CKKS-FM

Last updated

CKKS-FM
CKKS Sonic radio 2022.svg
Broadcast area Greater Vancouver
Fraser Valley
Frequency 107.5 MHz
BrandingSonic 104.9
Sonic 92.5
Sonic 107.5
Programming
Format Modern rock
Ownership
Owner
CISL, CKWX, CKSR-FM, CJAX-FM, CKQC-FM, CKVU-DT, CHNM-DT, CHDI-FM
History
First air date
October 1, 1986
Former call signs
CKSR-FM (1986–1999)
CKVX-FM (2000–2004)
CKCL-FM (2004–2009)
CFUN-FM (2009–2015)
Call sign meaning
Sounds like "kiss" (former branding)
Technical information
Class A
ERP 640 watts (peak)
303 watts (average)
horizontal polarization only
HAAT 210.1 metres (689 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 49°06′36″N121°50′47″W / 49.11005°N 121.846396°W / 49.11005; -121.846396 (CKKS-FM Tower)
Repeater(s) CKKS-FM-1 92.5 Abbotsford
CKKS-FM-2 104.9 Vancouver
Links
Webcast Listen Live [ dead link ]
Website sonicradio.ca

CKKS-FM (107.5 MHz, Sonic) is a radio station licensed to Chilliwack, British Columbia and serving Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Owned by Rogers Radio, a division of Rogers Sports & Media, it broadcasts a modern rock format.

Contents

The station's main studios and offices are at 2440 Ash Street in the Fairview neighbourhood of Vancouver, where its rebroadcasting transmitter CKKS-FM-2 operates at 104.9 FM with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 31,000 watts and a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 672.2 metres (2,205 ft) from atop Mount Seymour. [1] Another rebroadcasting transmitter, 92.5 CKKS-FM-1, is in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The station went on the air in 1986 as CKSR-FM, with transmitters at Abbotsford and Chilliwack. Technical changes in the late 1990s added a third transmitter in Vancouver, greatly expanding its broadcast coverage.

History

Star FM in the Fraser Valley

The station signed on for the first time on October 1, 1986, as CKSR-FMStar FM. It was the first FM radio service based in the region and was owned by Fraser Valley Broadcasters Ltd., which owned AM stations in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, the pair of CFVR and CHWK. [2] A hybrid easy listening/adult contemporary format aimed at adult audiences was aired by Star FM, with transmitters at 107.5 MHz in Chilliwack and 104.9 MHz in Abbotsford. [2]

Beginning in 1995, CKSR began gradually phasing out its easy listening songs in favor of a pure adult contemporary format. Fraser Valley Broadcasters also analyzed ways to improve its reception in several areas of the western Fraser Valley where its signal remained "unreliable". In 1997, the Abbotsford main transmitter was moved to 104.9 MHz on Mount Seymour, with a new Abbotsford transmitter on 92.5 MHz. While the CRTC did not permit the station to reduce its service to the Fraser Valley, approving the move over objections from several Vancouver radio stations, the move had the consequence of putting the Lower Mainland in its coverage area, and CKSR-FM opened a Vancouver office (without studios, as the CRTC did not allow permanent studios outside the Fraser Valley to be used). [3] The move gave Vancouver three adult contemporary stations: CKSR-FM, CHQM-FM, and CKKS-FM.

Rogers purchase and Xfm

In 1999, Rogers Broadcasting purchased the Fraser Valley Radio Group of CFVR, CHWK, and CKGO in Hope. [4] The new ownership immediately made cuts at the low-rated Star FM. [5] On December 31, Rogers flipped the station from "Star FM" to alternative rock as CKVX-FM 104.9 Xfm. [6] The choice of format surprised some observers who expected Rogers to go after CHR station CKZZ-FM. [5]

Throughout the run, ratings were low, usually behind competing FM rocker CFOX-FM, [7] but there were some notable moments, including the early playing of the new Radiohead song "Optimistic" in September 2000, which earned a cease-and-desist order from record label EMI after CKVX obtained a recording. [8] Rogers placed the CKSR call sign on the former CHWK and converted it to FM in 2001 as CKSR-FM, adopting the former Star FM's branding, and a similar light rock format. [9]

Clear FM era

On November 19, 2003, CKVX began stunting with all-Christmas music as 104.9 Christmas FM. [10] At noon on December 26, CKVX switched to 104.9 Clear FM, a hybrid format of adult contemporary and smooth jazz music during most of the day that was designed to complement CKLG-FM (now CJAX-FM) and its Jack FM format. [11] A program of chillout, downtempo and trip hop electronic music called Vancouver Chills, hosted by Trevor Shand, aired from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. nightly. The first song on "Clear FM" was "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones. [12] On April 8, 2004, CKVX-FM became CKCL-FM. In 2005, Shand left CKCL to move to Los Angeles to become the production manager at KROQ-FM (while continuing voiceover work for Rogers Broadcasting stations in Vancouver and Toronto). Music Director Doreen Copeland took over as host of Vancouver Chills, which then began mixing more AC and smooth jazz in with the electronica tunes and expanded its airtime to 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. nightly.

Logo used as 104.9 Clear FM, from 2003 to 2008. 1049clearfm.PNG
Logo used as 104.9 Clear FM, from 2003 to 2008.
Logo used as FM 104.9, from 2008 to 2009. Ckclfm.PNG
Logo used as FM 104.9, from 2008 to 2009.

On August 31, 2006, CKCL dropped the smooth jazz and electronic music and returned to a full-time adult contemporary format. Mornings on the revamped Clear FM were helmed by longtime Vancouver broadcaster Fred Latremouille and his wife Cathy, returning to local radio after six years of retirement in Hawaii on September 5. [13] [14] However, after a year, the Latremouilles opted to return to retirement. [15]

In December 2007, management announced that Charlee Morgan, formerly of Calgary's CHFM and the old LG73 in Vancouver, would begin hosting the morning show in early 2008. Morgan made her morning show debut at CKCL on February 18, 2008.

On September 26, 2008, CKCL dropped Morgan's morning show, and the station's adult contemporary format, switching to classic hits and re-branding itself as FM 104.9, thus once again leaving CTVglobemedia's market-leading CHQM-FM as the sole adult contemporary outlet in Vancouver. The last song on "Clear FM" was "I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlan (which was also the last song on LG73), while the first song under the new format was "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles. This move prompted Astral Media's CISL to flip from oldies to adult standards on November 10, 2008.

CFUN-FM's logo under previous "Fun FM" classic hits format from 2009 to 2011 CKCL FunFM.png
CFUN-FM's logo under previous "Fun FM" classic hits format from 2009 to 2011

On November 12, 2009, CKCL rebranded itself as 104.9 fun FM; the call sign changed in late November to CFUN-FM to reflect the updated branding. The heritage CFUN call letters were vacated by CTVglobemedia after AM 1410 (now owned by Bell Media) flipped to sports radio and became CFTE.

CHR era as Sonic and Kiss

CFUN-FM branding as Sonic 1049Sonic.png
CFUN-FM branding as Sonic

On August 16, 2011, Rogers announced that CFUN-FM would launch a new format at 8:30 a.m. the following morning, and began redirecting listeners to sister adult hits station CKLG-FM. Radio Insight reported that Rogers had purchased domain names containing names such as "sonic1049" and "sonichitsnow", implicating the possibility of the branding Sonic and either a modern rock format (modelled after Rogers-owned CHDI-FM in Edmonton, which also brands as Sonic) or contemporary hit radio (CHR). [16] The following morning, at 8:42 a.m., CFUN-FM flipped to CHR as Sonic, launching with 10,000 songs in a row commercial-free. [17] [16]

"KiSS Radio" logo (2015-2022) Rogers Media Kiss Radio Logo.PNG
"KiSS Radio" logo (2015–2022)

On February 23, 2015, CFUN re-branded as Kiss Radio with no change in format, unifying itself with the Kiss branding used by other Rogers-owned CHR stations. [18] It then swapped call signs with CKKS-FM in Sechelt, British Columbia, which became CFUN-FM. [19] [20]

In 2019, Rogers filed an application with the CRTC to replace CKKS-FM-2 with a new station on the same frequency, which would operate independently of CKKS. CRTC rules require a consultation on the appropriateness of a new station in the market, which can include a requirement for competing applicants. [21] The application was denied in July 2020, with the CRTC ruling that Rogers "significantly understat[ed] the potential market impact of converting its rebroadcasting transmitter to an originating station". [22] In 2021, Rogers received a renewal for CKKS-FM and its rebroadcasters, with the CRTC rebuffing a proposal to drop traffic reports for the Fraser Valley. [23]

In 2021, CKKS shifted to hot adult contemporary and changed its moniker to "Today's Best Music, The New KiSS Radio".

Return to modern rock

On June 28, 2022, the station announced it was parting ways with morning hosts Kevin Lim and Sonia Sidhu, who joined CKKS in January 2017, as well as afternoon host Tara Jean Stevens. Station owner Rogers said that further announcements about the station's future would follow shortly. [24] At midnight on June 29, the station dropped its format and began stunting with a 30-hour continuous loop of "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine. The loop occasionally included staged segments of DJs discussing their intent to keep playing the song, and taking calls from listeners wanting them to stop playing "Killing in the Name", or outright "requesting" the song. [25] [26] During this stunt, other changes in staff were reported, as were rumours that the Sonic brand would be returning to Vancouver. [26]

While stunting is common practice during a radio format change, this particular stunt gained attention in international media outlets including The Guardian and Rolling Stone , driven in part by theories put forward on social media that the remaining staff had commandeered the station to protest the layoffs, despite the other changes being reported. [27] [28] Industry observer Sean Ross suggested that despite being the "most traditional of format launch stunts", the outsized attention the relaunch received made it "the greatest radio stunt ever—or at least for this year." [29]

On June 30, 2022, at 6:00 a.m., the station officially flipped to modern rock as Sonic, with new morning host Angela Valiant introducing the format, then playing "Killing in the Name" one more time. [30] [25] The station competes with Jim Pattison's The Peak CKPK-FM; while that station flipped to hot AC the following month, it ultimately undid the flip and returned to modern rock in June 2024. [31] [32]

Rebroadcasters

Rebroadcasters of CKKS-FM
City of license Identifier Frequency Power Class RECNet
Abbotsford CKKS-FM-192.5 MHz2,600 watts A Query
Vancouver CKKS-FM-2104.9 MHz31,000 wattsC Query

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKVU-DT</span> Citytv station in Vancouver

CKVU-DT is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, serving as the West Coast flagship of the Citytv network. It is owned and operated by network parent Rogers Sports & Media alongside Omni Television station CHNM-DT. The two stations share studios at the corner of West 2nd Avenue and Columbia Street in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of Vancouver; CKVU-DT's transmitter is located atop Mount Seymour in the district municipality of North Vancouver, with additional transmitter link facilities on the roof of the Century Plaza Hotel in Downtown Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHNU-DT</span> Religious independent TV station in Fraser Valley, British Columbia

CHNU-DT is a religious independent television station serving southwestern British Columbia, Canada, including Greater Vancouver, Victoria, the Fraser Valley and surrounding areas. Licensed to the Fraser Valley Regional District, the station is owned by ZoomerMedia and is branded on air as Joytv. CHNU-DT's studios are located on 192 Street/Highway 10 in Surrey, and its transmitter is located on Mount Seymour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CJAX-FM</span> Radio station in Vancouver

CJAX-FM is a commercial radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia. Owned by Rogers Radio, a division of Rogers Sports & Media, it broadcasts an adult hits radio format branded as Jack 96.9. Its studios are at 2440 Ash Street in the Fairview neighbourhood of Vancouver. CJAX was the first conventional radio station in North America to adopt the "Jack" branding, officially classified as "variety hits" or "adult hits". Most "Jack" stations play a wide mix of music from the late 60s through the 90s, as well as some current and recent adult contemporary and hot adult contemporary singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFOX-FM</span> Radio station in Vancouver

CFOX-FM is a Canadian radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia. It broadcasts on an assigned frequency of 99.3 MHz on the FM band with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts (peak). The transmitter is located on Mount Seymour in the District of North Vancouver, with studios located in Downtown Vancouver, in the TD Tower. The station is owned by Corus Entertainment. CFOX has a modern rock format, as it reports to Mediabase as a Canadian alternative rock station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFBT-FM</span> Radio station in Vancouver

CFBT-FM is a commercial radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Bell Media, the station broadcasts a Top 40/CHR format branded as 94.5 Virgin Radio. The radio studios and offices are at Robson and Burrard Street in Downtown Vancouver. CFBT is also the default top 40 station for nearby Bellingham, Washington, as there are no top 40 stations targeting that area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKZZ-FM</span> Radio station in Vancouver

CKZZ-FMZ95.3 is a commercial FM radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia. The station airs a hot adult contemporary format, and is owned by Stingray Group. The studios are on Horseshoe Way in Richmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKVX-FM</span> Radio station in Kindersley, Saskatchewan

CKVX-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 104.9 FM with a country format branded as Country 104.9. Licensed to Kindersley, Saskatchewan, it serves west central Saskatchewan. It first began broadcasting in 2005. The station is currently owned by Golden West Broadcasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKWX</span> Radio station in Vancouver

CKWX is a commercial radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Rogers Radio, a division of Rogers Sports & Media, it broadcasts an news/talk radio format branded as 1130 NewsRadio Vancouver. CKWX's studios and offices are located at 2440 Ash Street in the Fairview neighbourhood of Vancouver.

CJAV-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 93.3 FM in Port Alberni, British Columbia. The station currently broadcasts an adult contemporary format branded on-air as 93.3 The Peak and is owned by Jim Pattison Group.

CKST was a radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Bell Media, it last broadcast comedy-oriented programming, including stand-up comedy routines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CISQ-FM</span> Radio station in Squamish–Whistler, British Columbia

CISQ-FM is a radio station owned by Rogers Radio, a division of Rogers Sports & Media, and operating in southwestern British Columbia. It broadcasts at 107.1 MHz in Squamish and 102.1 MHz in Whistler. It broadcasts an adult contemporary format branded as Mountain FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHQM-FM</span> Radio station in Vancouver

CHQM-FM is a Canadian radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia. It broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts from a transmitter on Mount Seymour and airs an adult contemporary format. It is owned by Bell Media. CHQM's studio is located at 750 Burrard Street in Downtown Vancouver.

CKPK-FM is a commercial radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia. Owned by Pattison Media, it broadcasts a modern rock format. Its studios are on West 8th Avenue in the Fairview neighbourhood of Vancouver, while its transmitter is located atop Mount Seymour.

CKTO-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 100.9 FM in Truro, Nova Scotia. The station airs an adult hits format and is branded as Bounce 100.9, which has a wide coverage area over much of western and central Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The station has been on the air since 1965.

CFTE was a radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia. Owned by Bell Media, it last broadcast a business news format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKSR-FM</span> Radio station in Chilliwack, British Columbia

CKSR-FM is a Canadian radio station located in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The station, operating at 2,100 watts of power, is owned by Rogers Radio, a division of Rogers Sports & Media. CKSR also runs a repeater station in Hope.

CKCL may refer to:

CISL is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Richmond, British Columbia, and serving the Greater Vancouver radio market. It is owned by Rogers Radio, a division of Rogers Sports & Media and airs a sports format branded as Sportsnet 650. It is the flagship station of the Vancouver Giants, Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford Canucks, and is the Vancouver affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. On weekdays, local hosts are heard most of the day, while CBS Sports Radio is heard late nights and weekends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CIVL-FM</span> Radio station at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia

CIVL-FM is a Canadian radio station located at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia. More commonly known as CIVL Radio, the station serves the Fraser Valley Regional District, specifically the surrounding communities of UFV in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission.

CHWK-FM is a Canadian radio station that broadcasts a country format at 89.5 FM in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The station is branded as 89.5 JR Country.

References

  1. ↑ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-479". CRTC. March 20, 1986. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "STAR-FM shines in Fraser Valley". The Maple Ridge News. Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. October 8, 1986. p. 33. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Yovanovich, Doug (July 8, 1997). "Star-FM takes on Vancouver radio giants". The Chilliwack Progress. Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. p. A8. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Rogers buys B.C. radio stations". Nanaimo Daily News. Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Press. May 12, 1999. p. B6. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 Robb, Gregory J. (January 5, 2000). "Radio shakeups looming in the local market". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. p. B9, B11. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Gold, Kerry (January 4, 2000). "New rock radio station aimed at young males". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. p. B3. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Burgess, Steve (March 29, 2003). "Our own way to rock: A new player has added some unpredictability to Vancouver's FM radio scene". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. p. H5. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Playing Radiohead's new song early lands XFM in legal hot water". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. September 13, 2000. p. A1, A8. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Akins, Russ (August 12, 2001). "Radio Max soon to leave AM band". The Chilliwack Progress. Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. p. A3. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Feinberg, Jennifer (November 21, 2003). "Radio station goes all Christmas all the time". The Chilliwack Progress. Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. p. 37. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Leary, Joe (December 29, 2003). "Xfm jazzes up its format". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. p. B5. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "104.9 Clear-FM Debuts". Format Change. December 21, 2012. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Radio return". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. September 1, 2006. p. D1. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Fralic, Shelley (September 9, 2006). "It's Fred and Cathy of old, not old Fred and Cathy". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. p. F4. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Latremouille was a fixture on city radio waves". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Press. March 6, 2015. p. 3. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  16. 1 2 Lance Venta (August 17, 2011). "The Fun Is Over In Vancouver; Sonic Hits Town". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  17. ↑ Mackie, John (August 18, 2011). "A new SONiC booms in Vancouver". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. p. D7. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "CHR Rebrandings Reach Vancouver". RadioInsight. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Canadian Radio News recap for March 2015". airchecker.ca. April 1, 2015. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Ownership Chart 27B – ROGERS – Radio, TV & Satellite-to-Cable" (PDF). CRTC. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Call for comments on market capacity and the appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve Vancouver, British Columbia". CRTC. April 4, 2019. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-216: Findings regarding market capacity and the appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve Vancouver". CRTC. July 6, 2020. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Broadcasting Decision 2021-334: CKKS-FM Chilliwack and its transmitters CKKS-FM-1 Abbotsford and CKKS-FM-2 Vancouver – Licence renewal and licence amendments". CRTC. October 4, 2021. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  24. ↑ Thiessen, Connie (June 28, 2022). "KiSS Vancouver parts ways with Kevin Lim & Sonia Sidhu". Broadcast Dialogue. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  25. 1 2 Venta, Lance (June 30, 2022). "Rogers Launches Sonic Radio Vancouver". RadioInsight. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  26. 1 2 Chan, Cheryl (June 29, 2022). "Vancouver's KiSS FM has been playing Rage Against the Machine on repeat. Why?". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  27. ↑ Lindeman, Tracey (June 29, 2022). "Mystery as Canadian radio station plays Rage Against the Machine song nonstop". The Guardian . Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  28. ↑ Mier, Tomás (June 29, 2022). "After DJ Layoffs, a Radio Station Has Been Playing Rage Against the Machine Over and Over and Over". Rolling Stone . Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  29. ↑ Ross, Sean (July 5, 2022). "The Greatest Radio Stunt Ever". RadioInsight. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  30. ↑ Thiessen, Connie (June 30, 2022). "Rogers expands SONiC RADiO to Vancouver and the Fraser Valley". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  31. ↑ "102.7 Now Radio Debuts in Vancouver". RadioInsight. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  32. ↑ Thiessen, Connie (June 7, 2024). "Pattison revives 102.7 The Peak in Vancouver". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.