CIOO-FM

Radio CJCH 920 Ltd. (division of CHUM Ltd.) received a licence for a new FM station at Halifax. It would broadcast with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts on a frequency of 100.1 MHz. Radio CJCH 920 Ltd. also owned CJCH-AM in the city. Parent company, CHUM, also owned CJCH-TV.

CIOO-FM – “C-100” (for 100.1 dial position and power of 100,000 watts) – began broadcasting on November 1. The station used a Collins transmitter and the Shively 10-bay antenna was located on its own 160 foot tower on Geiser’s Hill. Halifax’s TV stations and two other FM stations (CBH and CHFX) shared a nearby tower on the hill. Paul Ski was manager of CJCH and CIOO-FM. Walter Labucki was chief engineer.

Bruce Tinkham became CJCH/C-100 sales manager.

In June, CIOO doubled antenna height and installed an STL link.

On January 11, the CRTC renewed CIOO-FM’s licence to September 30, 1985. On December 21, CHUM’s application for a rebroadcast transmitter of CIOO at Middleton, was denied. It would have operated on 94.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. Annapolis Valley Radio and other Atlantic Canada broadcasters opposed the idea of major market stations putting rebroadcasters in to smaller markets, fragmenting audience while offering no local service. AVR president Neil MacMullen said the station would jeopardize his existing service, as well as future development of his Kentville FM station, at the time, a CBC affiliate.

Michele Martinello was C-100’s promotions director.

CFUN Vancouver general manager Paul Ski added responsibilities for program development at CJCH / CIOO-FM. C-100’s Award winning documentary program “Infocus” marked its 100th show. The program was prepared by Susan Marjetti, Glennie Langille and Chuck Bridges, and aired Sundays at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Barry Horne was C-100’s program director. C-100 won the Adult Contempoary Radio Station of the Year award at The Record conference. PD Barry Horne had won as program director of the year, the previous year.

Bill Bodnarchuck was general manager and Chuck Langdon was sales manager.

CIOO-FM had its licence renewed for only three years. It’s knuckles were rapped for falling below its committed foreground programming promise, exceeding the level of hits to non-hits ratio allowed, and failing to meet its playlist requirements. The CRTC also denied the station’s request to reduce its playlist.

Murray Brookshaw was named program manager for C-100 and 92/CJCH.

CHUM Limited decided its Halifax stations should have a new home, and on October 16, CRTC commissioner David Colville cut the ribbon to officially open the brand new C-1OO/CJCH-AM three-level 21,000 square foot studio facility at 2900 Agricola Street. Others on hand for the opening: Premier Don Cameron, dignitaries from the Federal and Provincial governments, the cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, CRTC, Department of Communications, and many advertisers. The main level (ground) of the new facility housed administration, sales, traffic/ accounting, promotions and meeting areas. The top floor was home to the AM and FM studios, news department, libraries, offices for program directors, creative writing, engineering offices, shop and central wiring. Both control rooms featured custom designed Studer 970 consoles. FM production was upgraded with a 32×8-track Soundcraft 600 recording console.

In February, NewCap, CHUM and Sun Radio agreed to enter an LMA. It became effective in June. Under the arrangement, NewCap managed all stations in the group (CHUM’s CJCH-AM and CIOO-FM, NewCap’s CFDR-AM and CFRQ-FM and Sun’s CIEZ-FM).

Bill Bodnarchuck left CJCH/CIOO-FM for co-owned CHUM-AM-FM in Toronto. He was succeeded in Halifax (Metro Radio Group – CJCH/CIOO-FM/CIEZ-FM/CFDR/CFRQ-FM) by his brother, Scott Bodnarchuck. He had been general sales manager at CHUM’s CFST/Q94-FM in Winnipeg. On December 17, CHUM Ltd. (50%) and NewCap Inc. (50%) was given approval to purchase CIEZ-FM from Sun Radio Ltd. The new ownwers took over on December 31 and the LMA between CHUM and NewCap ended. NewCap operated CIEZ on behalf of 50% owner, CHUM.

Allan Waters, the founder of CHUM Limited, owner of CIOO-FM, passed away at the age of 84, on December 3rd.

On July 12 it was announced that Bell Globemedia would pay C$1.7 billion for CHUM Ltd., in a deal that would see the company become part of the BCE-owned media conglomerate, subject to CRTC approval.  On August 31, the two companies announced that BGM had been successful in its offer to acquire approximately 6.7 million common shares and approximately 19.2 million non-voting Class B shares of CHUM.  The shares were to be placed in the hands of an independent trustee pursuant to a voting trust agreement approved by the CRTC. On December 12th, it was announced that Bell Globemedia would henceforth be known as CTVglobemedia.

A CRTC hearing on the CTVglobemedia application to acquire the assets of CHUM Limited was held on April 30th 2007.  On June 8 the CRTC approved the acquisition of CHUM Ltd. by CTVglobemedia, on condition that CTV sell off its five City-TV stations, CITY-TV Toronto, CHMI-TV Portage La Prairie/Winnipeg, CKEM-TV Edmonton, CKAL-TV Calgary and CKVU-TV Vancouver.   Rogers Communications announced on June 25th that a deal had been reached for them to buy these stations from CTV, subject to CRTC approval. Among the CHUM assets acquired by CTVglobemedia in the deal were seven television stations, 21 specialty channels and some 33 radio stations, including CIOO-FM. 

Sister station CJCH-AM became CJCH-FM, 101.3 The Bounce. CTV sold its interest in CKUL-FM to Newcap Inc.

Zach Bedford is the new midday announcer and music director at C100 as of August 4. He had been a swing announcer at the station.  Terry Williams left CJCH and C100 as Program Director to take up the same post at the new Rogers Halifax station – Lite 92.9.

Earle Mader, the Program Director at C100 retired. He spent his 30-year broadcast career with the CHUM station, the last two and a-half years as PD. The BOUNCE Program Director Chris Duggan took over as PD for both stations. Mader won Music Director of the Year honours (secondary market) at the 2002 Canadian Music Week.

On March 7, the CRTC approved an application by BCE Inc. on behalf of CTVglobemedia Inc., for authority to change the effective control of CTVgm’s licensed broadcasting subsidiaries to BCE. The Commission concluded that the transaction would be beneficial to the Canadian broadcasting system by ensuring the long-term stability of a significant Canadian television network and advancing the Commission’s objective of providing relevant high-quality Canadian programming to Canadians through conventional and new media distribution channels. BCE was a public corporation and controlled by its board of directors. Before this approval, BCE held 15% of the voting interest in the capital of CTVgm. The other shareholders were 1565117 Ontario Limited (a corporation ultimately controlled by Mr. David Kenneth R. Thomson) (40% of the voting interest), Ontario Teacher’s Plan Board (25% of the voting interest) and Torstar Corporation (20% of the voting interest). Under the transaction agreement dated September 10, 2010, BCE would acquire the remaining 85% of the voting interest in the capital of CTVgm and would therefore exercise effective control. On March 15, CTV Inc., CTV Corp., CTV Limited and CTVglobemedia Inc. amalgamated to continue as CTV Inc. BCE Inc. announced on April 1 that it had completed its acquisition of CTV and that it had launched Bell Media (replacing CTVglobemedia), a new business unit that would make CTV programs and other Bell content available on smartphones and computers as well as traditional television. In addition to CTV and its television stations, Bell Media now also operated 29 specialty channels, 33 radio stations, Dome Productions, a mobile broadcast facilities provider, and dozens of high-traffic news, sports and entertainment websites, including the Sympatico.ca portal. The CRTC approved a change to the ownership of Bell Media Inc., from BCE Inc. to Bell Canada. This transaction would not affect effective control of Bell Media Inc. and of its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, which continued to be exercised by BCE Inc. Bell Media Inc. held, directly and through its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, various radio and television programming undertakings as well as specialty and pay-per-view television services. On August 22, the CRTC approved the applications by BCE Inc., on behalf of Bell Media Inc. and 7550413 Canada Inc., carrying on business as Bell Media Canada Radio Partnership, for authority to acquire, as part of a corporate reorganization, CJCH-FM and CIOO-FM Halifax, CKGM Montréal, CKKW-FM and CFCA-FM Kitchener, CFRW, CFWM-FM and CHIQ-FM Winnipeg. Bell Media, the managing partner holding 99.99% of the voting interest in the general partnership, is wholly owned by Bell Canada and controlled by BCE. 7550413, the other partner holding the remaining 0.01% of the voting interest in the general partnership, is wholly owned by Bell Media and is also controlled by BCE. BCE submitted that the purpose of this corporate reorganization was to realize tax efficiencies. The Commission noted that this transaction would not affect the effective control of the undertakings which would continue to be exercised by BCE. On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CIOO-FM until March 31, 2012. Tim Belanger became broadcast engineer for CHUM Halifax. Don Grose left CHUM Radio Halifax to become general manager/general sales manager at Mix 103.7 in Fort McMurray.

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CIOO-FM to August 31, 2012. Program director Chris Duggan was no longer at 101.3 The Bounce/C100 Halifax. He moved north from Coast 93.3/B101 Providence last year. On August 28, the CRTC administratively renewed CIOO-FM’s licence to December 31, 2012. On December 21, the licence was renewed to August 31, 2019.