CHYC-FM

Infobox Radio Station


name = CHYC-FM
airdate = 1957 (on AM
2000 (on FM)
frequency = 98.9 MHz (FM)
area = Sudbury, Ontario
format = hot adult contemporary (French)
owner = Haliburton Broadcasting Group
sale to Le5 Communications pending
erp = 1.4 kW
branding = CHYC
slogan = Toujours plus de musique.
class =
website = [http://www.chycfm.com/ CHYC-FM]
callsign_meaning = an available callsign that could be pronounced like the French word chic
sister_stations = CHYK-FM
former_callsigns = CFBR (1957-1990)

CHYC-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at FM 98.9 in Sudbury, Ontario. It broadcasts a francophone hot adult contemporary format for the city's franco-ontarian community.

CHYC and its sister station CHYK in Timmins are the only francophone commercial stations programmed entirely in Ontario. Apart from commercials and separate morning shows, the two stations in fact simulcast the same programming at almost all times, although both stations produce a portion of the shared broadcast schedule.

History

The station first aired in 1957 as AM 550 CFBR, a sister station to CHNO and a private affiliate of Radio-Canada. CHNO had previously been a bilingual station; when CFBR went to air, CHNO became full-time English. The FBR in the station's callsign stood for F. Baxter Ricard, the stations' owner. The licensing of CFBR, which took over the Radio-Canada affiliation from CHNO, made Ricard the first commercial broadcaster in Canada licensed to operate two AM radio stations in the same city. [ [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/personalities/personalities.php?id=98] ]

In 1969, CFBR and CHNO swapped frequencies. CHNO took over the 550 AM signal, and CFBR moved to 900. CFBR remained a Radio-Canada affiliate until the launch of CBON in 1978, and adopted a pop standards format thereafter.

In 1985, Ricard sold CFBR, CHNO and CJMX to Mid-Canada Radio.

The station adopted its current call sign and format in 1990, after the three stations were acquired by Pelmorex Radio Network. Pelmorex sold the stations in 1998, when Telemedia acquired CJMX, and 1999, when Haliburton Broadcasting Group acquired CHYC and CHNO. Haliburton subsequently converted both stations to FM. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/1999/DB99-404.HTM CRTC Decision 99-404] ] In 2000, the stations first aired on FM and discontinued their old AM signals. CHYC moved to 98.9 FM in early 2000 and simulcast on AM 900, until it left the air on March 31 of that year.

Haliburton subsequently sold CHNO to Newcap Broadcasting in 2001. Despite no longer having common ownership, however, as of 2008 CHYC and CHNO still operate from the same studio facility at 493 Barrydowne Road in Sudbury.

In 2008, Haliburton announced a deal to sell the CHYC stations to Le5 Communications, a firm owned by Sudbury lawyer Paul Lefebvre. [ [http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/pdfs/newsletters/2008/nl20080529_16_03.pdf] ] This deal is pending CRTC approval. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Hearings/2008/n2008-9.htm#3 CRTC Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing 2008-9] ]

Rebroadcasters

A community group in Chapleau, Formation Plus, holds an independent license to rebroadcast the signal of CHYC-FM. This transmitter operates on 95.9 FM in Chapleau with the call sign CHAP-FM [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2007/db2007-70.htm CRTC Decision 2007-70] ] , and the frequency is now listed on the station's primary website.

References

External links

* [http://www.chycfm.com CHYC-FM]
* [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php?id=286&historyID=310 CHYC History at Canadian Communications Foundation]
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