled out a rebrand (Pure Country) of 12 of its country stations. The stations offered local morning and afternoon drive shows with evening and weekend programming being syndicated. No jobs were lost as part of the changes, as former evening and weekend announcers were assigned new duties. CJFW changed from CJFW to Pure Country 103.1.