CFLZ-FM

CFLZ-FM is a Canadian radio station that serves the Buffalo-Niagara Falls border area, broadcasting at 101.1 FM in Fort Erie, Ontario. CFLZ's studios are located on Ontario Avenue in Niagara Falls, Ontario, while its transmitter is located near Fort Erie. It is also the highest rated Canadian station in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region, according to Nielsen Audio.

CFLZ-FM
CityFort Erie, Ontario
Broadcast areaBuffalo, New York, Niagara Region, Ontario
Frequency101.1 MHz (FM)
Branding101.1 More FM
SloganThe best of the 70s, 80s and 90s
Programming
FormatAdult hits
Ownership
OwnerByrnes Communications Inc.
Sister stationsCJED-FM
History
First air dateJuly 1, 1986 (AM)
1991 (FM)
Former call signsCJFT (1986-1991)
CKEY-FM (1991-2011)
Former frequencies530 AM (1986-1991)
Call sign meaningC-Niagara Fallz (for the station's studio on Ontario Avenue in Niagara Falls)
Technical information
ClassB
ERP50,000 watts
HAAT76.5 meters (251 ft)
Links
Websitewww.101morefm.ca

History

Early years

The station was launched on Canada Day (July 1) 1986, at 5:30 p.m. as AM 530 CJFT, playing a Top 40 format. Afternoon drive personality Alan Chonka signed CJFT on the air.[1] It moved to FM in 1991, adopted the CKEY-FM call letters, and flipped to adult standards.[2] (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.)

On August 26, 1994, at noon, the station switched to alternative rock as "FM 101 The Planet." By 1996, the station shifted to dance music (similar to CING-FM in nearby Hamilton) while retaining the "Planet" moniker. It was an affiliate of "Pirate Radio" with Chris Sheppard.

On August 21, 1996, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved CJRN 710 Inc.'s application to increase CKEY-FM transmitter from 8,670 watts to 19,700 watts. The Commission also approved the application to amend the broadcasting licence for CKEY-FM by authorizing the licensee to add a transmitter at St. Catharines, operating on frequency 101.1 MHz (channel 266A) with an effective radiated power of 150 watts with a callsign CKEY-FM-1. The Commission notes that this transmitter has been operating on an experimental basis for some time and is a co-channel, synchronous repeater of CKEY-FM Fort Erie.[3]

On November 14, 1997, the dance format was dropped in favour of a modern AC format (which later shifted to Hot AC), branded as "The River". 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.[4] On September 6, 2002, at 6 AM, the hot AC format moved to sister station CFLZ-FM, and CKEY adopted a rhythmic top 40 format branded as "WiLD 101". 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.[5] 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"-branded station in Canada. 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, CJRN 710 Inc. 2005-1146-1 (December 19, 2005) [6][7]

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 licence condition requiring a minimum three hours per week of locally oriented news programming. In its 2007 licence renewal, the station was only granted a two-year licence period.[8]

Z-101
CFLZ-FM-era Z101.1 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. Another station, CKBT-FM in Kitchener, Ontario (which debuted as rhythmic top 40 in 2004, only to go top 40 in 2005), retains the rhythmic lean. Just like similar stations CIDC-FM-Toronto and CKHZ-FM-Halifax, the station pronounces it "Zee" instead of "Zed". In the case of CFLZ, the station is most likely using the American pronunciation due to the station primarily serving Buffalo at this time (but would later shift its focus to the Niagara Region).

In 2010, the Haliburton Broadcasting Group applied to buy CKEY-FM and sister station CFLZ-FM.[9][10][11] The transaction received approval on June 8, 2011.[12]

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 and Nielsen BDS. 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 station.

In late 2011, the station adopted the CFLZ-FM callsign which had been used by its sister station, now known as CJED-FM. As the station's signal has always targeted the Buffalo market and does not fully cover the Niagara Region, the station applied to the CRTC and received approval to deploy a co-channel repeater (CFLZ-FM-1) that is located in south St. Catharines.

On April 23, 2012, Vista Broadcast Group, which owns a number of radio stations in western Canada, announced an agreement to acquire the station and CJED-FM from Haliburton Broadcasting, in cooperation with Westerkirk Capital.[13] The transaction was approved by the CRTC on October 19, 2012.[14]

As a result of ongoing issues with the St. Catharines repeater causing interference, Vista had filed an application with the CRTC to take it off the air and remove it from the licence.

2Day FM
Logo as 2Day FM, 2013-2016

On September 20, 2013, at noon, after playing "This Is What It Feels Like" by Armin van Buuren, CFLZ shifted its brand to the "2Day FM" brand, simulcasting with sister station CJED-FM. The first song on "2Day FM" was "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke.

In May 2014, the licence for CFLZ-FM's repeater (CFLZ-FM-1 101.1 MHz) in St. Catharines was revoked. Vista says the transmitter was shut down last September.

Logo while branded as "Juice FM"

On April 30, 2014, Vista filed an application with the CRTC to amend the station's broadcasting licence.[15] On December 8, 2014, the CRTC denied the application and cited Vista for being in non-compliance with various conditions of the licence including converting the station to a full-time rebroadcasting transmitter for CJED-FM without prior approval by the commission. New conditions were placed upon the licensee.[16][17] CFLZ-FM was taken off the air shortly thereafter. It was returned to air on December 19, 2014, apparently continuing to simulcast to CJED-FM.

Juice FM

On July 15, 2016, at 6:13 a.m., CFLZ discontinued simulcasting CJED-FM and switched to Vista Radio's "Juice" format, broadcasting an adult hits format consisting of hits from the 1980s to today.[18][19] On January 15, 2018, Byrnes Communications Inc. acquired CFLZ and sister station CJED-FM with approval from the CRTC.[20] Byrnes Communications took control of CFLZ on 1 February 2018.

More FM

On March 1, 2018, the station re-branded as "101.1 More FM", playing songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Because of the station's programming, More FM competes with WHTT-FM, WBUF and WGRF in Buffalo and CIXL-FM in Welland.

In September 2019, More FM announced that their signal might be temporarily weakened due to transmitter work. The work would be done to improve the present transmitter and allow CFLZ to broadcast at 50,000 Watts full-time. At the time of the announcement, the only "50,000 Watters" in the area were CHTZ-FM and CHRE-FM.

gollark: But obviously not actually audio formatted.
gollark: Er. Tape.
gollark: I also have a disk filled with Chuck Norris jokes.
gollark: Near you obviously.
gollark: Then I'll play it on a portable tape thing!

References
  1. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. "ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 86-141". www.CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  2. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. "ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 90-1099". www.CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  3. Decision CRTC 96-440, Increase power for CKEY-FM and addition of a transmitter, CRTC, August 21, 1996
  4. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. "ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2001-378, Transfer of shares and control, estate purposes - CJRN 710 Inc". www.CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  5. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (April 30, 2003). "ARCHIVED - Application by CJRN 710 Inc". www.CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2011-04-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (21 February 2006). "ARCHIVED - Ownership applications granted approval". www.CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  8. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (June 20, 2007). "ARCHIVED - CKEY-FM Fort Erie and its transmitter CKEY-FM-1 St. Catharines - Licence renewal". www.CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  9. New radio station owner thrilled with Niagara market Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine Niagara Falls Review, 2010
  10. Two Niagara Falls radio stations sold Archived 2010-12-04 at the Wayback Machine, Niagara Falls Review, 2010
  11. CRTC Notice of Consultation 2011-188-3 CRTC, April 13, 2011
  12. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. "ARCHIVED - CFLZ-FM Niagara Falls and CKEY-FM Fort Erie and its transmitter CKEY-FM-1 St. Catharines - Acquisition of assets". www.CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  13. "Westerkirk Capital Acquires Vista and Haliburton Broadcast Groups" Archived 2013-09-23 at the Wayback Machine. Broadcaster, April 26, 2012.
  14. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. "ARCHIVED - Various radio programming undertakings – Acquisition of assets". www.CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  15. Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (May 24, 2016). "Closed Part 1 Applications". CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  16. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. "CFLZ-FM Fort Erie - Licence amendment". www.CRTC.gc.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  17. nurun.com. "CRTC says Fort Erie station 'non-compliant'". Niagara Falls Review. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  18. "Juice Flows Into Niagara Falls - RadioInsight". RadioInsight.com. July 15, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  19. nurun.com. "Niagara station 101.1 gets new name, format". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  20. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-12, CJED-FM Niagara Falls and CFLZ-FM Fort Erie – Acquisition of assets, CRTC, January 15, 2018

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