CHSU-FM

On December 21, Four Seasons Radio Ltd. had its application for new FM station at Kelowna denied.
 

On April 4, the CRTC, by majority vote, Four Seasons Radio Ltd. (owner of CKIQ-AM) received approval for a licence for an English-language (Group II-Country) FM radio programming undertaking at Kelowna on the frequency 99.9 MHz, channel 260B, with an effective radiated power of 11,000 watts. The licence would expire on August 31, 1997. This term would enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at the same time as that of other radio stations in the area. 

CKBL-FM “The Bullet” signed on the air in October.

73.2% of West Global Broadcast Holding Ltd. was sold by Walter Gray (19.91%), Doreen Gray (2.17%), 479229 B.C. Ltd. (4.86%), C.W. Gray (3.18%), Robert J. Hall (18.10%), Hall-Gray Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (13.88%), Jeanne Hall (3.66%), Phyllis Tostenson (4.24%) and Roger Cottle (3.2%) to Okanagan Skeena Group Limited. OSGL already owned 26.8% of West Global. West Global in turn owned 100% of Four Seasons Radio Ltd.

CKBL-FM became CHSU-FM while CKIQ became CKBL.

CKBL-FM-1 at Big White Ski Village (98.1 MHz with ERP of 18 watts) ceased to be a rebroadcaster for CKBL-AM. It was now a retransmitter for CHSU-FM.

Telemedia Radio Inc. purchased Okanagan Skeena Group Ltd. 

Announcer Lexine Stephens left SUN-FM for The Q (CKKQ) in Victoria.

Jason Mann was appointed director of programming, B.C. for Telemedia Radio (West). He would continue as program director of SUN/FM (CHSU)/The Bullet (CKBL). Under the new posting, he would also oversee the programming at the 20 Telemedia stations in B.C.

Standard Radio Inc. purchased Telemedia’s Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia stations. Some of these stations were sold to other companies but Standard chose to retain the Okanagan Skeena group.

CKBL-AM became CKFR. 

Tarzan Dan (Freeman) joined CHSU-FM from CHUM-AM-FM Toronto.

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 CHSU-FM. 

CHSU-FM-1 Big White Mountain was authorized to increase antenna height from 45.5 metres to 231.1 metres. It would co-site with VF2329 Big White Mountain, a transmitter of CILK-FM Kelowna. Effective radiated power would remain at 18 watts but vertical polarization would be dropped.

Ian MacKinnon joined the SUN FM announce staff, taking over evenings and weekends. He had been with CKCE-FM in Calgary.

Peter Angle, the Sales Manager at NL Broadcasting’s three Kamloops radio stations (CHNL, CJKC and CKRV) moved to Astral Media Radio Kelowna (CHSU, CILK, CKFR) as General Sales Manager. Angle began his radio career at CKOV Kelowna 25 years earlier. He began with Astral on July 2.

Rob Leighton became Astral Radio’s new Digital Account Manager for the BC Interior, based in Kelowna. Leighton had been with Telus with an Internet/interactive sales and development background. After 38 years Ron Wittenberg retired from broadcasting. He began at CKNW New Westminster, then migrated to the Okanagan some 30 years ago. Since then, he’d been with the Kelowna stations under numerous ownership changes.

Tarzan Dan left SUN FM’s morning show to head to Vancouver in March. Kevin Lim was welcomed back to Kelowna to be the new morning host. He was paired with Sonia Sidhu who had been doing mid-days. Susan Knight, who had co-hosted mornings with Tarzan Dan was moved to mid-days. Ara Andonian left 99.9 Sun FM’s afternoon drive show at the end of March. 

Swing announcer Ian MacKinnon was appointed to the afternoon drive host. Brian Mack joined the station’s weekend on-air team from Calgary. Brian would also take on evenings and vacation fill-in as needed. 

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHSU-FM and its transmitter CHSU-FM-1 Big White Mountain 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.

Dustin Collins returned to Astral Kelowna as assistant brand director of the Astral B.C. Interior stations. Collins, who moved to sister AM 1060 Calgary in 2005, had been the brand director/afternoon drive host at the Classic Country station. He began in Kelowna August 2.

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.

Sun FM is started 2012 with new hosts and entertainment. On Air with Ryan Seacrest moved from evenings to mid-days (Mon-Fri 10-2) starting January 16. Derek Retzloff would produce Seacrest’s show Tue-Fri and have his own Saturday on-air shift. Breanne Cancade would be heard on Sundays and produce Ryan Seacrest’s Mondays show. BC @ Night would now be live and interactive with Brian Mack (aka “B Mack”) weeknights from 7:00 to midnight. 

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHSU-FM and its transmitter CHSU-FM-1 Big White Mountain to August 31, 2012.

Susan Knight left SUN FM for Calgary’s up! 97.7. Reporter Jennifer Faerber, formerly of The Juice Kelowna, transferred to sister station Jet FM Courtenay as its assistant news director. 

On July 10, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHSU-FM Kelowna and its transmitter CHSU-FM-1 Big White Mountain to March 31, 2013.

On February 6, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CHSU-FM Kelowna and its transmitter CHSU-FM-1 Big White Mountain 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 CHSU-FM.

It was announced that Ken Kilcullen, with the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group stations in Prince George since Sept/98, and GM/GSM for the last 11 years, would become the new GM for the Bell Media B.C. Interior stations as of January 6, 2014. Based in Kelowna, he would also have day-to-day responsibility for the three stations there, succeeding Don Shafer.