CHVO-FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador |
|---|---|
| Branding | KIXX Country 103.9 |
| Slogan | This is our country |
| Frequency | 103.9 MHz (FM) |
| First air date | October 1980 |
| Format | Country music |
| Former frequencies |
850 kHz (AM) (1980-1990) 560 AM (1990-2008) |
| Owner | Newcap Radio |
| Website | www.kixxcountry.ca |
CHVO-FM is a Canadian radio station in Carbonear, Newfoundland & Labrador, broadcasting at 103.9 FM. Owned by Steele Communications, a division of Newcap Radio, the station currently broadcasts a country music format branded as "103.9 KIXX Country".
CHVO first went on the air in 1980 as an AM affiliate of VOCM, although VOCM can be received in the Conception Bay North region without much difficulty. Originally broadcasting at 850 AM, the station moved to 560 in 1990, which was CHCM's old frequency.[1]
In 2000, Steele Communications, a division of Newcap Radio Inc. purchased CHVO and the other VOCM stations.[2] KIXX Country was originally a station in Corner Brook with call letters CKXX. Following the purchase of all commercial radio stations on the west coast of the province by Newcap, like many other Newcap stations on the island, CKXX re-branded from KIXX Country to Magic 103 with an adult contemporary/hot adult contemporary format, and shortly afterwards to 103.9 K-Rock with a classic rock format, the station's branding it currently holds to this day. KIXX Country was a longtime station in the area.
In August 2006, Newcap [3] received CRTC approval to move CHVO to the FM dial, at 103.9. The application stated that CHVO would maintain its current country music format. On July 4, 2007, CHVO was given approval by the CRTC to move to FM.[4]
The relaunched CHVO is the first FM country music station serving the Avalon Peninsula since sister station CKIX-FM in St. John's flipped to contemporary hits in 2002. It no longer carries VOCM network programming.
CHVO began test broadcasts on its new frequency, distinct from the broadcasts at 560 kHz, in late December 2007. The station's official launch was January 7, 2008. As per custom, the station was initially allowed to simulcast on AM until July 7 (six months after the launch). This was later extended until October due to technical issues with the FM signal which presently remain unresolved.[5]
In 2016 the station added a rebroadcaster in Clarenville, operating on 97.1 FM with the call sign CKLN-FM. This transmitter airs some separate commercials targeted to the Clarenville area, but originates no programming independently of CHVO.
References
External links
- KIXX Country 103.9
- CHVO history - Canadian Communications Foundation
- Query the REC's Canadian station database for CHVO-FM
Coordinates: 47°43′13″N 53°12′50″W / 47.72028°N 53.21389°W