CJPT-FM

On March 10, the CRTC denied the application by Eastern Ontario Broadcasting Company Limited for a licence to operate an English-language FM station at Brockville. The applicant proposed to operate on the frequency 103.7 MHz (channel 297) with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. The proposed FM station was to offer a “Group I” music format service, to a young adult audience between the ages of 18 and 35. The applicant held the licence for Brockville’s only local radio station, CFJR-AM. In support of its application, Eastern described CFJR’s competitive environment wherein WPAC-FM Ogdensburg, N.Y., with its contemporary hit format, garnered a large share of Brockville and area radio tuning and revenues. However, it expressed confidence that the strong local orientation of the proposed FM programming would attract young adult listeners. The Commission encouraged the repatriation of listeners and advertising revenue and considered that Eastern’s proposal to provide significant amounts of locally-oriented news and information programming, including 9 hours and 30 minutes of public affairs foreground per week, would have offered listeners a viable local alternative. However, the Commission was not convinced that the applicant had made adequate provision for the resources necessary to produce these programs. Furthermore, the Commission was not convinced that the application contained a coherent music programming plan or had fully taken into account the requirements of the FM policy and regulations. Although the Commission determined that Eastern’s application did not meet the requirements of the FM policy, it encouraged the provision of local FM service to Brockville and the surrounding area. The Commission therefore invited all interested parties, including the applicant, to respond to the call for applications for an FM radio undertaking to serve Brockville.

On February 20, the CRTC approved the application by Eastern Ontario Broadcasting Company Limited for a broadcasting licence for an English-language FM radio station at Brockville on the frequency 103.7 MHz, channel 279B, with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. Accordingly, the competing application by St. Lawrence Broadcasting Company Limited was denied, the two applications being mutually exclusive on technical grounds. The Commission issued a licence expiring August 31, 1989. This term would enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at the same time as that of other stations in the region. On 10 March 1986 the Commission denied on programming grounds a previous application by Eastern for an FM licence to serve Brockville. In that decision, however, the CRTC encouraged the submission of applications for a local FM service that would repatriate listeners and advertising revenues to Brockville. In response to a call for applications, Eastern submitted a new application to operate a Group II station, designed to appeal to an audience between 18 and 34 years of age, on a joint basis with CFJR, while St. Lawrence applied for an independent FM licence and proposed to offer a Group I service to listeners over 30. The Commission felt Eastern’s FM should provide a local alternative to the Contemporary Hit station WPAC-FM Ogdensburg, New York which was attracting a significant share of Brockville’s audience and advertising dollars. Eastern indicated that at least 50% of its news would be devoted to local stories and described “Seaway Magazine” as the program that would most clearly establish its local Brockville identity. This 30-minute public affairs magazine presentation would be broadcast daily at noon, Monday through Friday, and would provide in-depth treatment of a variety of issues of local concern. Eastern’s major commitment to foreground programming would be “Today’s Special”, a 60-minute presentation devoted to all aspects of rock music, to be aired daily Tuesday through Saturday. The applicant would use the Saturday edition of this program to assist the development of Canadian talent, recording artists from local clubs for subsequent broadcast. The Commission took note of the interventions and letters in support of this application as well as the opposing intervention from the CBC, requesting that both applications be denied until the CBC was able to provide a permanent FM service in Brockville. The Commission considered that approval of Eastern’s application would permit the establishment of a local FM service at the earliest possible date.

In the spring, John Radford announced that he would be selling CFJR-AM and the not yet on the air FM station to St. Lawrence Broadcasting Co. Ltd. of Kingston. Radford decided to sell the company because of difficulties of a personal nature. He said he would have enjoyed meeting the challenges of resolving the AM station’s current operational problems and of putting the FM station on the air in different personal circumstances.

On October 13, the CRTC approved the applications by Eastern Ontario Broadcasting Co. Ltd., for authority to transfer the effective control of the licensee through the transfer of 4,000 common shares (100%) from the current shareholders to St. Lawrence Broadcasting Co. Ltd. Eastern, which was incorporated in 1943, is an established broadcasting company in the Brockville market, and has been held by the Radford family since November 1946. It is effectively controlled by John A. Radford, indirectly through Jedcom Investments Ltd. (72.5%). The remaining shares are held by Armadale Communications Ltd. (27.5%), an unrelated company. St. Lawrence is ultimately owned and effectively controlled, equally, by James A. Waters, Ronald A. Waters and Sheryl V. Bourne, and is the licensee of CKLC and CFLY-FM Kingston. The three principals are also beneficiaries of the Allan F. Waters Family Trust, which holds less than 1% of the shares in CHUM Ltd. When questioned at the hearing regarding the extent to which the relationship between CHUM and the principals of St. Lawrence would affect the operation of the Brockville stations, Mr. James Waters, President of St. Lawrence, stated that while the stations would benefit from the option to access CHUM’s extensive programming resources, St. Lawrence would continue to function as an autonomous company.

CHXL-FM – “XL 103” officially signed on the air on July 18. Studios and offices were co-located with CFJR at 601 Stewart Boulevard.

When CHXL had its licence renewed on December 19, the CRTC noted that the station had been experiencing technical interference problems. In this regard, the Department of Communications advised the Commission that it was prepared to issue the Broadcasting Certificate at a reduced power level of 10,000 watts for a period of one year only. At the same time, the CRTC denied CHXL’s request to eliminate 90 minutes of jazz programming every week. 

CKLC Kingston program director also took over PD duties at CHXL.

Chris Ryan left CHXL and CKLC-AM.

CHXL decided to take advantage of CRTC guidelines for programming flexibility for small market stations. The station had lost money in each of the past four years. 

On-air line-up: Brad Dryden (6-10 a.m.), Brian Adam (10-3), Greg Diamond (3-6), Don Green (6-12). The station used the Rock Radio Network’s Overnight program. Weekend announcers: Tom Everett, Mike Rose and Dave Moon. Roger Peterson did news and was morning co-host.

On March 8, CHXL-FM received approval to relocate the transmitter from Brockville to Holland Road in the Township of Front of Escott, and to increase the effective radiated power from 50,000 watts to 53,000 watts.

Program director Greg Diamond left. Mike Rose was promoted to afternoon 
drive. Brad Dryden left late in year for CKWF Peterborough, and Mike Rose moved to mornings. Brian Adam left for CHUM Kitchener. Don Green left the business. Roger Peterson left for a job in TV. Kelly Hayes joined the news department.

In September, CHXL changed it’s handle from “XL-103.7FM” to “103.7 FM The River”. It was still a classic rock station. 

CHUM Limited purchased CKLC-AM and CFLY-FM in Kingston, and CFJR-AM and CHXL-FM in Brockville.

Mike Wilson left for CFPL-FM London. Producer Tommy James was promoted to PM drive. Evening announcer Tom Everett departed for CHRW-FM in London. Paul Damon was hired as the evening announcer. Sandra Plagakis left for CFNY Toronto.

On-Air: Mike Rose (6:00), Greg Hinton (10:00), Paul Damon (2:00), Dan Mellon (6:00). Others: Mike Darrach, Tim Davis, Steve Schipp, Ali MacLean, Nick Lalonde, Joel Scott, Ali MacLean, David Lanys. Dave Hunter did news and co-hosted the morning show. Kelly Hayes (news) left for a job in BC. Rob McDonald was brought in as news director for CFJR / CHXL from sister stations CKLC / CFLY in Kingston. Rob McDonald began doing afternoon news, while weekend anchor Dave Hunter moved to morning news / morning co-host. Afternoon drive host Tommy James left for a production Job at CKGM / CHOM-FM in Montreal. Paul Damon was promoted to afternoon drive and Dan Mellon was moved to evenings. Rock Radio Network’s “Overnight” show signed off and CHXL went back to live, local overnights. 

CKLC/CFLY-FM Kingston news director Tony Orr and assistant news director Rob McDonald were now looking after the CFJR/CHXL-FM news department following the departure of Cathy Miller. McDonald was now based in Brockville.

Paul Damon left for CFPL-FM London. Dave Hunter left in the summer for CKLW Windsor. David Lanys was promoted to morning news / morning co-host for a few months, but was terminated shortly thereafter. Dan Mellon left in the fall for CKLC / CFLY Kingston. Rob McDonald moved from afternoon news to mornings and weekend anchor Kim Scozzafava moved to afternoon drive news. Rob Mariconda was hired away from the Rock Radio Network / Q107 Toronto, for afternoon drive. Angela Algar was hired from CFMK-FM Kingston to do evenings. Program director Greg Hinton was appointed operations manager for The River and CFJR.

Weekender Ali MacLean left for CJRN Niagara Falls. Joel Scott left for CFRA Ottawa. Rob McDonald left to take on the Sports anchor position at CKWS-TV in Kingston. Dave Kirby was promoted to morning news/ morning co-host. Rob Mariconda left for the morning producer job at CFTR Toronto. Mark Bergman of CJFM Montreal was hired for the drive Job, but returned to Montreal after only 8 weeks at CHXL. Shane Hewitt (Carter James) was then hired as the drive announcer from Q92 Sudbury. CHXL introduced automation this year, and the evening and overnight shows were now automated. Weekends were automated using the regular weekday announcers to voice-track those shows. 

Jim Blundell, based in Kingston, became Market Manager for CHUM Kingston, Peterborough and Brockville. 

On-Air 6:00 Mike Rose, 10:00 Ali MacLean, 2:00 Ian Sterling, 6:00 Mike Darrach (Voice Tracked). Jenna Fyfe did morning news and was morning co-host. Dave Kirby left for the new CHST-FM London. Carter James (Shane Hewitt) left for CJAY Calgary. Ian Sterling was moved from sister station CFJR to PM Drive on CHXL. Angela Algar left for CFLG-FM Cornwall. Ty Michaels left the radio business. Mike Lane from CHUM Toronto was hired as the weekend news anchor. Jenna Fyfe, PM drive news anchor at CFLY-FM Kingston was hired as news director / morning co-host. Ali MacLean returned from CJRN Niagara Falls to host the mid-day show. Producer Mike Darrach voice tracked the evening show, once Angela Algar left.

At 11:56 p.m. On December 31st, the last ID saying “CHXL-FM” (“The River”) played, followed by “New Year’s Day” by U2.

At midnight, January 1, a three minute announcement aired, telling listeners that the station was changing course, switching from a rock station to a Hot Adult Contemporary station. The station was now known as CJPT-FM, 103.7 FM “The Point”.

On January 5, after 103 hours of commercial-free music, The Point officially launched at 7:00 a.m.
Mike Darrach left in April for CKQB-FM Ottawa. Nick Lalonde was brought in from CKLC / CFLY Kingston for eight weeks to cover production and evenings, and eventually was moved back, when CJPT hired Andrew McBeth from CIGL-FM Belleville for the same position. Greg Hinton was general manager and program director for CJPT and CFJR. There was a staff of 18 for the two stations.

Top 40 CJPT “The Point” re-launched as 103.7 BOB-FM on July 14, with the best music of the 80’s and 90’s. Sister station CFJR officially moved from the AM to FM dial also on that day.

Allan Waters, the founder of CHUM Limited, owner of CJPT-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 CJPT-FM.   

Jim Blundell left CHUM Kingston-Peterborough-Brockville to become Vice President and General Manager at CHUM London.

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 Ontario Regional Radio Partnership, for authority to acquire, as part of a corporate reorganization, CFJR-FM and CJPT-FM Brockville, CKLC-FM and CFLY-FM Kingston, CKPT-FM and CKQM-FM Peterborough, and CKLY-FM Lindsay. 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 CJPT-FM until March 31, 2012.

After four years as BOB FM morning host, Andrew Loughrin left the station for Zed 99 in Red Deer (as of January 31). Jamieson Bridal became the morning host on 1037 BOB FM, having moved from sister station 104.9 JRfm. Jamieson’s first day on the morning show (officially) was February 14. Replacing Jamieson on the CFJR-FM afternoon show was Ryan Valdron. Ryan would also be CFJR’s Music Director. Valdron had been with BOB FM (CHST) in London where he worked part time as their swing announcer. His first show on CFJR was February 14. CJPT-FM (BOB FM) morning co-host Ali MacLean moved to CKLC Kingston to handle promotions and mid-days. Chris Holski joined Jamieson Bridal on the BOB FM morning show. Warren Davies, chief engineer at CHUM Brockville, left the stations. Engineer Chad Jackson was hired on April 4 but ended up not working at CFJR-CJPT. Sean T. Craig, Sr., became engineer for the stations on May 24. 
Grace La Rose, the former promotions director at Bell Media Radio Brockville, moved to Corus Radio Kingston in that same capacity.

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CJPT-FM to August 31, 2012. On August 28, the licence was administratively renewed to December 31, 2012. On December 21, the CRTC renewed CJPT-FM’s licence to August 31, 2019.

Dan Wylie, a ten-year veteran of Bell Media Radio Brockville and Program Director for the past six, began as PD at Free-FM London February 4. His last day at BOB FM was February 1. Wylie began at the Brockville stations as a part-timer while going to school. Later, he became the afternoon host/Music Director for 104.9 JRfm, then morning host at BOB FM, MD for both stations, then Assistant PD and, for the last six years, Program Director. 

News Director Jenn Ferguson joined Jamieson Bridal on the NEW Bob’s Breakfast Morning Show full time as of May 6. 

Scott McGregor was the new Program Director for 104.9 JRfm and 103.7 BOB-FM. He moved back to Ontario from Rock 106 Lethbridge where he was Assistant PD/Music Director/drive announcer the last two and a half years. McGregor began the new job March 19.