CIBU-FM

On February 7, Blackburn Radio Inc. was denied a licence for a new FM station at Wingham (94.5 MHz with ERP of 21,200 watts)

On September 10, Blackburn Radio Inc. (CKNX-AM and FM) was given approval for a new FM station at Wingham, operating on 94.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 21,200 watts. The new station would offer a hybrid Adult Rock format blending Classic Rock and New Rock music that would complement the Country and Adult Contemporary formats currently offered on CKNX and CKNX-FM respectively (also owned by Blackburn).

In late February, the new station began testing on 94.5 MHz. CIBU-FM “The Bull 94.5” signed on the air on April 1.

On September 28, CIBU-FM was given approval to increase average effective radiated power from 21,200 to 70,140 watts and to decrease antenna height. 

On October 12, CIBU-FM received approval to add a transmitter at Bluewater, operating on a frequency of 91.7 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 2,288 watts. Terrain blockage along the shore of Lake Huron and co-channel interference from WCEN-FM Mount Pleasant were causing signal deficiencies throughout Southern Huron County. The new transmitter would allow CIBU to adequately serve the population of Southern Huron and the Lake Huron shoreline.

On June 16 the CRTC approved the application by Blackburn Radio Inc. to increase average effective radiated power for CIBU-FM from 70,100 watts to 75,000 watts. The directional antenna would be replaced with an omni-directional antenna. Effective height of the antenna above average terrain would be decreased from 217 metres to 215 metres. The changes would reduce the protected area that currently exists between Blackburn’s CKNX-FM and CIBU-FM and Durham Radio’s CIWV-FM (Hamilton/Burlington). Both companies agreed to eliminate the protected area to allow for maximum use of their respective channels. The increase in power to 75 kW took place later in the year.

Branding changed to Classic Rock 94.5.

Kyler Mann (“The Mann Show”) left The Bull 94.5 to pursue an exciting new career outside of radio.

Janel Steeper left The Bull for CJCD Yellowknife. She had been summer cruiser host.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CIBU-FM and its transmitter CIBU-FM-1 Bluewater until March 31, 2012.

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CIBU-FM and its transmitter CIBU-FM-1 Bluewater to August 31, 2012.

94.5 The Bull announced that Mike Brough was back. He was the original co-host in The Bullpen back when the station launched in April of 2005. He was hired to return to The ‘Pen as host, rocking weekday mornings alongside Mac & K-Fell. Brough was also the station’s first program director. He returned to the air at The Bull on June 4.

On August 28, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CIBU-FM Wingham and its transmitter CIBU-FM-1 Bluewater to December 31, 2012. On December 21, the licence was renewed to August 31, 2017.

Duane Duck was promoted from General Sales Manager to General Manager at 94.5 The Bull/101.7 The One/CKNX AM920. Jeff Irwin was the new GSM, promoted from retail sales supervisor, a position he’d held for the previous six years.

In April 94.5 The Bull changed its brand and altered its format. The Classic Rock/New Rock combo dropped New Rock. The new Classic Rock 94.5 highlighted favourites from the late ‘60s through the ‘80s.