CKZZ-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = CKZZ-FM


city = Vancouver, BC
area = Greater Vancouver
branding = 95 Crave
slogan = Vancouver's All Hit Music Fix
airdate = 23 May 1991
frequency = 95.3 MHz (FM)
format = Contemporary hit radio
power =
erp = 71,300 watts
class = C
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = Astral Media
webcast = [http://www.95crave.com/player/player Listen Live]
website = [http://www.95crave.com/ 95 Crave]

CKZZ-FM (identified on air as 95 Crave) is a Canadian radio station in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia. It broadcasts at 95.3 MHz on the FM band with an effective radiated power of 71,300 watts from a transmitter on Mount Seymour, and its studios are located in Richmond. The station is owned by Astral Media. Between June 3 and June 5, 2007, the station changed from Z953, a Top 40 station, to "95Crave" a Hot AC format with many of the same characteristics as Z953. It has since returned to contemporary hit radio.

History

CKZZ signed on air at 8 a.m. on May 23, 1991, and ran commercial-free until May 27. The first song played was "Here We Go (Let's Rock & Roll)" by C&C Music Factory. Founded by South Fraser Broadcasting and controlled by Michael Dickinson, it shares studio and office space with sister station CISL AM650. The station's format was authorized by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as dance music, and quickly gained popularity among younger audiences in the market.

In 1995, CKZZ and CISL were sold to Standard Radio. The $18 million CAD purchase was approved by the CRTC in 1996. Following this sale, Z95.3 began to move from the dance format it was licensed for to a contemporary hit radio format.

" in March 2002.

In August 2002, the station changed formats again, edging away from its "contemporary hits" format and using the slogan "The Best of the Nineties and Today".

In February 2004, the station started playing an uninterrupted stream of hit music from its 13-year history, in preparation for another format change. The station switched to a "Hot Adult Contemporary" format in March, with the slogan "Zed Ninety-Five Three, Your Music Your Zed, with the Best of the 80s, 90s and Now". Ironically, the station was named "CHR Station of the Year" by Canadian Music Week a few days before its format switch.

Another format tweak came in September 2005, with the station dropping most of its eighties and nineties playlist and moving towards an adult top 40 format. The slogan, "Today's Best Music", was first used on sister station CJFM Montreal, and both CKZZ and CJFM had identical playlists.

In the spring of 2007, the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement, released its yearly reports indicating that Z953 had a 3.6% share of the Vancouver radio market and finishing as the 12th most listened to radio station. During the 1990s the station constantly remained in the top three Vancouver radio stations. Such a drop in ratings over the years prompted the end of Z953 and the creation of 95 Crave.

Before midnight on June 3, 2007, Z95-3 played its last song, "Walk Away" by Kelly Clarkson. The hot AC format was temporarily dropped, and the station began in stunting mode playing a mix of comedy/novelty songs, TV show and movie bits, etc. The station was re-named "95 Crave". The first song was "Music" by Madonna.

In October 2007, Astral Media acquired Standard Broadcasting's terrestrial radio and television assets, including CKZZ. Most recently, CKZZ has returned to contemporary hit radio after four years with the hot adult contemporary format, putting it once again in competition with CFBT-FM.

Formats

*1991-1996: Dance
*1996-2002: Contemporary hit radio
*2002-2004: '90s & Today
*2004-2005: Hot AC
*2005-2007: Adult Top 40
*2007-2008: Hot AC with the station rebranded as 95Crave
*2008-Present: Contemporary hit radio

Z953's contests

As with many contemporary radio stations, Z95.3 hosted promotional contests. Some notable ones included "Zed FX", in which the station played a sound effect and listeners were asked to identify what the sound was for a cash prize; the most recent award was $100,000. Another was "The Phrase That Pays", where listeners had to phone the station when the DJ announced the contest. The 95th caller had to correctly say "Z95-3 plays today's best music, now give me my money please" to win $1000, or, in a more recent variation, to have their bills paid.

External links

* [http://www.95crave.com/ 95 Crave]
* [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php?id=899&historyID=736 Station history from Canadian Communications Foundation]
*RecnetCanada|CKZZ-FM