CKAR-FM

On November 21, the CRTC approved an application by Hunters Bay Radio Inc. to operate an English-language community FM radio station in Huntsville and surrounding areas. The station would operate at 88.7 MHz (channel 204B1) with an average effective radiated power of 5,700 watts (non directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 182.1 metres). Hunters Bay proposed to broadcast 126 hours of local, station-produced programming each broadcast week. This would include at least 9 hours and 40 minutes of newscasts, 6 hours and 40 minutes of which would consist of pure news. The applicant indicated that spoken word programming would consist of local, regional and national news, as well as weather forecasts, sports coverage, community announcements, interviews and specialty program segments, such as Undercurrents (local politics and current events in Muskoka), Animals and Airwaves (pet welfare experts) and K on the Bay (issues and topics of interest to women). 

CKAR-FM began on-air testing on May 15. The CKAR call letters were originally used in Huntsville by the now CFBK-FM. Studios and offices were at 40 Main Street West in Huntsville.

Federal cabinet minister and 3-time MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, Tony Clement served as a once-a-month, unpaid announcer at Hunter’s Bay Radio.

James Carroll died at age 60. He had been an actor for the CBC (Wind at My Back) and did the noon to 2:00 p.m. show on Hunters Bay Radio.

In August, Hunters Bay Radio was knocked off the air as a result of an arson that took place at its transmitter facility in Dwight. The station’s equipment was not affected but smoke and soot caused damage to several components of the transmitter which then failed. A short time later, service was restored with reduced power.