CHRE-FM

Infobox_Radio_station | name = CHRE


city = St. Catharines, Ontario
area = St. Catharines, Ontario/Buffalo, New York
branding = 105.7 EZ Rock
slogan =
airdate = 1967
frequency = 105.7
format = adult contemporary
power = 100,000 watts
erp = 100 Kw
class = C
callsign_meaning = CH REdmond (former owner)
owner = Astral Media
website = [http://www.1057ezrock.com/ CHRE Official Web site]

CHRE is a radio station in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Airing at 105.7 FM, the station broadcasts an adult contemporary format with the brand name 105.7 EZ Rock.

CHRE was launched in 1967 as CHSC-FM by Radio Station CHSC Ltd., the licensee of the city's CHSC.

As CHSC-FM it simulcast much of its programming on CHSC-AM (1220). By 1970 the two stations were doing their own programming with CHSC-FM adopting the "Beautiful Music" format by 1978. During this time the station had a number of popular specialty programs. "A Starlight Concert" heard weeknights from 10 to 11pm features light classical music introduced by Francis Kirton who became the station's fine arts director. Kirton also hosted the Sunday morning programs "Variety Theatre" featuring condensations of popular operettas recorded by the Readers Digest Association, "Concert in the Park" featuring marches and brass band music, "Waltz Time", a half hour of familiar music in 3/4 time and "At the Console" showcasing the world's great theatre organs.

Other specialty programs included "Ray Wickens' Broadway" hosted by British theatre aficionado Ray Wickens and featuring full original cast recordings; and "The Golden Age of Comedy" hosted by Armand Romagnoli and Mark Lawrence presenting classic comedy routines and old-time radio comedies. For a time in the late 1970s the station also carried the syndicated version of "The CBS Radio Mystery Theatre." The station's most popular program was "Howard Cable Presents" hosted by Howard Cable who was, at the time, the music director for the Imperial Room in Toronto Royal York Hotel. The program showcased many of the performers appearing at the Imperial room as well as popular songs from shows & movies, Big Band favorites and Classical music.

On July 1, 1979 the callsign was changed to CHRE for station owner R.E. (Robert) Redmond.

By 1985 Redmond determined that the "beautiful Music" audience was rapidly aging and opted to switch to a soft rock/adult contemporary format geared to a younger crowd. At this time all of the specialty programs were dropped.

The parent company became known as Redmond Communications in 1985 and was granted a license to open CJEZ-FM in Toronto. The station was subsequently sold to Affinity Radio Group in 1999.

Affinity was acquired by Telemedia the following year, and Telemedia was itself bought out by Standard Broadcasting in 2002.

In October 2007, Astral Media acquired Standard Broadcasting's terrestrial radio and television assets, including CHRE.

Programming

CHRE airs an adult contemporary format similar to its "EZ Rock" sister stations in Toronto (CJEZ) and London (CIQM-FM).

Local jocks include Jack Peets, Lori Love, Mark Munroe, and Brett Ness.

Syndicated programs include the John Tesh Radio Show, Leeza Gibbons and the Canadian syndicated Heart to Heart with Joanne Wilson.

CHRE streams its programming on the Internet.

External links

* [http://www.1057ezrock.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.1057ezrock.com/player/player Listen Live]
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