CFWD-FM

On May 28, Harvard Broadcasting Inc. received approval for the operation of a new FM station at Saskatoon. Harvard proposed to use a frequency of 92.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts. The station would offer a Youth Contemporary music format blending Pop, Urban and Alternative Rock music. The format would be of primary appeal to an audience 12 to 34 years of age. 80% of all news and 126 hours, or 100%, of the station’s programming every week would be local. Harvard was a corporation ultimately controlled by Mr. Frederick W. Hill. It owned three stations in Regina, CFWF-FM, CHMX-FM and CKRM.

On April 7, CFWD-FM was authorized to change its frequency from 92.3 MHz to 96.3 MHz and to decrease effective radiated power from 100,000 watts to 96,000 watts. The changes would serve as a pre-emptive action to avoid potential third adjacency interference in Saskatoon. Harvard specifically referred to the Department of Industry’s consideration of new rules that would require stations using third adjacent frequencies to be co-sited or near co-sited. Accordingly, the licensee anticipated that its current site location of CFWD-FM Saskatoon might not meet the new third adjacency rules.

Saskatoon’s first ever all Christmas station launched at 4:00 p.m., April 9 – “96.3 Santa FM”. From Bing to Sting, the station offered all the best holiday hits!

A couple of days later (April 11), the Santa stunt made way for Saskatoon’s NEW music channel – “Wired 96.3”. CFWD-FM was a young, fresh and fun radio station actively targeting young adults with new music, new voices and a high energy sound…a first in Saskatoon.

Rob McBride moved to WIRED 96.3FM Saskatoon as Station Engineer. He had been with sister Harvard stations The Fox/GX94 Yorkton.

Tim Tryon joined WIRED 96.3FM as a broadcast technician on December 1. He was the son of Astral Radio Hamilton’s Chief Engineer, Charles Tryon. 

Engineer Rob McBride, after a year with WIRED 96.3FM, moved to Astral Fort St. John. He started October 25.

CFWD Wired 96.3’s morning show added Toby and Mel  joining Ryder. Toby had been working in Bonnyville radio and Mel had been evenings and weekends on CFWD. Ryder, Toby And Mel would be heard weekday mornings from 6:00 to 10:00 on Wired 96.3.

Program Director Andy Ross of WIRED 96.3FM Saskatoon the last two years moved to Rock 101 Vancouver as PD in late October.

The CRTC approved the change to the effective control of Harvard Broadcasting Inc. from Frederick W. Hill to Paul J. Hill following the death of Frederick W. Hill in July 2008. Harvard was the licensee of radio stations and the parent company of two other licensees of radio stations in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Ryder left Wired 96.3 FM to host the morning show at SONiC in the Fraser Valley/ Vancouver. 

The new Program Director at WIRED 96.3FM Saskatoon was Darren Brown, who moved to his new role from morning host/Assistant Program Director duties at CKLM-FM (106.1 The Goat) Lloydminster.

It was announced that Andy Ross was returning to the Harvard family in Saskatoon. It was roughly ten months ago that the company announced that Andy was leaving Wired to join Rock 101 in Vancouver. His new role would have him as General Manager and Program Director for Wired 96.3FM. Andy’s first official would be October 1.

Rob Lozinski was the new General Sales Manager at Wired FM as of October 9.

In November, Wired 96.3 which aired Today’s Hottest Music, laid off four on-air staff and was now playing Christmas music. Also gone was General Sales Manager Rob Lozinski, formerly of Rawlco Regina and hired just a month ago. CFWD was temporarily identified as 96.3 Santa FM and was to re-launch with a new format on Boxing Day. 

On December 26 at noon, the former Wired 96.3 FM re-branded to 96.3 Cruz FM, Saskatoon’s Greatest Hits. The station which began life in the spring of 2008 with Today’s Hottest Music as its format was now playing Classic Rock, Mainstream Rock, Pop, Pop Rock and New Wave Hits from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s. The Cruz launched with Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love A Bad Name.” Charis and Joel Jeffrey hosted the morning show. 

Dave Morgan joined the station in January to host weekends.

Dave Morgan moved from weekends to afternoon drive.