CISO-FM

On June 1, the CRTC approved an application by Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation for a licence to operate a new commercial FM station to serve Orillia. The station would broadcast on 89.1 MHz and have an effective radiated power of 2,100 watts. The Bayshore operation would offer a Soft Adult Contemporary music format, and have a general target audience – 35 to 64 years, female skew; core target audience – 35 to 54 years. The station would offer 126 hours of local programming per broadcast week. There would be 20 hours, 54 minutes, 30 seconds of Spoken word programming per broadcast week and 8 hours and 20 minutes of pure news programming per broadcast week. Live-to-air programming per broadcast week: 85 hours. The licence would expire August 31, 2015. Bayshore was based in Owen Sound and operated stations in that city as well at Saugeen Shores, Goderich and Wasaga Beach. In approving this application, the CRTC denied a number of competing bids. 

Ron Funnell was named General Manager/General Sales Manager of Bayshore Broadcasting’s new Sunshine 89.1 Orillia. Funnell’s last stop was at KICX 106 Kitchener-Waterloo for the launch. Before that, he worked at Central Ontario stations in Orillia, Midland and Bracebridge from 1994-2004. 

Rick Ringer, the Operations Manager at 97-7 The Beach Wasaga Beach, was promoted to Operations Manager for Bayshore East. He would work with General Manager/General Sales Manager Ron Funnell at Sunshine 89.1 Orillia on the station’s build and launch. Ringer’s background included 18 years on-air at CHUM-FM Toronto.

Bayshore Broadcasting announced the studios and offices of “Sunshine 89.1 the Voice of the Twin Lakes” would be located at 490 West Street in Orillia.

Ron Funnell announced the Sunshine 89.1 on-air team: Rick Ringer (operations manager) would be heard Thursday and Friday afternoons. Dan and Leslie Michaels would handle the morning show (5:30-9:00). Heather Gleason would look after mid-days. She would also assist with music scheduling and work in the creative department. News director Jim Birchard would open the phone lines between noon and one p.m. for “Twin Lakes Today.” Tony Hann would do the afternoon show. He would also be the station’s producer. Ian Solecki would handle weekend on-air duties. Shawna Miller and Matthew Lago would do weekend news. Also on staff: father-son combo Sandy and James Campbell would do sales, as would Marko Fox. Stephanie Clark would be receptionist and assistant to sales and promotions.

Sunshine 89.1 began on the air testing.

Sunshine 89.1 celebrated its official grand opening on February 24. A number of dignitaries and listeners stopped by to see the new studios, meet the staff, and wish their best to Orillia’s radio station. 

Sunshine 89.1 General Manager/General Sales Manager Ron Funnell, took on added duties in those same responsibilities at Bayshore’s 97-7 the Beach at Wasaga Beach. Funnell succeeded Deb Shaw who, after 16 years with the company – most recently as both VP & GM, moved on.

Ron Funnell, general manager and general sales manager at Sunshine 89.1 Orillia and 97.7 The Beach Wasaga Beach left the stations. He moved to Bell Media’s KOOL FM 105.3/ KFUN 99.5 Kitchener-Waterloo as senior account manager. 

Rick Ringer resigned as Operations Manager/midday host at Sunshine 89.1 in Orillia to become General Manager at 92.3 The Dock in Owen Sound.

JD Hunter, former Announcer/Producer at Rock 95 Barrie, was now Program Director at Sunshine 89.1 FM.

Sunshine 89.1 became Sunshine 89.

Jim Birchard retired October 29. The 40-year broadcast journalism veteran was the morning co-host and news director at Sunshine 89.1. He began his career at CFOR Orillia, moved on to CKAR Huntsville, CHYM Kitchener, then CFRA Ottawa. He then moved on to Vancouver and Thunder Bay before joining Bayshore Broadcasting, first at CFOS Owen Sound and then to CISO-FM.

In October, CISO changed format from Adult Contemporary (Sunshine 89.1) to Classic Hits (Max FM).

In May, CISO flipped from Classic Hits to Alternative Rock. The branding remained Max FM.