CHNS-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = CHNS-FM


area = Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
branding = 89.9 Hal FM
slogan =
airdate = 1926
frequency = 89.9 MHz (FM)
format = Classic rock
erp =
class =
owner = Maritime Broadcasting System
website = [http://www.899halfm.com/ 89.9 Hal FM]
callsign_meaning = C Halifax Nova Scotia

CHNS is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting from Halifax, Nova Scotia on 89.9 FM. It offers a classic rock format branded as Hal FM. CHNS-FM is owned and operated by Maritime Broadcasting System.

CHNS was Nova Scotia's first radio station, first hitting the airwaves in 1926. It switched between 910 and 930 AM a couple of times before finally switching to 960 in 1941. It was the host of Canadian National Railway radio "phantom station" CNRH until that network was disbanded. CHNS was an affiliate of the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission from 1933 to 1936 when the network became the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It acted as a CBC outlet until 1944 when CBH was launched as a CBC-owned station and CHNS became an affiliate of the CBC's Dominion Network until 1964. From the 1940s to the 1980s, CHNS 960 AM played host to many of Canada's top broadcasters, including: Knowlton Nash, Mike Duffy, Bob Oxley, Jessie Coade, Gerry Parsons, Frank Cameron, Stan Carew, and Ian Hanomansing.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the station played an adult contemporary format before flipping to oldies in February 1992 and branding itself "Oldies 96 CHNS". In its Oldies 96 CHNS days, it broadcast its programming in rich-sounding C-QUAM stereo. CHNS also simulcasted on shortwave on 6130 kHz on the 49 meter band on the call letters CHNX until 2001 . [http://k6eid.tripod.com/CHNX.htm]

The station moved to its current frequency of 89.9 FM and name of Classic Rock 89.9 Hal FM in July 2006. CHNS was given permission to simulcast the FM programming for 90 days on 960 AM and so, on October 19, 2006, CHNS AM was shut down for the last time, putting an end to its long history on the airwaves.

The station debuted its new morning show, "Crash & Mars in the Morning", in August 2006. The show was hosted by Crash Carter and Marcia 'Mars' MacDonald.

Carter was given his walking papers on January 26, 2007. Following his departure, Mars MacDonald announced she was no longer an employee of MBS Radio on January 30, 2007, ending "Crash & Mars in the Morning" on CHNS.

Replacing this program soon after was the Joe Leary Show. The show follows a talk format with commentary by the show's host between songs and occasional guest hosts. In September 2007, Suzanne Rent joined Joe Leary as his full-time co-host after providing the newscasts for several months. The show now includes a number of new spots including the trivia games Hal's Question of the Day and "Is That Your Vinyl Answer," a commentary called "The Candy Rant" every Monday from Halifax-based standup comedian Candy Palmater, as well as the occasional segment called "Control Room Theatre," in which Joe and Suzanne, and possibly the occasional guest "actor," perform scenes from a movie and callers are invited to guess the film.

In October 2007, Mike McFarland became host of the afternoon show. He replaced Shannon Venasse who was laid off after spending fourteen months with the station. Shannon is also a singer/songwriter rhythm guitarist. Shannon's debut CD 'The Lion's Share' was released this November 2007.

Mike McFarland has since quit working for CHNS. He terminated his employment in January 2008 and has still yet to be replaced.

On Sunday nights, CHNS hosts the National Lampoon Comedy Countdown, recorded in Malibu, California, hosted by Kent Emmons and Karri Kasem, which counts down the 40 funniest comedy sketches "according to [the National Lampoon] staff." You can also hear Dee Snider's House of Hair on Friday and Saturday nights on CHNS.

External links

* [http://www.899halfm.com/ 89.9 Hal FM]
* [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php?id=665&historyID=264 History of CHNS]
*RecnetCanada|CHNS-FM