CFDR

Infobox Radio station
name = CFDR


city = Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
area = Halifax, Nova Scotia
branding = Classic Country 780 Kixx
slogan =
airdate = December 5, 1962
frequency = 780 kHz (AM)
format = Country music
erp = 50 kW
class =
owner = Newcap Broadcasting "(sale to Rogers pending)"
website = [http://www.780kixx.ca/ 780 Kixx Classic Country]
callsign_meaning = C F Dartmouth Radio

CFDR is a Canadian AM radio station licensed to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and serving the Halifax area. Broadcasting at 780 kHz, it offers a classic country format and brands itself Classic Country 780 Kixx. It is owned by Newcap Broadcasting.

Originally owned and operated by Patterson Broadcasters Ltd. (C.A. "Arnie" Patterson), CF (Big "D")R first hit the AM dial in 1962. The studios were located at 12 Queen St. in Dartmouth, NS until the decision was made to occupy half of the 18th floor and the entire 19th floor of the Queen Square building, commanding an excellent view of Halifax Harbour. The transmitter was located on Kearney Lake Rd, Bedford, NS.

It made its home at various locations on the dial, first at 790 kHz, moving to 680 kHz in 1978, then up to 780 kHz in 1991.

CFDR was an easy listening station until 1987, when it changed its format to Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR). The format change was frowned upon by fans of the Easy Listening format in the Halifax area. It generated many complaints to the CRTC, as well as the station itself, but the format change stood until it switched to the country format in December 1993. In 1987, CFDR began broadcasting in Motorola C-QUAM AM stereo.

In October 2006, Newcap applied to the CRTC to move CFDR to the FM band at 88.9 MHz. It was to drop its country format in favour of alternative rock, as another Halifax station, CHFX-FM, also airs country music. The station was to be branded "LIVE 88.9", patterned after NewCap's Ottawa station "LIVE 88.5". The move was approved in 2007 but has not yet been consummated.

Newcap has since announced a deal to purchase CTVglobemedia's 50% share of CKUL-FM (Kool FM), of which Newcap already owns the balance, pending CRTC approval. [ [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2008/10/c9549.html Newcap press release] , March 10, 2008] The company already owns CFRQ-FM (Q104), and proceeding with the conversion of CFDR following this acquisition would put Newcap in violation of CRTC regulations on radio station ownership (maximum two AM and two FM stations per market).

The company has since announced plans (pending CRTC approval) to trade CFDR to Rogers Media in exchange for Rogers' Sudbury station CIGM, with both stations applying to move to FM following the trade. CIGM's situation parallels that of CFDR: it is the last AM station remaining in the Sudbury market, where Rogers already owns two FM stations, and hence it would not be permitted to convert to FM under its current ownership. Rogers intends to move CFDR to 92.9 MHz rather than the previously-approved 88.9.

Current morning hosts are Frank Lowe and Stephanie Woodin. Frank has had more than 30 years of experience in the radio business as well as being a local country music artist.

Personalities

Popular disc jockeys during its flagship easy listening era just before the changeover to Contemporary Hit Radio included avuncular morning man Gerry Parsons (with his signature "March Around the Breakfast Table"), smooth-voiced Tony Beech (of Sunday night's "Candlelight and Wine" renown), Jack Hutchison's "Tartan Hour" on Saturday mornings, Program Director Gail Rice (mid-days), Clary Stubbert (afternoon drive), midnights with Dave Trambley and Paul Meagher, traffic reporter.

Popular former DJ's and announcers include Colleen Jones, "Graveyard Shifter" Ron Roberts, Andrew Boyle, Cam Allen, Dale Schwartz, John Cunningham and John Kyte.

References

External links

* [http://www.780kixx.ca/ 780 Kixx Classic Country]
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