CJDJ-FM

On June 28, High-Line Broadcasting Inc. was awarded a licence for a new FM station at Saskatoon, operating on 102.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts. A competing application by Western World Communications (CJWW-AM) was denied. High-Line was owned by Albert Ethier, a life-long resident of the city. He had varied business interests including oil and gas, construction, real estate development, chemicals and equipment manufacturing. It had been Ethier’s long standing wish to own a radio station.

The new station would operate with a Pop, Rock and Dance format (Adult Contemporary). Proposals for the station were based on discussions with over 200 community groups, and included foreground and mosaic commitments 50% above CRTC requirements. Special programs would offer jazz, classical and gospel music. Special projects coordinator Rick Buzik said the station would have a very different sound.

CHSN-FM “Sun 102” signed on the air. 

On August 25, the CRTC denied CHSN-FM’s application for a change of format from Pop, Rock and Dance to Country.

On January 20, Elmer Hildebrand through a numbered company was given approval to purchase CHSN-FM (“SUN FM”) from High Line Broadcasting Inc. The station had been unprofitable for the past three years. Mr. Hildebrand committed to broadcast a minimum of 115 hours of local programming per week.

On April 9, CHSN-FM became known as “102.1 The River” as it entered an LMA with Rawlco’s CKOM and CFMC-FM. Rawlco ran the Hildebrand station as part of the agreement. 102.1 The River targeted the 35-64 age group. Identifying itself as “Saskatoon’s Best Music Mix”, the station programmed both pop and country music.

CHSN-FM became CKOM-FM on September 8. The format (oldies) and personalities of CKOM-AM moved to the FM station as the AM adopted a news-talk format as CINT-AM (“650 NTR”). 

The LMA between Hildebrand and Rawlco was ended.

On December 21, Rawlco Inc. received approval to purchase CKOM-FM from Elmer Hildebrand. Rawlco owned CINT-AM and CFMC-FM.

On April 18, at 6 a.m., CKOM-FM changed format from adult contemporary to rock, as CKOM “Rock 102”.

In May, the Rawlco stations relocated to a new state of the art building overlooking the South Saskatchewan River…at 715 Saskatchewan Crescent West. CKOM had operated from 3333 8th Street East.

In February, CKOM-FM became CJDJ while sister station CINT-AM returned to its original CKOM calls.

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 November 6 the CRTC renewed CJDJ-FM’s licence to August 31, 2009. The Commission also approved the request to amend the licence for CJDJ-FM in order to delete the condition of licence requiring the licensee to broadcast a minimum of 115 hours of local programming each broadcast week. The licensee maintained that CJDJ-FM should have the same flexibility as other FM stations, which are generally required to broadcast a minimum of 42 hours of local programming weekly. 

On May 28, the CRTC renewed the licence of CJDJ-FM until August 31, 2016.

Carissa Donaldson, general manager/general sales manager at CJAT-FM/ CKKC/CFKC left in February to take a sales job with Rawlco Radio Saskatoon as of March 1.

Harvard Yorkton senior engineer Stew Ogilvie moved to Rawlco Saskatoon’s engineering department.