CHIQ-FM
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| City of license | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
|---|---|
| Branding | Fab 94.3 |
| Slogan | "Super Hits of The 60's and 70's" |
| Frequency | 94.3 MHz (FM) |
| First air date | 1963 |
| Format | Oldies |
| Audience share |
 5.9% - Rank: 8[1] |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| Callsign meaning | derived from "chic" |
| Owner |
Pierre Boivin, blind trust (sale pending to Jim Pattison Group) (Bell Media Canada Radio Partnership) |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | FAB 94.3 |
CHIQ-FM is a radio station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, broadcasting on 94.3 FM. Its studios are located at 1445 Pembina Highway, along with former sister stations, CFWM-FM and CFRW in Winnipeg. The station airs a classic hits format branded as Fab 94.3.
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). Despite the success of the format in Vancouver at CHQM, CJQM failed to attract an audience in Winnipeg and was sold in 1965, becoming CFRW-FM and then was bought by CHUM Radio. CHUM Radio then changed CFRW's name to CHIQ-FM in 1975.[2]
After 1975, CHIQ-FM was branded as "Q94FM". It aired an Adult Contemporary format, and used the slogan "Today's Lite Rock". In the mid-1990s, CHIQ was an affiliate of the syndicated dance music show "Pirate Radio" with Chris Sheppard. In 1997, CHIQ 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.[3] 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.[4] 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, CHIQ 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 relaunched again, this time with an alternative-leaning CHR (similar to Modern AC) 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 an 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.
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, a majority of the station's airstaff was released.[5] On November 23, at 9:00 AM, CHIQ began stunting with Christmas music using the slogan "Winnipeg's Christmas Music Station" until a new format was unveiled.[6] To keep the new format secret CTV registered four .com and .ca domains for the new radio station; these included kool943.com/.ca, fab943.com/.ca, thebeat943.com/.ca and country943.com/.ca.[7]
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) switched stations. This brought Beau and Tom, who previously worked at the station, back on air in the mornings.[8]
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.[9]
On May 16, 2013, the Jim Pattison Group announced a deal to acquire both CFQX-FM and CHIQ-FM for an undisclosed amount as a part of Bell's acquisition of CFQX's parent company Astral Media. The deal will give the Jim Pattison Group its first stations in Manitoba, and would make CHIQ a sister station to CFQX.[10]
References
- ↑ "Spring 2013 BBM Canada Survey"
- ↑ <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/
- ↑ "Pattison group looks to buy castoffs from Bell Astral deal". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
External links
- Official website
- CHIQ-FM history at Canadian Communications Foundation
- Query the REC's Canadian station database for CHIQ-FM
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Coordinates: 49°47′58″N 97°16′30″W / 49.7994°N 97.2750°W