CKLP-FM

Muskoka-Parry Sound Broadcasting Ltd. opened CKAR Huntsville and its satellite station CKAR-1 in Parry Sound. The station broadcast on a frequency of 1340 kHz with a full-time power of 250 watts (omnidirectional) from a single tower. Muskoka-Parry Sound Broadcasting Ltd. was owned by G. Norris MacKenzie, Allan D. Rogers and others. 

CKAR and CKAR-1 was a CBC affiliate and remained so after the Trans-Canada and Dominion networks consolidated into a single service.

CKAR’s application for a satellite station at Gravenhurst was denied. This was the second time they applied and were turned down.

G. Norris MacKenzie was President of Muskoka-Parry Sound Broadcasting Ltd. and Garth Thomas was Manager.

In October, CKAR was given permission to open studios for CKAR-1 in Parry Sound. 

CKAR-1 received permission to change the location of its studios – from 26 Bowes Street to 28 William Street.

Countryside Stations slogan: Home town radio – specializing in home town reporting, home town entertaining, home town interest, home town buying.

Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (85%) and Gordon V. Marratto (15%) received approval to acquire CKOX Woodstock (100%), CJCS Stratford (100%), CFOR Orillia (100%), CKAR Huntsville and Parry Sound (87.9%) and CKMP Midland (51%) from Countryside Holdings Ltd. and T. G. Ferris. Eastern owns stations in the Maritimes and has a major interest in the Northern Broadcasting group in northern Ontario. Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. is owned by Jack W. Schoone, J. Irving Zucker, and Gerald W. Kennedy. The CRTC noted that the new owners are to improve the technical quality and overall performance of the stations, appointing at least one local director for each. The sations would continue to operate under the Countryside banner. CKAR and CKAR-1 had operated under the Muskoka-Parry Sound Broadcasting Co. Ltd. name and would continue to do so.

CKAR-1 became CFBQ on March 14. The station remained a semi-satellite of the Huntsville station, now known as CFBK.

On August 28, approval was granted for the transfer of 99.3% of the common and 97.6% of the preferred shares of Muskoka-Parry Sound Broadcasting Ltd. by Countryside Holdings Ltd. (unit of Eastern Broadcasting) to Joseph F. Duchesne (on behalf of a company to be incorporated, which would continue to be known as Muskoka-Parry Sound Broadcasting Ltd.). Joe Duchesne took ownership of CFBK and CFBQ on September 17. He was president and general manager, and also became CFBK’s morning man. He had been morning man at CJBK in London. Duchsesne would live in the area and promised to further develop coverage of community activities by both CFBK and CFBQ.

At some point in the 1970’s, CFBQ was given approval to broadcast limited separate programming from CFBK Huntsville.

On February 25, the CRTC approved the application by Robert R. Bowland, representing a company to be incorporated, for authority to acquire the assets of AM radio station CFBQ Parry Sound from Muskoka-Parry Sound Broadcasting Limited, and for a broadcasting licence to continue the operation of that undertaking. The Commission also approved the application by Bowland for a “first radio service FM licence”, to carry on an English-language FM service at Parry Sound, operating on the frequency 103.3 MHz (channel 277B) with an effective radiated power of 1,700 watts. The Commission issued a first radio service FM licence expiring September 30, 1990. The Commission also issued an AM licence to Bowland to continue the operation of CFBQ in accordance with the proposals set out in its application, upon surrender of the current licence. The licence would expire six months from the date of implementation of the new FM service or on September 30, 1987, whichever was the earlier date. The new licensee company would be owned equally by five shareholders (20% each), who would bring to the company considerable experience in a number of broadcast-related fields, including programming, engineering and sales. The company’s president, Robert Bowland, confirmed that he would take up residence in Parry Sound to oversee the management of the new station and to provide an important element of local ownership and direction. The AM station would rebroadcast all of the FM programming for a “phasing-in” period not to exceed six months. The AM undertaking would cease operation, and its licence would expire, at the end of the six-months period. The FM station would then be the only radio broadcasting undertaking operating in the market. The FM would operate in the “Groupe I” music format, and feature softer pop and rock music. It would continue to broadcast much of the current programming of CFBQ, including 251/2 hours per week of CBC programming. The applicant indicated that the purpose of replacing the existing AM facilities with a new FM station was to overcome severe technical problems which, in the past, had limited CFBQ’s audience reach and advertising revenue. The greater range of the FM signal was expected to expand the potential audience of the Parry Sound station from approximately 7,000 people living in the immediate vicinity of Parry Sound to as many as 20,000 people residing within a 30 kilometer radius of the town. According to the applicant the presence of cottagers and tourists in the area would increase the station’s potential audience to 30,000 during the summer months. 

On March 29, Playland Broadcasting Ltd. (Robert Bowland and four others, with 20% each) took control of CFBQ from Muskoka-Parry Sound Broadcasting (Joe Duchesne).

On July 1, CFBQ moved to FM as CKLP at 103.3 MHz. The “LP” in the call letters:  Lakeland Playland. Like CFBQ, CKLP operated as a CBC Radio affiliate.

CFBQ 1340 was deleted in December after simulcasting CKLP-FM since July.

The station leased space on a 400’ Bell Canada tower for its antenna. CKLP’s antenna was at the 300’ level. 

Bob Bowland was CKLP’s general manager.

On February 5, the CRTC approved a power increase for CKLP-FM from 1,700 to 2,740 watts (ERP). 

George Montgomery was now CKLP’s news director.

CKLP moved from 24A William Street to 4 Miller Street (second floor of the Masonic Hall building).

On May 29, the CRTC approved an increase in effective radiated power for CKLP-FM. Power would go from 2,740 watts to 50,000 watts. The antenna would be moved from a Bell Canada communications tower located north of Parry Sound to a new site approximately 1.5 kilometres north of the existing site. The changes would double the service area and add 20,000 potential listeners.

CKLP-FM was given CRTC approval to drop its CBC affiliation on September 20. Network  service was now available from a CBC-owned transmitter at Parry Sound.

On July 7, the CRTC approved the acquisition by Robert Bowlandof the 50% of Playland Broadcasting Ltd. not already owned from James Armstrong (30%) and A.J. Sondermeyer (20%).

CKLP moved studios and offices from 4 Miller Streetto the third floor of the Taylor Building at 60 James Street, Parry Sound.

The CRTC approved the sale of CKLP by Playland Broadcasting Limited to The Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc., on November 9.

Standard Broadcasting acquired a 29.9% interest in Haliburton Broadcasting.

CKLP-FM relaunched in January as “The Variety Station 103.3 Moose FM” with an adult contemporary format. 

On August 7 the CRTC renewed CKLP-FM’s licence until August 31, 2010.

CKLP-FM changed its format from Adult Contemporary to Classic Hits, keeping the Moose FM branding.

On November 25, the CRTC renewed CKLP-FM’s licence until August 31, 2014. This short-term renewal would enable the Commission to review, at an earlier date, the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 and its conditions of licence.

On October 19, the CRTC approved the application by Vista Radio Ltd. for authority to acquire from Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. the assets of Haliburton’s AM and FM radio stations and their transmitters located in Bancroft, Barry’s Bay, Bolton, Bracebridge, Caledon, Cochrane, Elliot Lake, Espanola, Fort Erie, Haldimand, Haliburton, Hearst, Huntsville, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Kemptville, Niagara Falls, North Bay, Parry Sound, Prescott, St. Catharines, Stratford, Sturgeon Falls and Timmins. Vista was a corporation controlled by Westerkirk Capital Inc., in turn controlled by Thompson Investments Limited. CKLP-FM was among the stations acquired by Vista.