| Broadcast area | Winnipeg Metropolitan Region |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.5MHz |
| Branding | Power 97 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic alternative |
| Affiliations | Winnipeg Jets |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| CJOB,CFPG-FM,CKND-DT | |
| History | |
First air date | May 27,1948 |
Former call signs | CJOB-FM (1948–1976) CHMM-FM (1976–1984) CKIS-FM (1984–1991) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | CRTC |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 93,900watts |
| HAAT | 184.6 meters (606 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | power97.com |
CJKR-FM (97.5MHz) is a Canadianradio station broadcasting inWinnipeg, Manitoba. It airs aclassic alternative format with the on-air brand name "Power 97". The station is owned and operated byCorus Entertainment, which also owns sister stationsCJOB andCFPG-FM. The studios and offices are located at201 Portage Avenue indowntown Winnipeg, while its transmitter is located on Brady Road in south Winnipeg.
CJKR was formerly the most powerful FM radio station in Canada, operating with 310,000watts. Most FM stations in Canada and the United States run 100,000 watts or less. Because CJKR-FM is one of the oldest FM stations in Canada, it wasgrandfathered with a much higher power.[1] (In Winnipeg,CBW-FM also operates with an unusually high power, 160,000 watts).[2] Following a fire to its transmitter in 2021, the station has been operating on reduced power, with plans to install a newHD Radio antenna operating at 93,900 watts.[3] Power 97 is simulcast onShaw Direct channel 860.[4]
The station firstsigned on the air on May 27, 1948 asCJOB-FM, an FMsimulcast ofCJOB.[5] The station applied to theBoard of Broadcast Governors (BBG) to move its broadcast frequency from 103.1 MHz to the current 97.5 MHz.[6] It began airing distinct programming in 1962, featured acountry format asCHMM-FM in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and then changed its format tosoft rock and itscall sign toCKIS-FM in 1984.[7] In the late 1980s, CKIS moved to arock format, which was not in compliance with its licence at that time. Eventually, the station was allowed to amend its licence, stick with the rock format, and changed its call letters toCJKR-FM in 1991. In the late 2000s, the station moved frommainstream rock toactive rock by reducing theclassic rock in its playlist, aiming at a youthful male audience.
In 2000,Western International Communications sold its Winnipeg stations to Corus Entertainment. In April 2010, Corus Radio Winnipeg announced the relocation of its radio broadcast facility to 1440 Rapelje Avenue (since renamedJack Blick Avenue), as part of a lease agreement between Corus Entertainment and Cadillac Fairview. The relocation toPolo Park was scheduled for January 2011. CJOB, CJGV-FM and CJKR-FM would become the anchor tenants. Corus Radio Winnipeg planned to occupy the second floor of the three-storey building, expanding its radio, production and business operations to 17,500 square feet (1,630 m2). At the time, general manager Garth Buchko said the stations had outgrown their 930 Portage Avenue facility. With the move, Corus Radio Winnipeg would also upgrade to state-of-the-art, fully digital on-air systems. At the end of February 2011, CJKR-FM completed the move to its new location at 1440 Jack Blick Avenue.
As of April 2021, the three stations are again back in downtown Winnipeg at 201 Portage Avenue. It is unknown when they were moved to this current location.
At Noon on January 29, 2015, after playing "Fade to Black" byMetallica, CJKR beganstunting with liners promoting that Winnipeg would be getting "bigger" the following day at 8 a.m., interspersed between 5-second clips of songs with the word "big" in them. At that time, CJKR flipped to aclassic rock format as97.5 Big FM, putting it in direct competition with long-time classic rock stationCITI-FM (although that station still plays currentrock songs describing itself asmainstream rock). The first song on "Big" was "Big Time" byPeter Gabriel. The new format was being described as a "homage to Winnipeg's rock heritage", with a playlist that is "familiar, and less predictable and has rock credibility".[8][9][10] In November 2015, veteran broadcaster Shadoe Davis was hired for "The Shadoe Davis Show" from 6-10am weekdays. In March, he was joined by another veteran Winnipeg broadcaster, Joe Aiello. "Shadoe & Joe" can now be heard together with traffic reports from Randy Parker and news with Kathy Kennedy.
On August 12, 2016, CJKR rebranded back toPower 97, and returned to its active rock format. The first song played on the newly relaunched "Power 97" wasGive It Away byRed Hot Chili Peppers.[11][12]
On October 5, 2020, it was announced that CJKR will serve as FM co-flagship of theWinnipeg Jets under a seven-year deal with Corus, with games airing in simulcast with sister AM stationCJOB.[13] During game broadcasts, CJKR's rock format is heard on the station's online stream.
On October 8, 2024, CJKR flipped toclassic alternative, while retaining thePower 97 branding.[14]
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49°46′57″N97°12′55″W / 49.78250°N 97.21528°W /49.78250; -97.21528
