CITJ-FM

On January 30, the CRTC approved an application by CJNE FM Radio Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a low-power, English-language commercial FM radio station in Nipawin. CJNE was owned by Norman H.J. Rudock and Treana J. Rudock, and controlled by Ms. Rudock, the majority shareholder. The station would operate on 89.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 49.3 metres). The licence would expire August 31, 2026. CJNE stated the station would broadcast 126 hours of local programming each broadcast week, of which 12 hours would be devoted to spoken-word programming. In each broadcast week, one hour and 46 minutes of spoken word programming would be devoted to news, with 95% of newscasts devoted to local and regional news and 5% devoted to national and international news. The applicant intended to broadcast the same content for news, weather, sports and community events for both of its stations in Nipawin, CJNE FM and the proposed station. Each station’s remaining spoken-word content would be independent of that of the other station. CJNE submitted that it required a second station in the community with a Country music format in order to reach listeners whom it did not already reach with the programming of its existing station. In regard to music programming to be broadcast, 1.2% would be devoted to Canadian emerging artists per broadcast week, which was the equivalent of three plays per day.

In January, CITJ Core Country signed on the air. It offered a country music format while sister station CJNE-FM The Storm, offered a classic hits format.