CIHT-FM

CIHT-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts a CHR format at 89.9 on the FM dial in Ottawa, Ontario under the branding Hot 89.9 The station is owned and operated by Newcap Broadcasting.

The BBM ratings for the third quarter of 2008 listed CIHT-FM as the top-rated station among Anglophone listeners in the Ottawa-Gatineau market.^[1]

History

The station was licensed by the CRTC in 2001 to program a Dance format as "The Planet."^[2] The New Hot 89.9 first aired on February 7, 2003 under a rhythmic CHR format, but flipped to its current format after 105.3 Kiss FM signed on in 2004. It made Ottawa the largest market in Canada with a radio station owned by Newcap Broadcasting; it remains that title today. The station has continued to use "The New" on its branding since the station's launch, much like Cox Radio's stations in Tampa such as WWRM, WPOI and WXGL. Even while the only English top 40 station in Ottawa (many major-market top 40 stations in Canada have phased out 1980s songs), it is one of the few top 40 stations in Canada to continue supporting 1980s songs, making The New Hot 89.9 lean more adult contemporary than most top 40 stations in Canada. CIHT-FM & CHBN-FM Edmonton are the stations moving from rhythmic top 40 to top 40 in less than a year.

The station carries a syndicated national show, the Canadian Hit 30 Countdown, which is a locally produced show hosted by Mauler and Rush.

April Fool's Day Contest

On April 1, 2010, the station temporarily changed its name to "Ho 89.9" as part of a contest. According to the station, the "T" from the slogan has been stolen, and there is a $10,000 cash prize to be awarded to the listener who follows the clues to locate the hidden "T". Three clues were given out daily.

The missing "T" was found at "Rooms by Design" on Highway 31 in Greely.

References

External links

• The New Hot 89.9 FM
• CIHT history at Canadian Communications Foundation
• Query the REC's Canadian station database for CIHT-FM