CHLG-FM

On May 30, the CRTC approved the application by 6851916 Canada Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a new commercial FM station in Vancouver at 104.1 MHz (channel 281C) with an average effective radiated power of 4,200 watts (maximum ERP of 8,000 watts). A number of competing applications for Vancouver were denied. The applicant proposed to off a format of Adult Album Alternative (Triple A). Music mix would feature a minimum of 15% category 3 music per week by condition of licence. Target audience: 25-54 years; core 35-44, skewed slightly female. Canadian content (music): minimum of 40% for category 2 music and a minimum of 40% for category 3 music both weekly and between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday by condition of licence. Local programming per broadcast week: 126 hours. Spoken word programming per broadcast week: 14 hours 31 minutes. News programming per broadcast week: 2 hours 45 minutes of pure news. Emerging artists programming per broadcast week: 15%, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. Hit material: 49.0% of music programming. The licence would expire 31 August 2014.
 

On March 31, the CRTC approved the application by Shore Media Group Inc. to amend the broadcasting licence for the radio programming undertaking CHHR-FM, in order to change the frequency from 104.1 MHz (channel 281C) to 104.3 MHz (channel 282C) and the authorized contours of the station by increasing the average effective radiated power from 4,200 to 5,200 watts (maximum ERP from 8,000 to 10,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 600 metres). The licensee indicated that these changes were necessary due to interference from a radio station in the United States. The changes were expected to improve reception in Vancouver. (On February 2, CHHR applied to the CRTC to swap frequencies with KAFE 104.3 in Bellingham, WA. KAFE had already applied to the US Federal Communications Commission to move to 104.1 and was granted a construction permit. The American move was needed to reduce interference between KAFE and KMCQ 104.5 Covington, WA.)

On June 1 CHHR “Shore 104” started on-air testing of its 104.1 MHz signal.

Shore 104 officially signed on the air on July 1. 

SHORE 104 Vancouver lost a morning show member. Hugh (Moose) Evans and his family returned to England. Veteran Steve Dunbar moved from mid-days to mornings and Gord Rutherford moved from weekend/swing to mid-days. Also at Shore 104, Colleen Brow, the new morning news anchor, was also a local comedian.

On January 14 at 7:30 a.m., SHORE 104 moved from 104.1 to 104.3 MHz on the dial – swapping positions with KAFE 104.3 in Bellingham, Washington. According to general manager Roy Hennessy, the station would gain a 25% increase in overall power. The hike would take the signal as far away as Vancouver Island and deeper into the lower mainland.

After one year on the air, there were some changes at Shore FM. President/ General Manager Roy Hennessy became the Chairman while VP of Sales Sherri Pierce was promoted to President/GM. Bob Mackowycz’s programming consulting services concluded at fiscal year-end. 

Former Rock 101 Program Director Steve Parsons was now a Program Consultant at SHORE 104. The new SHORE General Sales Manager was Mel Kartush, promoted from within. He succeeded Sherri Pierce who was promoted to President/GM.

It was announced that Steve Parsons would become National Content Manager for Astral Radio beginning December 20. Most recently, he was with Rock 101 Vancouver as Program Director, then did some consulting with SHORE FM Vancouver. Parsons would work in Vancouver until February (2011) before moving to Astral Toronto.

On September 26, the CRTC denied the application for authority to effect a transfer of shares and change of effective control of Shore Media Group Inc. (CHHR-FM) to Astral Media Radio inc.  [Show content]  MORE… 

Some line-up changes at Shore 104: Sam Ferris, who had been filling-in on weekends for the past two years, joined Jennifer Thomson on the morning show (6:00 to 9:00 a.m.). This was Canada’s only all-female radio morning show. Patrick Zulinov, Assistant Program Director and Music Director was now producing and hosting the noon show and taking on Saturday mornings. Gord Rutherford, who had been doing the afternoon drive, focused on producing shows and specialty programming besides doing swing shifts and weekends. Jody Vance, afternoon drive, resigned to join Citytv Vancouver as host of Breakfast Television. Graham Hatch took over afternoons (2:00 to 6:00 p.m.). He had been with CFMI-FM.

The CRTC approved the change to the effective control of Shore Media Group Inc., from being controlled by its board of directors to a control exercised by Astral Media Inc., through the transfer of all the shares of Shore Media to Astral Media Radio Inc., a subsidiary of Astral Media Inc. Shore Media was the licensee of CHHR-FM Vancouver.

Astral Media closed on its $13.4 million purchase of Shore Media Group Inc., owner of Shore FM (CHHR). The station, at 104.3, became Astral Vancouver’s third radio property, joining Virgin Radio 953 and AM 650 (CISL). Sherri Pierce remained Shore FM’s general manager, reporting to Brad Phillips, Astral Radio’s VP, B.C. operations. The CRTC approval came just three months after the Commission stopped the deal, saying that it contravened licence trafficking policy.

Astral, now Shore FM’s owner, terminated all air staff. Astral was now putting the station through what it described as a transitional phase and would re-launch it with a new sound soon. Mel Kartusch, former general sales manager at SHORE FM moved to The Jim Pattison Group Vancouver cluster. 

CHHR saw the return of announcers when Ken Allan Joonyer began in the morning slot on April 16. Shore went without announcers in February after the purchase by Astral was approved. 

Sherri Pierce, the President and General Manager at Shore FM until the station’s sale to Astral Media, was now at Astral corporate as the Director of Local Sales for Western Canada. Pierce left Corus in 2007 and was involved in two licence applications, both successful. She was hired as VP of Sales at Shore 104.3 before being promoted to her last position there. 

It was announced that Brad Phillips, Vice President of B.C. operations for Astral Media, would be the new General Manager of the Corus Entertainment Vancouver radio cluster, succeeding Garry McKenzie who was now heading prairie radio operations for Corus and based in Calgary. Sherri Pierce, Astral Media’s Director of Local Sales, Western Canada, would succeed Phillips as GM of the Astral Radio Vancouver cluster.

Ronnie Stanton left Astral Radio Vancouver to become Brand Director at Classic Rock 101 (CFMI) as of May 1.

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. It was a condition of the approval that BCE must divest itself of ownership of several television and radio programming undertakings, including CHHR-FM. Pending eventual sale, the Commission directed BCE Inc. to transfer the interim management and control of CHHR to a trustee pursuant to the terms of the voting trust agreement addressed in a letter of approval issued 27 June 2013, by no later than 29 July 2013.

On August 26, Newcap and Bell Media announced that they had entered into an agreement whereby Newcap would acquire from Bell Media Inc. the licences of five radio stations of which BCE had been required to divest itself as part of the CRTC approval for BCE to acquire Astral. CHHR-FM was one of the stations included in the deal, which was subject to CRTC approval.

On March 19, the CRTC approved applications by Newcap Inc. on behalf of various licensed subsidiaries of Bell Media Inc. for authority to change their ownership and control to Newcap. Among the stations to be transferred to Newcap was CHHR-FM.

On June 20 at 12:01 a.m., Shore 104 (CHHR) with an Adult Album Alternative format, became LG104.3 (CHLG) with a Greatest Hits format.

The CRTC denied LG 104.3’s application to relieve its condition of licence, specifically to move away from 15% of special interest music and 40% Jazz and Blues between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

In October, the CRTC denied an application to amend the broadcasting licence for LG 104.3 to remove the condition of licence requiring it to devote at least 15 per cent of its musical selections to Special Interest Music. The station argued the requirement was alienating listeners and impacting CHLG-FM’s market share and revenue.

In January, ISEDC gave CHLG approval to establish HD radio services. The new HD facility would operate with an ERP of 181 watts (455 watts max.).

In the fall, Sherri Pierce, GM for Newcap Radio B.C., left radio after 28 years. Pierce’s radio career began in 1990 when she joined Moffat Radio, which became Shaw, and then Corus Vancouver. She remained with the group for 17 years. In 2008, Pierce helped launch CHLG, which was acquired by Astral. In 2012, she was named GM of Astral Vancouver, seeing the operation through the sale of its assets to Bell, and eventually Newcap Radio.

On October 23, the CRTC approved an application by Newfoundland Capital Corporation Limited, on behalf of Newcap Inc. and its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, for authorization to effect a change in the ownership and effective control of various radio and television broadcasting undertakings in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, so that effective control of the undertakings would be exercised by Eric Boyko (Stingray Digital Group Inc.). Stingray took ownership of the stations just a few days later.

In late December, CHLG changed format from Classic Hits to Adult Contemporary as The Breeze.