CJTN-FM

Quinte Broadcasting Co. Ltd., owner of CJBQ-AM and CIGL-FM in Belleville, and CJNH-AM in Bancroft, received approval on June 5 to operate a new AM station at Trenton. It would broadcast on a frequency of 1270 kHz with a full-time power of 1,000 watts (different day and night directional antenna patterns).

Quinte Broadcasting Co. Ltd. launched CJTN on January 22. The “TN” in the call sign represented the first and last letters in Trenton. Studios and offices were at 31 Quinte Street in downtown Trenton. Control consoles in the studios were from Ward-Beck Systems. The CCA transmitter and three towers were at Carrying Place. The station’s original application called for studios at 74 Dundas Street West, with auxiliary studios at C.F.B. Trenton.

For the record, CJBQ had operated a studio in Trenton since 1950. The station’s representative in that town for the past 25 years was Ted Snider, who was now CJTN’s first manager. Other staffers included Bob Rowbotham (sales manager), Don Smith (program director), Patsy Trudeau (traffic), Margo Griffis (continuity), Monika Deagan (music programmer and librarian), Bud Hunter and Brian McNamara (announcers), Bruce McCullough and John Spitters (news), Eva Palidwar (secretary/receptionist) and Mike Coffey (technician).

Frank C. Murray, general manager of Quinte Broadcasting, said CJTN would provide 12 ½ hours of local programming daily with the balance coming from CJBQ. Programming would include town council meetings and a weekly program from C. F. B. Trenton, where the station would have a remote studio. The format was basically Middle of the Road, with a slight lean to Country and Folk.

Dr. Gerald Alexander Morton, president of Quinte Broadcasting and former publisher of the Belleville Intelligencer died at the age of 82.

On January 13, the CRTC approved Quinte Broadcasting’s application to amend the broadcasting licence for CJBQ Belleville, by deleting the condition of licence which required the station to operate as an affiliate of the CBC English-language AM Radio Network service. The CBC service would be replaced on CJBQ Belleville and CJTN Trenton by locally-originated programs, and on CJNH Bancroft by programs from CJBQ Belleville, its originating station. The CBC network service would continue to be available to Belleville and area residents through CBCP-FM Peterborough-Cobourg.

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

Frank C. Murray retired as general manager of Quinte Broadcasting (CJBQ-CIGL Belleville, CJTN Trenton and CJNH Bancroft). Associated with the company for 35 years, Murray was a past president of the Central Canada Broadcasters Association and the Radio Bureau of Canada, and a former director of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Murray was active in many local organizations and was recently honoured in Lahr, West Germany, for his work in promoting the twinning of Lahr with Belleville. He would continue with Quinte Broadcasting as a consultant.

Janice Alexander was news director at CJTN.

Ted Bradford joined the CJTN air staff.

John York left as CJTN’s manager. He became operations manager at CKPC-AM and FM in Brantford. Ted Bradford left for CJBQ.

Warren Michaels, Ed White, and Rick Kevan were among CJTN’s announcers.

Bud Hunter was morning man. Pete Norman was also on the air at CJTN.

Announcers included Dave Armstrong and Mark Norris.

Trenton became part of the new City of Quinte West on January 1.

On September 19, the CRTC approved the transfer of control of Quinte Broadcasting through the transfer of all of the voting shares from the Estate of Mr. Gerald A. Morton to Mr. Herbert M. Morton (66.67%) and Mrs. Joyce Mulock (33.33%). As a result, effective control of Quinte would reside with Mr. Herbert M. Morton.

On January 30, the application to convert CJTN to the FM band was approved. CJTN would operate on 107.1 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 3,640 watts (maximum ERP of 15,000 watts) at an antenna height 185.7 metres (directional). The station would continue to offer the same Oldies, Soft Adult Contemporary format currently presented on CJTN-AM. There would be a strengthening of local news, weather and community reflection and more detailed coverage of local amateur sports. CJTN’s FM antenna would be on the DeCastris tower near the 401 & Wooler Road, northwest of Trenton.

President and General Manager Bill Morton became CEO of Quinte Broadcasting Co. Ltd. He succeeded his father Myles Morton. Bill became the forth generation Morton to head the company.

On the Victoria Day long weekend, CJTN-FM “Lite 107” became “Rock 107”. The format changed from Adult Contemporary (Light Rock) to Classic Rock. The format officially launched on June 1 at 7:15 a.m.

Myles Morton died at age 85. Morton, the owner of Quinte Broadcasting Radio Group (CJBQ/Mix 97/Rock 107) was also the former owner of the Belleville Intelligencer newspaper and Cablevue, the local cable company.

The CRTC approved a change to the ownership and effective control of Quinte Broadcasting Company Limited, from the late Mr. H. Myles Morton, to a joint control exercised by William Alexander Morton, Stephen Myles Morton, Virginia Elizabeth Morton, Cynthia J. Thorne and Deborah Barbour.

Jessica Murphy left Quinte Broadcasting’s promotions team for a promotions position at Newcap’s Hot 89.9 and Live 88.5 in Ottawa. 

John Spitters, a long-time broadcast journalist at Quinte Broadcasting was promoted to News Director. He succeeded Todd Smith who recently won a seat in the provincial election for the PC’s in the Prince Edward Hastings riding.

Rock 107 morning show host Tommy James, after 20 years in broadcasting, left the Quinte Broadcasting station for a position outside the industry. Succeeding him was Max Major, who moved from morning show host at Rock 92 Timmins. Also at Quinte, Tim Durkin joined the news department from his morning news spot at FM 96 Kingston. 

On August 17, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CJTN-FM to August 31, 2013.

In August, Rick Kevan marked his 40th year with Quinte Broadcasting. He joined the then CJTN 1270 (now Rock 107.1) on August 17, 1979.