CJKR-FM
| File:BIG97.5 FM.png | |
| Broadcast area | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
|---|---|
| Branding | 97.5 Big FM |
| Slogan | Winnipeg's Classic Rock |
| Frequency | 97.5 MHz |
| First air date | May 27, 1948 |
| Format | Classic rock |
| Audience share |  4.4% - Rank: 9[1] |
| ERP | 310,000 watts |
| Former callsigns | CJOB-FM (1948-1976) CHMM-FM (1976-1984) CKIS-FM (1984-1991) |
| Owner | Corus Entertainment (Corus Premium Television Ltd.) |
| Sister stations | CJOB, CJGV-FM |
| Webcast | Listen Live! |
| Website | www.975bigfm.com |
CJKR-FM is a radio station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Owned by Corus Entertainment, the station broadcasts an classic rock format branded as 97.5 Big FM. The station shares studios with sister stations CJOB and CJGV-FM in Winnipeg's Polo Park area.
History
The station was launched in 1948 as CJOB-FM, an FM simulcast of CJOB.[2] The station applied to the BBG to move its broadcast frequency from 103.1 MHz to the current 97.5 MHz.[3] It opened with distinct programming in 1962, featured a country music format as CHMM-FM in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and changed its format to soft rock and its callsign to CKIS-FM in 1984.[4] In the late 1980s, CKIS-FM moved to a rock format, which was not in compliance with its licence at that time. Eventually the station was allowed to amend its licence, stick with the rock format, and changed its call letters to CJKR-FM in 1991.
It used to be part of Western International Communications, but the stations were acquired by Corus Entertainment in 2000.
In April 2010, Corus Radio Winnipeg announced the relocation of its radio broadcast facility to 1440 Rapelje Avenue (since renamed Jack Blick Avenue), as part of a lease agreement between Corus Entertainment and Cadillac Fairview. The relocation to Polo Park was scheduled for January 2011. CJOB 680, CJGV-FM and CJKR-FM would become the anchor tenants. Corus Radio Winnipeg planned to occupy the second floor of the three-storey building, expanding its radio, production and business operations to 17,500 square feet (1,630 m2). At the time, general manager Garth Buchko said the stations had outgrown their 930 Portage Avenue facility. With the move, Corus Radio Winnipeg would also upgrade to state-of-the-art, fully digital on-air systems. At the end of February 2011, CJKR-FM completed the move to its new location at 1440 Jack Blick Avenue. In the late 2000s, the station moved from mainstream rock to active rock by reducing the classic rock in its playlist.
On September 12, 2012, morning show hosts Dave Wheeler, Phil Aubrey, and Rena Jae resigned from the station, citing an inability to come to terms on a new contract with Corus Entertainment.[5] Wheeler moved to CITI-FM.[6] In January 2013, a new morning program hosted by Cam Carson and T.J. Connors, Carson & Connors, premiered. Vicki Shae was added to the show in March 2013. In March 2014, Carson was let go.
At noon on January 29, 2015, after playing "Fade to Black" by Metallica, CJKR began stunting with liners promoting that Winnipeg would be getting "big" the following day at 8 am, interspersed between 5-second clips of songs with the word "big". At that time, CJKR changed to a classic rock format as 97.5 Big FM. The first song on "Big FM" was "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel. The new format was described as an "homage to Winnipeg's rock heritage", with a playlist that is "familiar, less predictable and has rock credibility".[7][6] [8]
References
- ↑ "Spring 2013 BBM Canada Survey"
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- ↑ Power 97 Becomes Big-FM
External links
- Official website
- CJKR-FM history - Canadian Communications Foundation
- Query the REC's Canadian station database for CJKR-FM
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