CKRA-FM
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2008) |
Soft adult contemporary, Christmas music (November 12 - December 26) | |
| Ownership | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Stingray Radio |
| CFCW, CFCW-FM, CIRK-FM, CKJR | |
| History | |
First air date | November 15, 1979 |
Call sign meaning | C K-Lite AlbeRtA (former branding and province) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 230.5 meters (756 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 53°25′9″N 113°14′29″W / 53.41917°N 113.24139°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 963thebreeze.com |
CKRA-FM (96.3
soft adult contemporary format. The station also airs Christmas music starting on the day after Remembrance Day to Boxing Day. CKRA's studios are located inside the West Edmonton Mall, alongside its metropolitan sister stations CIRK-FM, CFCW, and CKJR
, while its transmitter is located at Ellerslie Road and Provincial Highway 21, just southeast of Edmonton's city limits.
As of February 2021, CKRA is the most-listened-to radio station in the Edmonton market according to a PPM data report released by
better source needed
]
History
On April 17, 1979, CFCW Limited, owner of
Newcap Radio
.
On January 13, 1995, at 3 p.m., after a three-hour
hot AC format, leaving R&B and hip-hop out of its playlist.[9]
Ryan Waters joined the new morning show, working with Wilson and Tyler then hosting solo for 90 minutes of commercial free music. Mike Anderson (middays), Tim Riess (drive time) and Carly Kincaid (evenings) rounded out the air staff. Several on-air changes followed, including Anderson leaving Middays and focusing on M.D. duties. Riess hosted several dayparts, Waters returned to his former position as "Swing Announcer" and Chris Kuchar held down "Afternoon Drive" before returning to sister station 97.3 K-Rock.
Following the transition of Power 92 to the hot AC-formatted Power 92.5 in June 2003, the station shifted to
Newcap Broadcasting
's other stations.
However, the entry of CHBN-FM in February 2005 and CHDI-FM in April 2005 spelled disaster for 96X, whose market quickly dispersed over the upcoming months. In response, 96X segued to rhythmic hot AC, which was unsuccessful in regaining listeners.
On December 12, 2005, the station flipped to
traditional country format), in an effort to compete with the market-leading CISN-FM.[11][12] However, Big Earl was unsuccessful, and CKRA flipped to classic hits as 96.3 Capital FM on March 28, 2008. The change came shortly after oldies station CHQT announced that it would relaunch as an all-news station that May; the station's manager stated that the timing was coincidental, and denied that Capital was a direct response.[13][14]
On December 26, 2018, CKRA flipped to
Vancouver.[15] In April 2021, as part of a restructuring by Stingray, the station dropped its local morning show in favour of The Morning Breeze from sister station CKUL-FM in Halifax, which uses a mix of national and localized segments.[16]
References
- ^ "Winter 2021 PPM Data". Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ Alan Kellogg, "'Lite-ning' strikes rock radio station," The Edmonton Journal, February 10, 1983.
- ^ Bob Remington, "Radio hype sways listeners," The Edmonton Journal, May 27, 1983.
- ^ William Thorsell, "Well, say, if this isn't just the most," The Edmonton Journal, June 4, 1983.
- ^ Helen Metella, "FM radio wants more hits," The Edmonton Journal, May 30, 1985.
- ^ Helen Metella, "K-LITE revs up into MIX 96," The Edmonton Journal, January 14, 1995.
- ^ Sandra Sperounes, "Power 92 and Mix 96 plan tuneup," The Edmonton Journal, August 15, 2002.
- ^ Sandra Sperounes, "Tyler adding something new to the morning Mix," The Edmonton Journal, August 17, 2002.
- ^ Sandra Sperounes, "Goodbye, Mix - hello, 96X," The Edmonton Journal, February 25, 2003.
- ^ Sandra Sperounes, "Rap is back, R and B returns as 96X 'evolves'," The Edmonton Journal, August 16, 2003.
- ^ Sandra Sperounes, "Say howdy to Big Earl. The Camrose kid has come to the big city," The Edmonton Journal, December 13, 2005.
- ^ "CKRA Flips To Country As Big Earl 96.3". All Access. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
- ^ "More details on Big Earl, Capital FM, iNews 880 and New FM". Edmonton Journal. 2008-03-28. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- ^ Sandra Sperounes, "Shakeup on dial strikes Big Earl," The Edmonton Journal, March 29, 2008.
- ^ "Soft AC 'The Breeze' Blows Into CHLG/Vancouver and CKRA/Edmonton". All Access. Retrieved 2018-12-24.
- ^ Thiessen, Connie (2021-04-01). "Stingray announces syndicated The Breeze morning show following restructuring". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
External links
- Official website
- CKRA-FM at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
- CKRA-FM in the REC Canadian station database