CFRK-FM

On November 26, Newcap Inc. was awarded a lincence for a new FM station at Fredericton, operating with a Classic Rock music format. The station would broadcast on a frequency of 92.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 76,000 watts. Antenna height would be 61.6 metres. Newcap was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Newfoundland Capital Corp. Ltd., which was ultimately controlled by  Harold R. Steele.  

On May 27, CFRK-FM was authorized to increase effective radiated power from 76,000 watts to 93,000 watts, increase antenna height and relocate the transmitter. The proposed changes would provide slightly better coverage at a lower cost.

Classic Rock, CFRK “92.3 FRED FM” signed on the air July 28 at 6:00 p.m.

In March CFRK 92.3 changed format from Classic Rock to Oldies/Classic Hits. It continued using the “Fred FM” name.

Richard Jones and Jennifer Graham joined FRED FM in August. They will co-host Wake Up Fredericton after a long and successful career with CJ104 in Woodstock, NB. Bob Cann moves to full time afternoon drive after filling in on a temporary basis for the past number of weeks. Sean (Craw Daddy) Crawford will be moving from Breakfast at FRED to afternoon drive at Newcap’s Classic Rock C103 in Moncton. 

Newcap New Brunswick General Manager Hilary Montbourquette, who ran FRED-FM Fredericton and CJMO-FM/CJXL-FM Moncton, became General Manager/General Sales Manager at Newcap’s Alberta Radio South Group of stations (CKGY-FM and CIZZ-FM Red Deer, CIBQ and CIXF-FM Brooks, CJPR-FM Blairmore, CKDQ Drumheller and CKSQ Stettler), based at Z99/KG Country Red Deer. He succeeded Ron Thompson who retired September 30 (2009). As a result of Montbourquette’s move, completed mid-January (2010), Dan Fagan was promoted to GM/GSM of the Moncton stations and Dan Gallant was promoted to GM/GSM of the Fredericton station. Brad Muir was promoted to Operations Manager of Moncton and would continue to program FREDFM.

Dwayne Sawchyn was promoted to Regional Sales Manager, Newcap Maritimes (six markets with 10 stations in NS, NB and PEI), and was based in Halifax. He had been Retail Sales Supervisor at CFRQ-FM/CKUL-FM Darmouth/Halifax.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CFRK-FM until March 31, 2012.

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CFRK-FM to August 31, 2012.

Brad Muir, who had been Director of Programming for Newcap’s New Brunswick stations in Fredericton and Moncton, was now Program Director at C100/101.3 the BOUNCE Halifax. His first PD gig was at K97/96X Edmonton in 2001.

On August 28, the CRTC administratively renewed CFRK’s licence to December 31, 2012. On December 21, the CRTC renewed CFRK-FM’s licence to August 31, 2019.

It was announced that Dan Gallant, General Manager/General Sales Manager at 92.3 Fred FM would move within Newcap to launch the company’s new Miramichi station. Succeeding Gallant in Fredericton would be Dave Newbury, moving from his GM position at The Giant Sydney. Succeeding Newbury as GM at The Giant and just-acquired 103.5 The Eagle – GSM Rob Redshaw. 

On February 7, the CRTC approved the application by Newcap Inc. to modify the technical parameters of CFRK-FM by decreasing the station’s average effective radiated power from 93,000 to 42,000 watts (and by increasing the maximum ERP from 93,000 to 100,000 watts),

by increasing the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 124.8 to 137.5 metres, by changing the radiation pattern of the antenna from non-directional to directional, and by relocating the antenna and transmitter from Hamtown Corner to Mount Hope. Newcap stated that residents in the vicinity of the Hamtown Corner transmitter site had expressed concerns over high levels of radiation from the transmitters of three different radio stations, including that for CFRK-FM, which were all located at that site. The licensee stated that relocating the transmitter for CFRK-FM to the Mount Hope site would result in a reduction of radiation to the nearby residences at Hamtown Corner.

At Noon, March 2, Newcap Radio introduced a true Top 40 radio station in Fredericton. That’s when 92.3 FRED-FM morphed into The New HOT 92.3, Fredericton’s #1 Hit Music Station. The New HOT 92.3 would give listeners all new music, and a new morning show. The Morning Hottub with Joe, Benny & Jay delivered searing Hot Hit Music, Local News with respected Maritime Newsman Jay McNeil, the latest Celebrity gossip and light hearted commentary. The format had been Classic Hits. Fred’s exit was accompanied by Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Freebird and HOT 92.3’s opening fanfare was Scream & Shout by will.i.am. Joe Arsenault was morning host, formerly with The Wave Saint John. Lindsay “Benny” Benoit from The Bounce Halifax and Jay McNeil, who moved from Newcap sister stations The Giant/The Eagle Sydney, were also part of the morning team. Kate Buick, who moved from Newcap’s The New Hot 105.5/KROCK 105.5 Charlottetown, was the new Program Director/midday host. In afternoon drive was Dexter Barry, who had been with LIVE 105 Halifax and KROCK 105.5 Charlottetown. Dave Newbury was General Manager. Kate Buick was Program Director.

CFRK rebranded from Contemporary Hits (Hot 92.3) to Country (Country 92.3).

Early in the year, CFRK changed branding from Country 92.3 to New Country 92.3.

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.