CIJK-FM

On July 6, the CRTC approved an application by Newcap Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, FM commercial station in Kentville. The new station would operate on a frequency of 89.3 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 9,900 watts. The proposed station would offer a Classic Hits music format featuring hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s and targeted to adults between the ages of 24 and 54. All of the programming would be local. Approximately 98 hours of each broadcast week would consist of live-to-air programming while the remaining hours would be voice-tracked programming. In each broadcast week, the station would offer 16 hours of spoken word programming including 7 hours 30 minutes of news, of which 75% would be local content, and 8 hours 30 minutes of surveillance material such as local weather, traffic and the promotion of community events as well as other information of general interest. There is only one commercial licensee serving the Kentville radio market, namely Maritime Broadcasting System, which operates two FM stations. CKWM-FM offers a Hot Adult Contemporary music format, which appeals primarily to females aged 18 to 44 years. CKEN-FM offers a Country music format, which usually captures listeners between the ages of 25 to 54.

CIJK-FM “K-Rock 89.3” signed on the air June 12 at 8:09:30 a.m. The station offered a Classic Rock format that tested well with 18-54 year olds. There would be an emphasis on local information and weather, with news seven days a week delivered by a three person news team. At the start, CIJK had a staff of 17 full-time and six part-time people. Ken Geddes was general manager, Gary Tredwell was program director and Dave Chalk was news director. Other on air staff included Julia Kirkey (news), Colin McInnis (mornings), Kate Peardon (mornings), Darrin Harvey (middays and weekend mornings), Melanie Sampson (afternoons), and Neil Spence (Weekends). Studios and offices were located at 8794 Commercial Street (Suite 3) in New Minas.

Curtis Bray became program and music director at 89.3 K-ROCK Kentville. He had been with Corus Radio Kitchener. 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. Ken Geddes, the former General Manager at K-Rock (CIJK-FM) Kentville, was now General Sales Manager at the two Newcap Halifax/Dartmouth stations. Will MacKay, formerly of Corus Radio Kitchener, became General Manager/ General Sales Manager at Newcap’s K-Rock 89.3 Kentville June 28. MacKay, with 15 years experience in sales and marketing, was a Senior Sales Rep with Corus. Gary Tredwell was no longer Program Director at K-Rock 89.3.

Gary Tredwell left K-Rock as Program Director to take up the same position at the Evanov Radio Group in Halifax. Afternoon host Melanie Sampson left K-Rock 89.3 for the yet to launch CHHI Miramichi, where she would be Program Director.

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.