CIQM-FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | Southwestern Ontario |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.5 MHz (FM) |
| Branding | 97.5 Virgin Radio |
| Programming | |
| Format | CHR/Top 40 |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | |
| CJBX-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | 1986 (at 103.1 FM) |
Former frequencies | 103.1 MHz (1986-1993) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 141 meters (463 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | iheartradio.ca/virginradio/london |
CIQM-FM is a
radio station broadcasting at 97.5 FM in London, Ontario, Canada, branded as 97.5 Virgin Radio. The station airs a CHR/Top 40 format. CIQM is owned by Bell Media. CIQM's studios are located at 1 Communications Road along with CJBX-FM and CFPL-DT while its transmitter
is located near Byron in West London.
CIQM operates on a frequency once occupied by CKO from 1977 to 1989.
History
CIQM originally operated as Q103 at 103.1 FM (now the home of CFHK-FM in St. Thomas) from its sign-on in 1986[1] until moving to the 97.5 frequency vacated by CKO in 1993.[2] For many years, the station was known as Q97.5, even after taking on the "EZ Rock" trademark; in 2006, the "Q" was dropped and the station became known as simply 97.5, London's EZ Rock.
On September 6,
Hot AC. Just after the format tweak, Astral Media
switched CIQM's jingles to the Hot AC jingles. Despite all of the changes, CIQM, which once dominated the market, suffered from ratings erosion, and had the lowest share in the London CMA, and was a distant second place behind CKOT.
On August 13,
Hot AC, and has since reverted to its former "Z" branding), and CFBT-FM in Vancouver) using the "Virgin Radio" branding. The final song on "EZ Rock" was "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse, while the first song on "Virgin" was "Pound the Alarm" by Nicki Minaj.[3][4] Longtime rival CFHK-FM became once again the market's only Hot AC station. CIQM-FM's flip to CHR filled the Top 40 void in London for the first time since 2004
, when CFHK dropped it in favour of its current Hot AC format.
The station has a full-time air staff and some shows are syndicated from iHeartRadio.
References
External links
- 97.5 Virgin Radio
- CIQM-FM at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
- CIQM-FM in the REC Canadian station database