CKDX-FM

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CKDX-FM
Broadcast areaGreater Toronto Area
Frequency88.5 MHz (FM)
BrandingHot Country 88.5
Programming
FormatCountry
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
February 28, 1980
Former frequencies
1480 kHz (AM) (1980–1994)
Technical information
ClassB
ERP11,300 watts average
30,000 watts peak
HAAT183.5 metres (602 ft)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitehotcountry885.ca

CKDX-FM (88.5 MHz, Hot Country 88.5) is a radio station licensed to Newmarket, Ontario, Canada and serving the Greater Toronto Area. Owned by Evanov Communications (but with a 30% stake held by outside investors under numbered companies),[1] it broadcasts a country format. CKDX's studios are located at 5312 Dundas Street West in the Eatonville neighbourhood of Etobicoke, Toronto, while its transmitter is located near Aurora.

History

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On August 2, 1978, Bradley R. Walker, representing a company to be incorporated, was given approval by the CRTC to operate a new English language AM radio station at Newmarket, Ontario which would operate on the frequency of 1480 kHz with 10,000 watts day and night. [2]

The station was launched on February 28, 1980, as AM 1480 CKAN, broadcasting from 6 a.m. to midnight with a hybrid easy listening/beautiful music format. The station switched to a country format in 1984. In 1986, the station switched to a Top 40 format, and in 1988 the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day.

The station shut down on March 17, 1992, due to financial problems, but would resume broadcasting on May 17 of that year when the problems were resolved. At the time of the shutdown, the station was known as Energy 1480. In December of that year, the station adopted its current CKDX callsign with an oldies/easy listening format. CKDX subsequently moved to the FM dial in 1994, branding itself as The Phoenix.[3] Since moving to FM, the station has gone through several technical changes.[4]

The station went through a number of format changes in the next several years, adopting a dance format again as Power 88.5 (after a brief period as 88.5 The X) on February 21, 1997, at 8 a.m.[5] On July 19, 1999, at 5 p.m., the station returned to country as 88.5 The Kat.[6][7] On June 1, 2000, at Noon, the station flipped to a format that has never been tried in Canada before: "Rhythmic oldies" as Dancing Oldies 88.5.[8] By 2001, the "Dancing Oldies" format aired throughout the day, while modern dance music was broadcast at night. It was at this point in time that the station became known as Foxy 88.5, The Dance Music Station.[9] This lasted until January 2002, when it flipped to adult standards while retaining the "Foxy" branding. In April 2007, the station rebranded as 88.5 The Jewel, adopting the "Jewel" branding shortly after the launch of sister station CJWL-FM in Ottawa.

In 2009, after a few years with the adult standards format, the station changed to more of an older-skewing adult contemporary format to replace CJEZ-FM (which became adult hits as CHBM-FM) as CHFI-FM's competing AC station. It was at this point that CHFI began skewing towards a younger audience for its AC format. All of the "Jewel" stations presented an adult contemporary variety of music, from artists such as Elton John, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, The Eagles, Kelly Clarkson, James Taylor, Lady Antebellum, Adele and Michael Bublé.[10]

88.5 The Jewel also features traditional easy listening/adult standards music on "The Lounge" program, which is simulcast on the other Jewel stations, seven days a week from 7 to 11 p.m.. This program was hosted by a revolving roster of on-air personalities from Jewel stations, playing "Music With Style", often with standards from the Great American Songbook. Frequently played artists include Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Gladys Knight and Frank Sinatra. Following The Lounge in the 11 p.m. hour is the "Instrumental Concert Series," a beautiful music block.[11]

On October 1, 2021, at 7 a.m., CKDX rebranded as Lite 88.5.[12]

On November 17, 2023, at 9 a.m., after playing "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire, CKDX flipped back to country, this time as Hot Country 88.5. The first song under the new format was "Hello Country" by Newmarket artist Steven Lee Olsen.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Evanov Radio - #132 Ownership – Broadcasting" (PDF). CRTC. CRTC. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  2. ^ Decision CRTC 78-529, English language AM radio station in Newmarket, CRTC, August 2, 1978 page 289
  3. ^ Decision CRTC 94-438
  4. ^ Decision CRTC 99-479
  5. ^ CKDX Power 88.5 FM Airchecks
  6. ^ CKDX becomes The Kat, formatchangearchive.com, July 18, 1999
  7. ^ So you're just back from vacation and as you're driving across the North end of town, you punch in Power 88... Toronto Star, July 25, 1999 (URL Status = dead)
  8. ^ "Dancin Oldies ... The All New 88.5". Archived from the original on 2001-11-29.
  9. ^ "Welcome to FOXY 88.5FM". Archived from the original on 2001-06-11.
  10. ^ "About Us - Jewel 88.5". Jewel 92. Evanov Communications. 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Personalities, Shows, the Lounge". Jewel 88.5. Evanov Communications. 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  12. ^ Evanov Communications Launches 'Lite 88.5' in Newmarket-Toronto with Lite Favourites
  13. ^ Connie Thiessen, "Evanov introduces Hot Country 88.5 to GTA". Broadcast Dialogue, November 17, 2023.
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44°00′40″N 79°31′08″W / 44.01111°N 79.51889°W / 44.01111; -79.51889

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