CHRI-FM

Christian Hit Radio Inc. was federally incorporated as a non-profit organization on January 19. 

On July 8, Christian Hit Radio was awarded a licence for a predominantly English-language (Specialty) FM station at Ottawa. The new station would broadcast on a frequency of 99.1 MHz, and have an effective radiated power of 24,900 watts. The format would be contemporary Christian. 80% of its programming would consist of non-classical religious music. A minimum of 10% of the spoken word programming would be in French.

CHRI opened studios and offices on January 1 at 1010 Thomas Spratt Place.

On March 6 at 9:48 a.m., CHRI-FM began tape looped test transmissions.

CHRI (Christian Hit Radio Inc.) signed on the air at 1 p.m., March 30. Programming was live during the day and recorded (VHS tape) during the overnights.

CHRI was the brainchild of Bob Du Broy, a longtime volunteer producer and host of a Christian music program on Carleton University’s CKCU-FM. Du Broy (now president and general manager) worked on the project for 13 years and helped to convince the CRTC to change its policy and allow the licensing of religious stations. The operation was also a partnership of Roman Catholics and evangelical Protestants.

Between January 4th and 10th, the big ice storm caused substantial damage to the CHRI transmitter building.

On December 14, CHRI was authorized to add a rebroadcast transmitter at Cornwall, operating on 88.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.

On March 31, CHRI was authorized to add a low-power transmitter at Pembroke, operating on 100.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 22 watts.

In April, CHRI began testing its Cornwall transmitter at 88.1 MHz. The station launched officially on May 14th. Antenna height was 32 metres, located at First Baptist Church.

CHRI’s application for a second station in Ottawa (98.5 MHz) was denied on June 23. It would have had a Christian Inspirational format and would have targetted a more mature audience.

The Pembroke transmitter was scheduled to launch January 29. Antenna height was 96 metres on the CHRO-TV tower.

On August 17, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CHRI-FM Ottawa, ON and its transmitters CHRI-FM-1 Cornwall and CHRI-FM-2 Pembroke to August 31, 2013.