1 of 1- paterson1
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FM 96 London Celebrates 75 Years
Kept forgetting to post regarding CFPL FM London celebrating their 75th Anniversary this year. The actual anniversary was May 15th and the station is still running promos signifying the event.
FM 96 was the third FM station in Canada taking to the airwaves in 1948 as a simulcast of CFPL AM. The simulcasts didn't last long as CFPL FM began airing their own programming in 1949. That same year they moved to their current frequency of 95.9 broadcasting at 4,400 watts.
In 1961 the station took a big leap in power to 179,000 watts and at this time played classical music and an affiliate of the CBC FM network. Disaffiliating from CBC in 1972, the station adopted a variety music mix and was known as Stereo 96.
1979 saw the music change to a more adult contemporary sound and an early form of Americana based music that featured more acoustic contemporary music. The station's slogan was "FM 96 Rockin' Easy."
Late 1980/1981 a gradual move to heavier rock based music and at some point around 1982, CFPL FM replaced CFPL AM as the most popular station in the London market. With a large coverage area FM 96 became popular with American listeners in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and SW New York state.
For many years now the Corus owned FM 96 has had an active rock/alternative leaning format.
Happy 75th Birthday CFPL FM!
Last edited by paterson1 (July 27, 2023 10:25 am)
- tvguy
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Re: FM 96 London Celebrates 75 Years
In 1976, the Blackburn Family - owners of the Free Press, CFPL AM and FM and TV were prepared to give FM 96 away...likely at no cost. They had considered assigning the licence to the CBC. There was overall frustration with "foreground" programming obligations, and programming costs. I recall a meeting with top lieutenants of the company, attended by myself and another on-air broadcaster who worked at the station. We argued that the future was FM. Seems to be a very long time ago. Management "heard" our arguments, and the give-away never took place. I suspect that this was a very fortuitous decision, given the value of the station/frequency in the decades that followed. Bear in mind that at that time, there was very little competition on FM in London, which had CJBX country, Radio Fanshawe, - an an out of market station from Tillsonberg - CKOT. I don't think that Woodstock had a very strong signal in the city of London at that time. You could hear some Erie and Cleveland FM stations but reception was spotty. Those were the days of a semi-monopoly on FM...
Last edited by tvguy (July 27, 2023 12:03 pm)
- paterson1
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Re: FM 96 London Celebrates 75 Years
1976 might have been around the time that there was some pressure on the Blackburn's to divest one of their properties in London. Some felt that the family owned too much of the local media and therefore potentially had too much influence.
The Blackburn Group did own the only local daily paper, the only TV station, the only free circulation weekly/advertiser, a marketing research firm, and two of the six or seven radio stations in town. With the exception of FM 96, all were quite profitable. In 1976 CFPL AM made the money for radio, so it isn't surprising that they would consider selling the FM which likely had never turned a profit or maybe occasionally break even.
In 1980 there was a royal commission on media concentration. The 1981 Kent commission report didn't find any evidence of undue influence in news or major issues in the London market with the various Blackburn properties.
CFPL did a good job keeping news departments separate. In fact TV/radio/newspaper operations rarely shared information since they were more like competitors. TV and newspaper operations were totally separate in different buildings. Radio news and studios although in the Free Press building were in another section of the large premises, away from the Free Press newsroom.
I am sure the company was happy they kept FM 96 which eventually became a ratings and revenue winner, just as CFPL AM was slowly starting to slide. Hope they appreciated your good advice tvguy!
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Thread Starter- darcyh
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Re: FM 96 London Celebrates 75 Years
When I moved to London in 1975 CFPL was the only FM in town. It was mostly beautiful music. They did have a Saturday night oldies show with "Smitty". CJBX 92,7 went on air in 1980 and CIXX (6X) Fanshawe College 106.9 sometime in the early 80's. For a time 6X played some rock music but moved over to mostly hip hop.