CFLZ-FM

CFLZ-FM is a Canadian radio station that serves the Buffalo area, broadcasting at 101.1 FM in Fort Erie, Ontario. The station broadcasts a Contemporary Hit Radio format under branding 2Day FM. It is also the highest rated Canadian station in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region, according to Arbitron.

History

Early years

The station was originally launched in 1986 as AM 530 CJFT, playing adult contemporary music.^[1] It moved to FM in 1991, and adopted its CKEY-FM callsign.^[2]

Throughout the 1990s, the station varied between alternative rock and dance music branded as 101.1 The Planet, and was later rebranded as 101.1 The River playing a modern AC format in 1997 (which later shifted to Hot AC). In 2002, the hot AC format moved to sister station CFLZ-FM, and CKEY adopted a rhythmic top 40 format branded as WiLD 101. In 2001, a change of ownership of CJRN, CKEY-FM and CFLZ-FM to the Niagara Broadcasting Corporation was approved. The company would now be owned by several members of the Dancy family.^[3] The station entered into a local marketing agreement with Citadel, who operated the station as part of its Buffalo, New York cluster. That LMA was discontinued when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission threatened to revoke the station's licence.^[4] By 2005, the station moved to its current top 40 format, and later on, the station changed its branding to Z101 on April 1, 2007. It was the only Wild station in Canada, because Clear Channel Communications, owns the Wild name. On December 19, 2005, the CRTC approved the transfer of ownership and control of CJRN 710 Inc. (CJRN Niagara Falls, CKEY-FM Fort Erie and CKEY-FM-1 St. Catharines) from Niagara Broadcasting Corp. (controlled by David Dancy) to Northguard Capital Corp. (owned and controlled by Andrew Ferri). This approval also covered the transfer to Northguard of 788813 Ontario Inc. (CFLZ-FM Niagara Falls), once it became a wholly owned subsidiary of CJRN 710 Inc. Northguard would then amalgamate both entities to continue the operation of the undertakings under the name of CJRN 710 Inc. 2005-1146-1 (19 December 2005) ^[5][6]

The CRTC has continued to express concern with CKEY-FM's programming, calling attention in particular to the station's seeming failure to comply with its license condition requiring a minimum three hours per week of locally-oriented news programming. In its most recent license renewal, the station was only granted a two-year license period.^[7]

Z-101

CKEY-FM-era Z101 logo.

CKEY-FM was a reporter to the American rhythmic top 40 panel on Mediabase and Nielsen BDS (and also reported on the Canadian top 40 panel on Nielsen BDS), but in 2005, CKEY-FM moved to the American top 40 panel on Mediabase and Nielsen BDS. The station has continued to lean rhythmic even after shifting to mainstream top 40 as many former urban contemporary & rhythmic contemporary stations in Canada have dropped the rhythmic lean. Another station, CKBT-FM in Kitchener, Ontario (which debuted as rhythmic top 40 in 2004, only to go to top 40 in 2005) is still sticking with the rhythmic lean. Just like similar stations CIDC-FM Toronto & CKHZ-FM Halifax, the station pronounces it "Zee" instead of "Zed," historically becoming the third station with the top 40 format in Canada to do so.

In 2010, the Haliburton Broadcasting Group applied to buy CKEY-FM and sister station CFLZ-FM.^[8][9][10] The transaction received CRTC approval on June 8, 2011.^[11]

CFLZ-FM-era Z101.1 logo.

On August 24, 2011, the station dropped the rhythmic lean entirely and adopted a more mainstream playlist. The station also unveiled a new logo, and will continue to report as contemporary hit radio per Mediabase & Nielsen BDS, meaning rival WKSE now leans more rhythmic than CKEY-FM. As of November 2011, CKEY-FM was moved to the Mediabase Canadian contemporary hit radio panel from the U.S. contemporary hit radio panel as it still reports as a Buffalo station, but it must register as a St. Catharines, Ontario station despite that city having Mediabase reporters active rock CHTZ-FM & adult contemporary CHRE-FM, both owned by Astral Media. In late 2011, the station adopted the CFLZ-FM callsign which was formerly used by sister station now known as CJED-FM.

On April 23, 2012 Vista Broadcast Group, which owns a number of radio stations in western Canada, announced a deal to acquire Haliburton Broadcasting, in cooperation with Westerkirk Capital.^[12] The transaction was approved by the CRTC on October 19, 2012.^[13]

2Day FM 105.1/101.1

On September 20, 2013, at Noon, after playing "This Is What It Feels Like" by Armin van Buuren, CFLZ shifted its brand to the current 2Day FM 105.1/101.1, and began simulcasting on sister station CJED-FM, who dropped their adult hits format the previous day for a Christmas music stunt in anticipation of a new format. The first song on "2Day FM" was Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines.

Rebroadcasters

As the main transmitter's signal is oriented principally towards the Buffalo market and does not fully cover the Niagara Region, CFLZ also operates a co-channel booster in St. Catharines. The St. Catharines transmitter has an ERP of 2.7 kW and the call sign CFLZ-FM-1.^[14]

Notes

From 1945 to 1991, CKEY was the callsign of an AM radio station in Toronto, which now airs Chinese programming as Fairchild Radio affiliate CHKT. The original CKEY was a popular Top 40 music station, albeit during the 1950s and 1960s. Its longtime frequency of 590 kHz has been occupied by sports radio station CJCL since 1995.

References

External links

• 2dayFM 105.1/101.1 Website
• CKEY History at Canadian Communications Foundation
• Query the REC's Canadian station database for CKEY-FM
• Query the REC's Canadian station database for CFLZ-FM

Coordinates: 42°54′00″N 78°57′08″W / 42.90000°N 78.95222°W / 42.90000; -78.95222