CICF-FM

Seabrook Broadcasting Ltd. opened CKAL on October 23. CKAL operated on 1050 kHz with 10,000 watts day and 1,000 watts night.
 

Rebroadcast transmitters CKAL-FM-1 Nakusp, CKAL-FM-2 New Denver and CKAL-FM-3 Kaslo signed on in October. 

Duane Grandbois joined CKAL. He had been music director at CKCK in Regina.

On August 6, the CRTC approved the application for a licence for an English-language FM radio station at Armstrong/Enderby on the frequency 98.7 MHz, channel 254, with an effective radiated power of 140 watts to rebroadcast the programs of CKAL Vernon. The licence would expire 30 September 1987. This term would enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at the same time as that of CKAL Vernon.

On January 9, the CRTC approved the application for authority to transfer effective control of Seabrook Broadcasting Ltd., licensee of CKAL Vernon, CKAL-FM-1 Nakusp, CKAL-FM-2 New Denver, CKAL-FM-3 Kaslo and CKAL-FM-4 Enderby, through the transfer of 750 common voting shares (75%) from G. Wayne Seabrook (25.2%), Warren D. Seabrook (24.9%) and Star Rise Development Corporation (Star Rise) (24.9%) to 253986 B.C. Ltd., a company wholly-owned by Ronald D. Smith. Mr. Smith was also purchasing the Class B common non-voting shares held by the shareholders noted above (500 shares or 25% each). As a result of this transaction, control of the licensee company would pass from the Seabrook brothers, who in addition to their individual holdings also owned Star Rise, to Mr. Ronald Smith, a Kelowna businessman. The five minority shareholders would continue to hold their interest in the licensee company, each retaining 5% of the common voting and non-voting shares. CKAL commenced operation in 1978 and soon after began experiencing financial difficulties which were exacerbated by a downturn in the local economy and high interest rates. In an effort to expand its revenue base, the station’s management sought and received approval for a series of FM rebroadcasting transmitters to serve the Arrow, Slocan and Kootenay Valleys while streamlining its broadcast operations. Despite these measures, the financial losses continued. Early in 1986, the licensee eliminated certain staff positions, reduced what it called “non-essential, peripheral programming services” and partially automated its evening and Sunday-afternoon programming. At the same time it sought potential investors in order to negotiate a merger, an amalgamation or other share purchase arrangement. The five current minority shareholders were approached with a view to increasing their holdings but they declined. The application to transfer effective control of the licensee to Mr. Smith of Kelowna had originally been published for comment on September 18, 1986. Following the receipt of opposing interventions from Mr. Lyle MacWilliam, then MLA for Okanagan North, and from a group of 9 CKAL employees, the Commission scheduled it for consideration at a public hearing. Both interveners expressed concern about Mr. Smith’s proposed involvement in this broadcasting undertaking. The employees further expressed concern about the quality of service provided by CKAL in light of staff cuts and the deterioration of service in a number of areas. 

CKAL became CICF. 

Former CJGL Swift Current GM Jim McLaughlin was now helping Gordon Colledge run CKAL. 

Shawna Kelly became CKAL’s news director.

Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd. purchased High Sierra Broadcasting Ltd.

On December 10, CICF-2-FM New Denver and CICF-3-FM Kaslo were granted authority to change their program source from CICF Vernon to CKKC Nelson. 

On February 21, CICF was given approval to shut down CICF-FM-1 Nakusp. The frequency was taken over by CKKC Nelson for a rebroadcast transmitter.
 
CICF was given approval to increase night-time power on September 18, from 1,000 to 4,000 watts.

Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd. was purchased by Telemedia Radio Inc.

On September 12, CICF was given approval to move to the FM dial, operating on 105.5 MHz  with an effective radiated power of 46,000 watts.

The station was given permission to use 105.7 MHz rather than 105.5, on November 28.

CICF “Sun FM” signed on the air on November 28. 

Standard Radio Inc. purchased Telemedia’s Western and Ontario stations. A number of stations were sold to other companies but Standard retained the Okanagan Skeena group.

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 CICF-FM. 

On May 31, the CRTC renewed the broadcasting licence for CICF-FM Vernon and its transmitter CICF-4-FM Armstrong/Enderby from 1 June 2010 to 31 August 2013. This short-term renewal would enable the Commission to review at an earlier date the licensee’s compliance with its conditions of licence, including that relating to its contributions to Canadian content development.

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

Eight people were released by Astral in the B.C. Interior – three broadcast journalists and six in accounting, engineering and support. Among them were Astral Kelowna News Director Howard Alexander and Sun FM Vernon’s Kate Bouey (formerly with ABC London and BN Toronto). Regional News Director Betty Selin’s job was discontinued though she had an offer for employment within the company.

Betty Selin, whose regional news director job was discontinued at Astral’s BC Interior stations last November (as were eight others), accepted a new role with the company. She was now co-host/news anchor on SUN FM’s morning show. 

Betty Selin, co-host of the 105.7 Sun FM morning show, received The Rosalie Award during Canadian Music Week in March. Selin was an award-winning journalist and broadcaster who began her career in 1979 at CKAL AM Vernon (now Sun FM). 

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 CICF-FM.