CKOA-AM

On February 14, Opeongo Broadcasting Co. Ltd. received approval for a new AM station at Arnprior. It would broadcast on 1490 kHz with a power of 250 watts. It would simulcast the programming of CKOB in Renfrew, except from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays when programming would originate from the Arnprior studio. The Arnprior licence was sought because of the poor ground conductivity in the area, CKOB’s signal was weak and subject to electrical interference during the day; and non-existant at night.

CKOA signed on the air later in the year.

Jacklin WIlliams became CKOA’s news director. She had been with CKOY/CKBY-FM in Ottawa. 

On September 22, the transfer of effective control of Opeongo Broadcasting Company Limited through the transfer of 9,000 common shares and 90 preferred shares from Jamie B. Pole to Neil MacMullen, on behalf of a company to be incorporated was approved. MacMullen would acquire effective control of the licensee through the ownership of 100% of the common voting shares. Pole would remain as a Director and continue to act as assistant engineer. MacMullen ows six radio stations in Nova Scotia (Annapolis Valley Radio), and has more than 20 years of broadcasting experience.

On September 26, CKOB and CKOA had their licences renewed. At the time, the Commission noted that due to financial difficulties, the licensee proposed to eliminate 16 hours weekly of local programming on CKOA. It would rebroadcast CKOB full-time.

On October 11, the CRTC approved the sale of Ottawa Valley Radio Ltd. (CKOB and CKOA) by Neil McMullen through his company Annapolis Valley Radio Ltd. to Pelmorex Broadcasting Inc. (controlled by Pierre Morissette). The Commission took into consideration the precarious financial situation of CKOB and CKOA and the fact that this transaction would provide the stations with the resources necessary to ensure continuation of local radio service. The Commission also approved the request to reduce locally-produced programming on CKOB from 126 hours per week to 21 hours 15 minutes weekly as well as to increase the locally-produced programming on CKOA to 21 hours 15 minutes per week. CKOB and CKOA would become part-time rebroadcasting stations of CHRO Pembroke. 

In the Summer, CHVR, CKOB and CKOA combined into a new FM station – CHVR-FM at 96.7 MHz, “Star 96”. The CBC had occupied the 96.7 frequency in Pembroke, so moved its station to 92.5 MHz. CHVR-FM operated with 100,000 watts of effective radiated power from the CBC-FM site approximately 16 km south of Pembroke. The three AM stations left the air.