CHQX-FM

On May 1, Central Broadcasting Co. Ltd. was granted a licence for a new FM station at Prince Albert, operating on a frequency of 101.5 MHz with effective radiated power of 100,000 watts.

Central Broadcasting Co. Ltd. was the only commercial radio operator in Prince Albert. It owned CKBI-AM, which offers a middle-of-the-road music format, and CFMM-FM, which broadcasts a contemporary music format. The new FM station would offer a country music format. Central was owned by the Rawlinson family.

CHQX-FM signed on the air.

On July 26 the CRTC approved applications by Rawlco Capital Ltd., submitted on behalf of 614546 Saskatchewan Ltd., Central Broadcasting Company Limited and Rawlco Radio Ltd., to effect an intracorporate reorganization within the Rawlco Group of corporations. The corporate reorganization involved the following transactions: a) the transfer of 100% of the Common A voting shares of 614546 from Rawlco Inc. to Lobstick Investments Inc., a corporation ultimately owned and controlled by Gordon S. Rawlinson; b) the transfer of 100% of the Common A voting shares of CBCL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of G. Rawlinson, to Lobstick; and c) the transfer of 100% of the Class B voting shares of RRL from G. Rawlinson to Lobstick. RRL is currently owned equally by G. Rawlinson and Lobstick, each holding a 50% interest. Following these transactions, the applicant proposed to amalgamate the licensee corporations 614546, CBCL and RRL under a new licensee corporation, Rawlco Radio Ltd.; and to wind up Rawlco Inc. into Rawlco Capital Ltd., which currently owns 89.18% of Lobstick. These two transactions do not require Commission approval. 614546 is the licensee of CJDJ-FM Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. CBCL is the licensee of CKBI (AM), CFMM-FM and CHQX-FM Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. RRL is the licensee of CFMC-FM, CKOM (AM) Saskatoon; CIZL-FM, CJME (AM) and CKCK-FM Regina, Saskatchewan. The Commission notes that the transactions will result in a transfer of effective control of 614546, CBCL and RRL to Lobstick. However, ultimate control will remain in the hands of Gordon S. Rawlinson.

On December 18, CHQX was given approval to add a transmitter at Waskesiu Lake, operating on 90.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 2,500 watts. At the public hearing, Central Broadcasting stated that with the improved repeater signal, a clear stereo signal of CHQX-FM would be provided throughout Prince Albert National Park, even in areas not currently covered by the originating station. Central added that in the event of an emergency, everyone in the park could be reached.

On April 5, Rawlco Radio Ltd. (formerly Central Broadcasting Co. Ltd.) was authorized to add a transmitter for CHQX-FM at La Ronge, operating on 98.3 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 31 watts (53 watts maximum). Antenna height would be 11.7 metres and the Cable Ronge Inc. tower would be used.

When the licence was renewed on July 7, CHQX-FM-1 Waskesiu Lake was noted as being on the air. CHQX-FM-2 La Ronge was still not operational.

CHQX-FM studios and offices were noted as being at 1316 Central Avenue.

On November 19, CHQX-FM was given approval to operate a transmitter at Big River, operating on a frequency of 97.5 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 1,200 watts.

Engineering assistant Gemma Howard left Rawlco Radio Prince Albert to become station engineer at MIX 103 FM Fort McMurray.

On August 17, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CHQX-FM Prince Albert, and its transmitters CHQX-FM-1 Waskesiu Lake, CHQX-FM-2 Laronge and CHQX-FM-3 Big River to August 31, 2013.

On December 16, the CRTC approved the application by Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. (the general partner) and Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. (the limited partner), carrying on business as Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership, for authority to acquire from Rawlco Radio Ltd. the assets of the following radio stations: CKNO-FM Edmonton, CIUP-FM Edmonton, CKBI Prince Albert and its transmitters CKBI-FM La Ronge and CKBI-FM-1 Big River, CFMM-FM Prince Albert and its transmitter CFMM-FM-1 Waskesiu Lake, CHQX-FM Prince Albert and its transmitters CHQX-FM-1 Waskesiu Lake, CHQX-FM-2 La Ronge and CHQX-FM-3 Big River, CJCQ-FM North Battleford and its transmitter CJCQ-FM-1 Meadow Lake, CJHD-FM North Battleford, CJNB North Battleford and CJNS-FM Meadow Lake.

On May 1, the CRTC approved the application to increase ERP for CHQX-FM-3 Big River from 1,100 to 1,400 watts, decrease the maximum ERP from 1,900 to 1,400 watts, decrease EHAAT, change the antenna’s radiation pattern to non-directional, and relocate the transmitter to a new site.

Around November 1, Mix 101FM rebranded as classic rock XFM.Around November 1, Mix 101FM rebranded as classic rock XFM.