CHIQ-FM
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| City of license | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
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| Branding | FAB 94.3 |
| Slogan | "Super Hits of The 60's + 70's" |
| Frequency | 94.3 MHz (FM) |
| First air date | 1963 |
| Format | Oldies |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| Callsign meaning | derived from "chic" |
| Owner | Bell Media (Bell Media Radio) |
| Sister stations | CFRW, CFWM-FM, CKY-TV |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | FAB 94.3 |
CHIQ-FM is a popular radio station in Winnipeg, Manitoba branded as FAB 94.3 and broadcasts at 100 kW. Its studios are located at 1445 Pembina Highway, along with sister stations, 99.9 BOB FM and TSN Radio 1290 in Winnipeg. The station previously carried an alternative leaning contemporary hit radio format, but switched to a Classic Hits format in December 2010.
[edit] History
CHIQ-FM first launched in 1963 as CJQM-FM, which simulcast CJQM-AM, an easy listening station owned by Winnipeg Broadcast Associates Ltd. (a division of Vancouver Broadcast Associates, the original owner of Vancouver stations CHQM and CHQM-FM). In 1965 it became CFRW-FM and then was bought by CHUM Radio. CHUM Radio then changed CFRW's name to CHIQ-FM in 1975.[1]
After 1975 CHIQ-FM was branded as Q94FM. It played Adult Contemporary and used the slogan "Today's Lite Rock". In 1997 it switched to a Hot AC format, still named Q94FM, with the slogan of "Today's Best Music".
Since July 2006 it has programmed its RDS data stream to include the artist and title of the currently playing song.
On August 29, 2006 at 8:45 am Q94FM announced that after 25 years that it would no longer exist and that a new station would be created within a seven day time span based on comments provided by listeners.[2] Prior to the announcement, the regular morning staff had not shown up for work. This left many to speculate that they knew of the upcoming changes and did not want to announce their own demise. A later report debunked that theory for the interim.[3] The station then went on for two weeks allowing listeners to call in and choose how they wanted the new 94.3FM to be like.
On September 5, 2006 at 7:45 AM CDT, CHIQ-FM re-launched its Hot AC format as the "All New Q94" and kept its callsign, CHIQ-FM, as well as its slogan, "Today's Best Music". All the Q94FM personalities returned.
In 2007 CHIQ-FM along with the other CHUM stations were sold to CTVglobemedia and long-time morning show hosts Beau and Tom (since 1989) moved to sister station 999 BOB FM.
On August 29, 2008 at 8:45 AM CDT, CHIQ-FM re-launched with an alternative leaning contemporary hit radio (similar to a modern adult contemporary format) format as "CURVE 94.3 - Winnipeg's Pop Alternative", playing 943 songs in a row, commercial-free. When the 943 songs concluded the station resumed broadcasting with on air staff, contests and "40 Minutes of Non-stop Good Stuff". In addition, CHIQ-FM was added to Mediabase's Canadian alternative rock panel. This resulted on former alternative rock station CFEQ-FM switching to Christian rock and former adult contemporary station CILT-FM of Steinbach, Manitoba to switch to adult top 40.
On September 3, 2010 CURVE 94.3 changed its slogan to "Real Music Variety" with only slightly changing its genre of music.
On November 17, 2010 CHUM Radio assumed full control of CHIQ-FM as part of a “restructuring phase” after removing two personalities, the Program Director and placing most remaining staff members in limbo.[4] On November 23 at 9:00 AM CURVE 94.3's format changed to Christmas music using the slogan "Winnipeg's Christmas Music Station" until a new format was unveiled.[5] To keep the new format secret CTV registered four .com and .ca domains for the new radio station; these include, kool943.com/.ca, fab943.com/.ca, thebeat943.com/.ca and country943.com/.ca.[6]
On December 26, 2010 at 3:00 PM CHIQ-FM became "FAB 94.3", playing an oldies/classic hits format, formerly carried by sister station CFRW (now a sports station). On January 4 the BOB FM morning show and CHIQ's past morning show ("The Show" on CURVE 94.3) traded places. This brought Beau and Tom, who previously worked at the station, back on air in the mornings.[7]
On January 27, 2012 long-time personality Tom Milroy retired from radio after 20 years on CHIQ-FM (Q94FM and FAB 94.3), 3 years on sister station CFWM-FM (999 BOB FM) and almost 40 years in the radio business. [8]
[edit] References
- ^ [1] <CHIQ History]
- ^ Schmeichel, David (August 29, 2006). "94.3 FM changing its tune". Winnipeg Sun.
- ^ Gallant, Marc (August 30, 2006). "Beau, Dez and Tom 'will still be in the building,' said program manager Andrew Long". Winnipeg Free Press.
- ^ http://www.chrisd.ca/blog/31553/curve-943-winnipeg-on-air-talent-change/
- ^ "A 'Curve' For The Holidays" from All Access (November 23, 2010)
- ^ http://radioinsight.com/2010/getting-fab-in-winnipeg/
- ^ http://www.chrisd.ca/blog/33260/fab-943-winnipeg-radio-super-hits-60s-70s-music/
- ^ http://www.chrisd.ca/blog/49284/tom-milroy-fab-94-3-winnipeg-radio-retiring/
[edit] External links
- FAB 94.3
- CHIQ-FM history at Canadian Communications Foundation
- Query the REC's Canadian station database for CHIQ-FM
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