CKCB-FM

CKCB-FM, 95.1 FM The Peak, Collingwood

Paul Richards has put together a site that looks back at CKCB in the 1970’s:
http://www.collingwoodliving.com/good-old-days-of-ckcb-1400/

StationYearFreq.PowerOwner/Info
CKCB-FM200095.1350Corus Entertainment Inc.
CKCB-FM199695.1350Power Broadcasting Inc.
CKCB-FM199495.1520Power Broadcasting Inc.
CKCB-AM198914001,000/250Power Broadcasting Inc.
CKCB-AM198314001,000/250Kawartha Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (Power Corp.)
CKCB-AM197514001,000/250Collingwood Broadcasting Co. Ltd.
CKCB-AM19651400250Collingwood Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (Snelgrove)

1965

Barrie Broadcasting Co. Ltd., owned by Ralph T. Snelgrove, (CKBB-AM and CKVR-TV Barrie), was granted a licence for an AM station at Collingwood, operating on a frequency of 1400 kHz with a power of 250 watts, day and night.

CKCB-AM signed on the air on July 15. Studios were at located at 84 Hurontario Street. The transmitter and single 125 foot tower  were situated on the north half of Lot 41, Concession 10, Collingwood Township. At this time, CKCB operated as a full-time satellite of CKBB in Barrie. The “CB” in the call letters is for Collingwood Broadcasting. Both stations operated by this time under separate names – CKBB: Barrie Broadcasting Co. Ltd. – CKCB: Collingwood Broadcasting Co. Ltd. 

On October 12 or 13, CKCB-AM began airing some local programs, becoming a semi-satellite of CKBB-AM. Jim Craig was the personality that signed CKCB on the air.

1966

Local programming increased from 17 to 37 hours a week May 2. 

1967

Wayne Bjorgan was named general manager of CKBB-CKCB. He had been with CKBB for six years, the past four as news director of CKBB and CKVR-TV. John Henderson was named general sales manager for CKBB-CKCB. He had been with the company for 8 years, most recently as radio retail sales manager. Douglas Coulson, member of the sales staff for the last 5 years, became retail sales manager, replacing Henderson.

1969

Local programming increases to 42 hours a week on March 3.

1972

CKCB’s on-air line-up featured John Nichols (6-9), Ken Charles (9-10), John Nichols (10-11), Ken Charles (11-12:30) CKBB simulcast (12:30-4), Paul Richards (4-6), CKBB simulcast (6pm-6am).

1975

On April 18, CKCB was given approval to increase daytime power from 250 to 1,000 watts. Night power would remain at 250 watts.

The power increase took place in July. The same transmitter site and tower were used. 

1979

CKCB program line-up: John Nichols (6-10), CKBB simulcast (10-noon), Frank Robinson (noon-1), CKBB simulcast (1-4), Chris Russell (4-6), CKBB simulcast (6pm-6am).

1983

On December 13, Ralph Snelgrove sold Four Seasons Radio Ltd. (Barrie Broadcasting and Collingwood Broadcasting) to Kawartha Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (Katenac Holdings)
owned by Paul Demarais and group.

1984

On February 13, the CRTC approved the application by Telemedia Communications Inc. for a licence for an English-language radio network that included CKCB, for the purpose of broadcasting the hockey games of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1983-84 season of the National Hockey League. 

On December 13, approval was given for an increase in night-time power from 250 to 1,000 watts.

1987

On January 29, the CRTC approved the applications for authority to transfer effective control of Frontenac Broadcasting Company Limited and Kawartha Broadcasting Company Limited through the transfer of 200 common voting shares (100%) of Katenac Holdings Limited from Paul G. Desmarais (90), Claude Pratte (90) and three minority shareholders (20) to Power Corporation of Canada, which was indirectly controlled by Mr. Desmarais. As a result of this transaction, Power Corporation would acquire 100% control of Katenac Holdings Limited which held effective control of Frontenac Broadcasting Company Limited, licensee of CKWS, CFMK-FM and CKWS-TV Kingston and Kawartha Broadcasting Company Limited, licensee of CHEX, CHEX-TV, CFMP-FM Peterborough and two rebroadcasting stations, and CKCB Collingwood and CKBB Barrie. 

Wayne Bjorgan was general manager for CKCB and CKBB.

CKCB was hoping to have its new facilities completed by May. The operations would be designed for cassette-computer programming to handle both music and commercials. The system could be used for full-live or fully automated programming. CKCB would also used the Sony Video mini-VCR for digital audio. The 8 mm tape would hold 20 hours of stereo music plus compurter information, about the same as 300 songs plus computer data. The new facility on Highway 26 East opened in August.

1988

Wayne Bjorgan was president of Collingwood Broadcasting and Barrie Broadcasting.

1989

Power Corp. of Canada reorganized its radio and television assets. They would now be held in the new wholly-owned subsidiary, Power Broadcasting Inc. PBI would be based in Montreal. Andre Desmarais was named chairman and chief executive officer of the new unit. Peter Kruyt was president. Before now, Power’s seven AM, four FM and three TV stations were held by a number of subsidiaries in Ontario and Quebec.

1990

Ralph T. Snelgrove, founder of CKBB-AM and CKVR-TV Barrie and CKCB-AM Collingwood passed away March 27 after a long illness. He was 75. 

1992

Doug Coulson was appointed vice president and general manager for CKCB Collingwood and CKBB in Barrie.

1994

On August 15, Power Broadcasting received approval to convert CKCB to the FM band. The new station would broadcast on a frequency of 95.1 MHz with effective radiated power of 520 watts. At the same time CKBB in Barrie was also granted an FM conversion. CKCB-FM would have a Group 1 (Pop, Rock and Dance) format. It would pick up all of its programming from the Barrie studios, but 42 hours a week would be tailored for the Collingwood market. CKCB-AM was a part-time satellite of CKBB-AM. Both stations experienced night-time interference problems.

CKCB 1400 left the air following the FM conversion.

1996

On January 22, CKCB-FM was granted a decrease in effective radiated power from 520 watts to 350 watts, and a move of the transmitter site to a new location 1.4 km from the authorized site southwest of Collingwood, and an increase the antenna height. There would be no significant change in the service contours as presently authorized. 

1999

The new general manager at CKCB-FM was John Eaton. Former GM Peter Allen was now general sales manger at CKDO/CKGE in Oshawa.

2000

On March 24, the sale of Power Broadcasting Inc. to Corus Entertainment Inc. by Power Corporation was granted. Corus took control of CKCB and the other Power stations on April 13. 

On October 13, Darren Stevens added program director duties for CHAY-FM Barrie and CKCB Collingwood. He was already CIQB-FM’s PD.

2007

On July 16, CKCB’s application to increase effective radiated power from 350 watts to an average ERP of 4,000 watts, and to increase antenna height was denied. Corus indicated that growing regional infrastructure had resulted in a reduction of CKCB-FM’s signal penetration within the station’s local market.

2011

In February, John Nichols marked 40 years with 95.1 The Peak FM. The station’s morning man joined the old CKCB-AM in 1971 when The Morning Flight debuted. 

J.J. Johnston was General Manager of Corus Radio Cornwall, Peterborough, Kingston, Barrie/Collingwood. Derrick Scott was CKCB’s Program Director. 

Corus Radio’s new B101/CHAY Barrie/The Peak Collingwood Program Director was Deb James. She had been with the city’s 107.5 KOOL FM where she’d been morning show host for the past five and a half years.

2012

In September, John Nichols announced his retirement after 41 years behind the mic at 95.1 The Peak FM. His last day would be December 21. John joined the former CKCB-AM in 1971. Nichols, who’d been behind the mic for all of those years, earned his “voice of the Georgian Triangle” reputation through his talent and his sheer longevity. Nichols’ last day would mark the completion of the 33rd annual 95.1 The Peak FM Christmas Draw, a fundraising initiative he established in 1980 that had raised more than $600,000 for the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.

2013

Lee Sterry became Operations Manager at 95.1 The Peak on January 3. Sterry’s broadcast background included Standard Winnipeg, CKOR/CJMG Penticton and CKLB Oshawa, among others. He succeeded John Eaton who moved to mornings.

2014

On January 14, the CRTC denied CKCB-FM’s application to increase the ERP from 350 to 9,700 watts (max. ERP from 350 to 25,000 watts), change the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional and to increase the antenna height.

2015

In October, 95.1 The Peak FM celebrated 50 years of service.

The story continues elsewhere…
Effective September 1st 2019, we will only be adding new material to these station histories in exceptional circumstances. Our intent to chronicle the early days of these radio and television stations has been achieved, and many new sources and technologies, from the CRTC website to Wikipedia, and others, are now regularly providing new information in these areas.

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