CIND-FM

CIND-FM
City of license Toronto, Ontario
Branding Indie88
Slogan "Giving Great Music a Home"[1]
Frequency 88.1 MHz (FM)
First air date July 31, 2013
Format Indie rock, classic alternative
Power 2.1 kW
Class A
Callsign meaning INDie rock format
Owner Central Ontario Broadcasting
(Rock 95 Broadcasting Ltd.)
Sister stations CFJB-FM, CKMB-FM
Webcast http://indie.streamon.fm/
Website Indie88.com

CIND-FM, branded as Indie88, is an FM radio station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, broadcasting at 88.1 MHz. The station, which broadcasts an indie rock format, had its "soft launch" on July 31, 2013, and had its official launch on September 3, 2013.[1][2]

The station is the first entry into the Toronto market for Central Ontario Broadcasting, which also owns CFJB-FM and CKMB-FM in the outlying city of Barrie. "Indie88," as the station is branded, places a priority on on-air and online interaction with its audience.[1]

The station's offices and studios are in Toronto's Liberty Village. Indie88's general manager is Megan Bingley and its program director is Adam Thompson.[1]

History

On September 11, 2012, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved Rock 95 Broadcasting Ltd.'s application to operate on 88.1 MHz, which was formerly used by CKLN-FM from 1983-2011.[3] Staffing announcements made before the station's launch included Alan Cross, the longtime former announcer and program director of CFNY-FM, as a music counsellor and consultant,[4] and Raina Douris, a broadcast personality formerly associated with CFNY and CBC Radio 3, as music director and afternoon host.[5]

CIND-FM broadcast a full 24-hour online music stream throughout the period between its licensing date and its formal launch. On July 25, 2013, the station announced its formal launch date of July 31 at noon; at the same time, the station replaced its online stream, and went to air on 88.1 FM, with a temporary stunt format consisting of a constant loop of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up", copying an online phenomenon known as rickrolling.[6][7]

The first song played on the station on its July 31 launch was Arcade Fire's "Ready to Start".[6]

The July 31 date, however, was a soft launch for the station; throughout August, the station aired a continuous music format with no hosted programming except for "Throne of Glory", an afternoon drive program in which a guest personality was invited to play music of their own choosing. Cross hosted the first "Throne of Glory" on August 1; other personalities who hosted throughout the month include Hannah Georgas, Joel Plaskett, Adam van Koeverden, Wade MacNeil, Born Ruffians, Silversun Pickups, k-os, Torquil Campbell, METZ, July Talk, Raina Douris, The New Pornographers, Matt Mays, Jay Ferguson, Dave Hodge, Dan Mangan, Toronto Star music critic Ben Rayner, Tokyo Police Club, Matthew Good, Hollerado, Ed the Sock and Liana K (Steven and Liana Kerzner) and former CFNY personalities Don Berns and Dave Bookman.

The station officially launched on September 3 with its full complement of on-air personalities and regular features.[1][5] The station's regular schedule includes Brian Bailey, Candice Knihnitski, Matt Hart, Carlin and former CFNY personalities Bookman, Douris and LoriAnn Villani.[8] Cross was also heard on the station as a contributing personality, voicing some of the station's identification bumpers and hosting a weekday programming feature called "Crackle and Pop" in which he played rare and classic songs from his own archive of vinyl singles, until he rejoined CFNY in August 2014. The "Crackle and Pop" feature still airs on the station, now hosted by Bookman.

On November 1, 2013, the CRTC approved an application by the station to increase the average effective radiated power (ERP) of CIND-FM from 532 to 2,100 watts (maximum ERP increasing from 875 watts to 4,000 watts) and to decrease the effective height of antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 328.4 to 281 metres.[9] In the most recent available Bureau of Broadcast Measurement ratings, the station held a 1.3 share of the Toronto radio audience,[10] up from 0.8 in the prior ratings period.

On September 13, 2014, the station held the "Indie88 Birthday Bash" to celebrate its first birthday. The show, which took place at Toronto's Opera House concert hall, featured live performances by Lowell, The Darcys and Dan Mangan.[11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Spirit of radio in Toronto getting an indie twist". Globe and Mail. July 30, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Indie-rock station coming to Toronto". Toronto Star, September 11, 2012.
  3. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-485, Licensing of a new radio station to serve Toronto, CRTC, September 11, 2012
  4. ↑ "Alan Cross joins Indie 88.1 as station readies to air". BlogTO, May 24, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Indie 88 radio station marches to an independent drummer". Toronto Star, July 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Indie88, Toronto’s newest radio station, puts the listener in charge". National Post. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  7. ↑ "A new Toronto radio station is Rickrolling for a week". canada.com, July 25, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Indie 88/Toronto Officially Launched Today". alancross.ca, September 3, 2013.
  9. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-588, CIND-FM Toronto, CHES-FM Erin and CFRH-FM Penetanguishene –Technical changes and new transmitter, CRTC, November 1, 2013
  10. ↑ PPM Top-line Radio Statistics: Toronto CTRL, February 24 to May 25, 2014. Bureau of Broadcast Measurement.
  11. ↑ "Celebrate Indie88’s (Rickroll-free) first birthday". Toronto Life. September 9, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-09.

External links