CKXX-FM

Last updated
CKXX-FM
97.5 krock logo.png
Broadcast areaWestern Newfoundland
Frequency 103.9 MHz (FM)
Branding97.5 K-Rock
Programming
Format Classic rock
Ownership
Owner Stingray Group
CFCB
History
First air date
August 6, 1984
Former call signs
CKWK (1984-1989)
CKXX (1990-1997)
Former frequencies
1340 kHz (AM) (1984-1997)
Call sign meaning
C KiXX (former branding)
Technical information
Class B
ERP vertical polarization only
40 kWs
HAAT 160.1 meters (525 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 48°55′12″N57°58′11″W / 48.9200°N 57.9697°W / 48.9200; -57.9697
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website k-rock1039.com

CKXX-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting from Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador on 103.9 MHz with a classic rock format branded on-air as 97.5 K-Rock. It is currently owned by Stingray Group.

Contents

History

CKXX-FM launched by the noted broadcaster Alex J. Walling on August 6, 1984 as CKWK at 1340 kHz. [1]

For the first year and a half of CKWK's existence, they tried many things to bring up listenership and broaden the appeal of its fledgling station. Many of these programs were quite successful. The Jukebox Saturday Night Party was quite popular and would attract listeners from as far away as Gander who were able to receive CKWK's 10,000-watt signal clearly at night. CKWK would also host themed weekends such as the Rock 'n Roll Weekend and a weekend featuring the History of Country music with Country Radio Legend Ralph Emery.

However, CKWK was up against the incumbent CFCB, whose motto was "The Station You Grew Up On", who at the time played 50% country music from 6AM–6PM. So, in January 1986, the format was changed from country to Top 40/CHR. However, due to the possibility of a conflict with CFCB's evening and overnight Top 40 heavy format, CKXX were forced to change their format to MOR. By the summer of 1987, CKWK had been reduced to a skeleton staff with automation 18 hours a day, using a very limited library of music that was adult contemporary in format. The automation system was far from perfect. Dead air, and two sources playing on air at once were common during that time. The tapes that were used were of such poor quality that even with the limitations imposed by AM broadcasting, a listener with a good ear could notice the low quality sound that the tape provided.

In 1988, CKWK became an affiliate of Music Radio, a national radio service fed to stations via ANIK Satellite that played an AC format. CKWK became CKXX, the station switched to the sister service of Music Radio - Star Country.

On December 31, 1989 at 7:00 PM, the station manager at the time, Fred Trainor, went on the air to announce the transition of CKWK to 1340 KIXX Country/95.1 Deer Lake. CKWK became CKXX and adopted a country format. The first song played was "Guitars, Cadillacs" by Dwight Yoakam.

Over the first few months, CKXX was locally staffed for 18 hours a day with overnight programming being provided by satellite. The service was called Star Country. Eventually, it would be replaced by Country Coast to Coast - Cryin', Lovin' or Leavin' with Shelly Fraiser as well as other network announcers. At one point, Country Coast to Coast was piped in as much as 15 hours a day with local announcers doing morning/afternoon drive as well as noon shows. The style of Country music played on CKXX was a blend of current day Country music hits mixed with Classic Country from 1960 to the present day.

In 1997, CKXX moved to 103.9 FM, [2] retaining the country format it ran for years until the early 2000s, when it re-branded from KIXX Country to Magic 103 with a hot adult contemporary format, and shortly afterwards to 103.9 K-Rock. The other two "KIXX" stations outside of St. John's, CKXD-FM in Gander and CKXG-FM in Grand Falls-Windsor, were also branded with the "Magic" name and then subsequently to "K-Rock", which aired an active rock format until January 26, 2009, where it changed its format to classic rock after a listener opinion poll.

On December 20, 1999, the CRTC approved the application for authority to acquire the assets of CKXX-FM Corner Brook and its transmitter CKXX-FM-1 Stephenville from Western Broadcasting Limited (Western), and for a broadcasting license to continue the operation of this undertaking. [3]

As of March 9, 2022, CKXX no longer originates any local programming from Corner Brook following the closure of its studios and termination of on-air personnel by Stingray. All content of this station is now simulcast from VOCM-FM in St. John's, with the exception of local commercials. CKXX's sister station, CFCB, also shared the same fate as it shared studio facilities and personalities.

Rebroadcasters

CKXX had a rebroadcaster in Deer Lake (CKXX-1-FM, originally CJDY-FM) at 95.1 MHz, but was shut down after switching frequencies. [4] There is now a rebroadcaster in Stephenville (CKXX-FM-1), originally at 95.3 MHz, but later moved to 95.9 in 2005. [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

Stingray Radio is a Canadian radio broadcasting conglomerate owned by Stingray Group. It owns and operates 101 radio stations in Canada—making it the second-largest radio conglomerate in Canada behind Bell Media. It also owns two television stations in Lloydminster. The majority of its stations are situated in Atlantic and Western Canada, with its largest presences being in the provinces of Alberta and Newfoundland.

CBLA-FM is a non-commercial radio station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the station is the flagship station of the CBC Radio One network, broadcasting a mix of news and talk. In addition to the Toronto market, CBLA also reaches much of Central Ontario with a network of twelve rebroadcasters. The studios are in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre.

CHIM is a Canadian radio station, which previously broadcast Christian music at 102.3 FM in Timmins, Ontario. The station also currently broadcasts at 1710 AM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKHJ</span> Radio station in Fredericton, New Brunswick

CKHJ is a radio station in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. The station broadcasts a country format under the Pure Country branding. The station is owned by Bell Media which also owns sister stations CFXY-FM and CIBX-FM. There are two rebroadcasters of CKHJ on FM due to the AM station's weak signal to the south and east of the city: CKHJ-1-FM on 95.1 in New Maryland, and CKHJ-2-FM in 103.5 in Oromocto. All three transmitters can be heard over most of Fredericton, effectively creating a simulcast. CKHJ uses on the air-branding of Pure Country 103.5, referencing the frequency of CKHJ-2-FM, which is a rimshot signal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VOCM-FM</span> Radio station in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador

VOCM-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 97.5 MHz from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Owned by Stingray Group, the station is branded as 97.5 K-Rock and broadcasts a classic rock format, although some 1990s and 2000s rock songs have become part of the mix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CBN (AM)</span> CBC Radio One station in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador

CBN is a public AM radio station in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It carries a news, talk and information format and is the local Radio One station of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKUE-FM</span> Radio station in Chatham-Kent, Ontario

CKUE-FM is a radio station located in Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Owned by Blackburn Radio, the station broadcasts a classic hits format under the name 95.1/100.7 Cool FM. The station broadcasts on 95.1 MHz, and operates a rebroadcaster serving the nearby Windsor market, CKUE-FM-1, on 100.7 MHz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHOZ-FM</span> Radio station in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador

CHOZ-FM is a Canadian radio station based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Its main St. John's transmitter broadcasts at 94.7 MHz, with additional transmitters located throughout the island. The station, known as OZ FM, is one of the various media properties of the Stirling family; this includes local television station CJON-DT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CITE-FM</span> Radio station in Montreal, Quebec

CITE-FM is a French-language radio station located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Owned and operated by Bell Media, it airs an adult contemporary format. It is also the flagship station of the "Rouge FM" network, which operates across Quebec and in the Ottawa-Gatineau radio market. The studios and offices are located at the Bell Media building at 1717 Boulevard René-Lévesque East in Downtown Montreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CBY (AM)</span> CBC Radio One station in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

CBY is a clear-channel public radio station in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and it carries the CBC's Radio One network. The transmitter is off the Trans-Canada Highway near Massey Drive in Corner Brook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CJCJ-FM</span> Radio station in Woodstock, New Brunswick

CJCJ-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting from Woodstock, New Brunswick at 104.1 FM. The station is currently owned and operated by Bell Media. The station broadcasts a country format branded as Pure Country 104.

CFCB is an AM radio station in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It broadcasts at a power of 10,000 watts by day and 1,000 watts at night. Owned by Stingray Group, CFCB first went on the air on October 3, 1960. The station was founded by Dr. Noel Murphy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFSX</span> Radio station in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador

CFSX is an AM radio station in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, broadcasting at 870 kHz. Originally launched as a repeater on November 13, 1964, it opened its own studios in 1970. The station is owned by Stingray Group. It is an affiliate of VOCM.

CFGN-FM is an FM radio station in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, broadcasting at 96.7 MHz. Originally launched as a repeater on August 7, 1971 at 1230 kHz, it opened its own studios in 1973. In 1996, it became a repeater of CFSX. The station is owned by Stingray Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKXD-FM</span> Radio station in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador

CKXD-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting from Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, at 98.7 MHz with a classic rock format branded on-air as 97.5 K-Rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKXG-FM</span> Radio station in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador

CKXG-FM is a radio station in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador. Owned by Stingray Group, it broadcasts a classic rock format, although some 1990s and 2000s rock songs have become part of the mix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHVO-FM</span> Radio station in Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador

CHVO-FM is a Canadian radio station in Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador, broadcasting at 103.9 FM. Owned by Stingray Group, the station currently broadcasts a country format branded as New Country 103.9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFLN-FM</span> Radio station in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador

CFLN-FM is a Canadian radio station in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador broadcasting at 97.9 FM. Owned by Stingray Group, CFLN first went on the air on September 28, 1974 at 1230 AM before converting to its current frequency in 2009. The station's format primarily consists of country music with some News/Talk programming. The station was formerly branded Radio Labrador but is now branded Big Land – Labrador's FM.

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

CKQR-FM is a Canadian radio station that broadcasts a classic rock format at 99.3 FM in Castlegar, British Columbia. The station is branded as The Goat and it is owned by the Vista Broadcast Group.

CJAT-FM is a Canadian radio station that broadcasts an adult hits format at 95.7 FM in Trail, British Columbia and is also heard in Castlegar at 90.3 FM and Grand Forks at 103.3 FM, including other rebroadcasters.

References

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.