CIHI-FM

On May 11, the CRTC approved the application by Newcap Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Fredericton. The new station would operate at 93.1 MHz (channel 226B) with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 150 metres). 

The new station would offer a Contemporary Hit Radio music format, and broadcast 120 hours of local programming per broadcast week, of which 12 hours and 28 minutes would be devoted to spoken word programming. In addition, the new station would broadcast 4 hours of news programming per broadcast week, of which 75% would be devoted to local stories. Newcap committed to devote, by condition of licence, at least 40% of all content category 2 (Popular music) musical selections aired each broadcast week and between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety. The licence would expire August 31, 2018.

On February 7, the CRTC approved the application by Newcap Inc. to modify the technical parameters of the station, which would have the call letters CIHI-FM, by changing the class of its licence from B to C1, by decreasing the station’s average effective radiated power from 50,000 to 42,000 watts (and by increasing the maximum ERP from 50,000 to 100,000 watts), by decreasing the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 150.0 to 137.5 metres, by changing the radiation pattern of the antenna from non-directional to directional, and by relocating the antenna and transmitter from Hamtown Corner, the site specified in the original application, to Mount Hope.  

Newcap stated that since it filed its original application, residents in the vicinity of the Hamtown Corner transmitter site had expressed concerns over high levels of radiation from the transmitters of three different radio stations, which were all located at that site. The licensee submitted that the addition of the high-power transmitter for the recently approved station CIHI-FM to the existing tower facility at that site would be unwelcome by area residents.

CIHI-FM “UP! 93.1” signed on the air June 24 at 7:00 a.m. The feel good social station was a modern day interactive format. Newcap had proven this radio format as a hit in Alberta. The on-air team: The Wake up Show with Peter, John & Jenn (6-10), Adam Spencer (10-2), Afternoons with Firth (2-6), Jonathan Munn (Evenings & Weekends), That 80’s Show with Catharine (Saturdays at 8 a.m.), Kevin Worrell (Afternoon News Announcer and Reporter). Management: Dave Newbury (General Manager), Kate Buick (Program Director), and Jay McNeil (News Director). The Sales team: Troy Spilman, Jody Peterson, Mike Lint, Kristen MacDonald, Eric Phillips and Susan Connolly. Studios and offices for Newcap Fredericton (CFRK-FM, CIHI-FM) were located at 495-A Prospect Street.

On October 23, the CRTC approved an application by Newfoundland Capital Corporation Limited, on behalf of Newcap Inc. and its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, for authorization to effect a change in the ownership and effective control of various radio and television broadcasting undertakings in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, so that effective control of the undertakings would be exercised by Eric Boyko (Stingray Digital Group Inc.). Stingray took ownership of the stations just a few days later.