CHOK

CHOK is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 1070 AM in Sarnia, Ontario. The station broadcasts a gold-based adult contemporary music format with local news, talk and sports. At night under the right conditions, it can be heard in parts of New York and New Jersey.

The station was launched on 26 July 1946 by Sarnia Broadcasting. In 1947, Sarnia Broadcasting Co. was granted a licence to operate an FM station at 97.5 MHz (as CHOK-FM), which left the air in sometime in between 1948-1953 after being damaged from the Sarnia tornado. That station was never rebuilt.^[1] It was acquired by IWC Communications, a corporate precursor of Standard Broadcasting, in 1970, and went through a variety of sales to local owners until being acquired by its current owner, Blackburn Radio, in 1998. Blackburn also owns both of the city's other commercial radio stations, CFGX and CHKS.

On January 12, 2007 at 6:00 AM, CHOK changed its format from news/talk and oldies, with the brand name Information Radio, to its current country format.

In April 2007, CHOK AM applied to add an FM transmitter (CHOK-1-FM) at Sarnia to broadcast at 103.3 MHz and simulcast the programing of CHOK 1070 AM, due to AM reception problems from metal and steel associated with the operations from petrochemical plants.^[2] Another company, Points Eagle Radio, had applied at the same time to use the 103.3 MHz frequency to broadcast Aboriginal programing. Points Eagle Radio was given approval by the CRTC to use the 103.3 FM frequency on August 7, 2007.^[3]

On July 20, 2007 CHOK was given approval in part to broadcast at 100.9 MHz. On October 10, 2007 Blackburn Radio applied to use the frequency 103.9 MHz instead.^[4] On January 18, 2008 CHOK was given approval to use the 103.9 frequency with 200 Watts power. ^[5]

CHOK began testing of its 103.9 FM transmitter atop the Kenwick Building in downtown Sarnia, on June 18, 2008. On the morning of July 23, 2008, CHOK signed on as Country 103.9 FM and will continue to simulcast its signal on 1070 AM.^[6]

The station also has a low-power license-exempt repeater on 101.5 FM at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre. The 101.5 FM frequency is reserved for use by the CBC, should they choose to broadcast on that frequency in the future.

On May 21, 2013, CHOK dropped its country format and changed its music to a gold-based adult contemporary/classic hits mix. The service elements of the previous format remain in place. The music leans older and softer than the hot mainstream AC format of sister station CFGX-FM. However the station maintains a few current/recurrent non-crossover country titles in rotation.

References

External links

• CHOK
• CHOK history at Canadian Communications Foundation
• Query the REC's Canadian station database for CHOK

Coordinates: 42°53′30″N 82°19′20″W / 42.89167°N 82.32222°W / 42.89167; -82.32222