CFXY-FM

On June 4, Radio One Ltd., owner of CIHI-AM, received approval to operate a new FM station at Fredericton. It would broadcast on a frequency of 93.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 45,000 watts. It would be the first private FM station in the market. Radio One planned to operate the station 24 hours a day in stereo and would develop local talent through sponsorship of music talent contests and an hour-long drama each week.

CKHJ-FM 93.1 signed on the air on July 15. The station had a country music format. 

Studios and offices were co-located with CIHI-AM in the Radio One Building at 364 Argyle Street. It was a 3-storey building in the older section of the city and had been a turn of the century boot and shoe factory. Ross saved it from demolition by completely renovating it, preserving remarkably well, the architecture of the earlier era. To make room now for CKHJ-FM, the facility had to be totally renovated again. FM master control room equipment consisted of the McCurdy woodwork and pedestal package with 8816 console, Technics CB6 speakers, ITC 3C cart, 2 Revox PR99s, SP10 MKII turntables with S220 tone arms, RS-M263 Technics cassette deck, Heathkit weather computer, VHF radio and AKG C414EB microphone. Cart storage is handled by Russ Lang rotating pedestals. AM and FM production control rooms: 8808 consoles, McCurdy pedestals and woodwork, SP10 MKII turntables and S220 tone arms, RS M263 Technics cassettes, SB6 Technics speakers, PR99 Revox reel to reels and ITC Pr and P cart units (mono in AM stereo in FM).

The FM transmitter site was located north of town, 16 miles from the studios and 11 miles beyond the CIHI-AM site. Harris transmitters were used: 20,000 watt main and 1,000 watt standby. CKHJ had a 6-bay Dielectric antenna. Richard Cleveland was director of engineering. 

On January 11, the CRTC renewed CKHJ-FM’s licence until September 30, 1985.

Tom Blizzard was named program director of CKHJ-FM. He was also music director for the Radio One Group.

Studios and offices were relocated from 364 Argyle St. to the old Fredericton Medical Centre at 206 Rockwood Avenue.

On April 29, CKHJ-FM was granted a change of frequency – from 93.1 MHz to 105.3 MHz and an increase in effective radiated power from 45,000 watts to 100,000 watts. The changes were put in place before the end of the year.

On March 31, Radio One took over the operations (not ownership) of CFNB-AM (owned by Radio Atlantic). CFNB moved its administrative offices to Radio One’s location, at 206 Rockwood Avenue later in the year.

On September 17, Telemedia Communications Inc. was given approval to purchase Radio One Ltd. (CIHI) and Radio Atlantic (CIBX) Ltd. (owner of the former CFNB-AM, now CIBX-FM).

CKHJ became CFXY. Sister station CIHI-AM adopted the CKHJ calls.

On June 7, approval was granted for CFXY to decrease power from 100,000 to 78,000 watts. 

Randy McKeen was news director for CFXY-CKHJ and CIBX.

On April 19, Astral Media Inc. was given approval to purchase Telemedia Radio Atlantic Inc., owner of CFXY-FM, CIBX-FM and CKHJ Fredericton. 

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

Astral Fredericton’s Group brand manager, Tom Blizzard, was no longer with the operation. He was a 34-year veteran at the Astral stations in New Brunswick.

Ryan Zimmerman became operations manager at Astral Fredericton. He had been with Astral Regina.

Hugh Morrisson returned to Astral Atlantic Fredericton October 3 as head of technical services after a decade at MBS Saint John. He succeeded Dick Cleveland who retired October 20.

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CFXY-FM to August 31, 2012. On July 10, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CFXY-FM to March 31, 2013.

On February 6, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CFXY-FM 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 CFXY-FM.