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| Broadcast area | Edmonton Metropolitan Region |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.3MHz (FM) |
| Branding | 96.3 The Breeze |
| Programming | |
| Format | Soft adult contemporary,Christmas music (November 12 - December 26) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Stingray Radio |
| CFCW,CFCW-FM,CIRK-FM,CKJR | |
| History | |
First air date | November 15,1979 |
Call sign meaning | C K-Lite AlbeRtA (former branding and province) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 230.5 meters (756 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 53°25′9″N113°14′29″W / 53.41917°N 113.24139°W /53.41917; -113.24139 |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 963thebreeze.com |
CKRA-FM (96.3FM,96.3 The Breeze) is a radio station inEdmonton,Alberta. Owned byStingray Radio, it broadcasts asoft adult contemporary format. The station also airsChristmas music starting on the day afterRemembrance Day toBoxing Day. CKRA's studios are located inside theWest Edmonton Mall, alongside its metropolitan sister stationsCIRK-FM,CFCW, andCKJR, while its transmitter is located at Ellerslie Road and Provincial Highway 21, just southeast of Edmonton's city limits.
As of February 2021, CKRA is the most-listened-to radio station in the Edmonton market according to a PPM data report released byNumeris.[1][better source needed]
On April 17, 1979, CFCW Limited, owner ofCFCW inCamrose, received approval to operate a new FM station in Edmonton. There were ten other applicants for the new license, includingCHUM Limited, Radio Station CHED Ltd., CHQT Broadcasting Ltd., The Voice of the Prairies Ltd. (owners ofCFCN inCalgary), and Roger Charest. On November 15, 1979, CKRA signed on with analbum rock format. By early 1983, CKRA shifted toadult contemporary under the96 K-Lite FM moniker.[2][3][4][5] In 1989, CFCW Limited sold the station to current ownersNewcap Radio.
On January 13, 1995, at 3 p.m., after a three-hourstunt of a loop of "All I Wanna Do" bySheryl Crow, the station adopted the nameMix 96, and shifted to ahot adult contemporary format.[6] Several name and content changes occurred in2002 and2003. In the summer of 2002, CKRA adjusted its name to96.3 The Mix and incorporated more contemporary music into its playlist. During this time, the station opened a satellite "weekend" location on Edmonton's trendyWhyte Avenue. Local (former)A-Channel entertainment host Shannon Tyler was hired to co-host the morning radio show with B.J. Wilson.[7][8] On February 24,2003, CKRA once again re-branded as96X, "the hit music alternative" and retained itshot AC format, leaving R&B and hip-hop out of its playlist.[9] Ryan Waters joined the new morning show, working with Wilson and Tyler then hosting solo for 90 minutes of commercial free music. Mike Anderson (middays), Tim Riess (drive time) and Carly Kincaid (evenings) rounded out the air staff. Several on-air changes followed, including Anderson leaving Middays and focusing on M.D. duties. Riess hosted several dayparts, Waters returned to his former position as "Swing Announcer" and Chris Kuchar held down "Afternoon Drive" before returning to sister station 97.3 K-Rock.
Following the transition ofPower 92 to the hot AC-formattedPower 92.5 in June 2003, the station shifted toCHR/Top 40 and adopted the slogan "Edmonton's Only Hit Music Station", which (after Power 92 changed to adult hits) changed to "Edmonton's #1 Hit Music Station".[10] During this time, 96X moved its Whyte Avenue studio to a booth in Hudson's Canadian Tap House from where it began broadcasting during the evenings and on weekends. The station also began weekly broadcasts on Saturday nights from The Standard nightclub. 96X hoped to duplicate the success of Power 92, who targeted the younger demographics through "Power Parties" and would regularly broadcast from different clubs around Edmonton. Long-term success was not to be as 96X enjoyed one average and one top 6 rating result, the latter being the highest market share reached to date. At the time, Wilson and Tyler hosted the morning show, Carley Kincaid entertained middays, Tim Riess sat in the chair for PM drive, and Adam McKale was the evening DJ. 96X's popularity among younger listeners was bolstered by Power's flip to92.5 Joe FM, which aired avariety hits format. In the fall of2005, 96X's main studio moved from its old location in a 99th Street strip mall to a new facility in Phase 4 of theWest Edmonton Mall along withNewcap Broadcasting's other stations.
However, the entry ofCHBN-FM in February 2005 andCHDI-FM in April 2005 spelled disaster for 96X, whose market quickly dispersed over the upcoming months. In response, 96X segued torhythmic hot AC, which was unsuccessful in regaining listeners.
On December 12, 2005, the station flipped tocountry music asBig Earl 96.3 (pronounced as "96 dot 3"); the new format served as a companion to CFCW (which has afull-service,traditional country format), in an effort to compete with the market-leadingCISN-FM.[11][12] However,Big Earl was unsuccessful, and CKRA flipped toclassic hits as96.3 Capital FM on March 28, 2008. The change came shortly afteroldies stationCHQT announced that it would relaunch as anall-news station that May; the station's manager stated that the timing was coincidental, and denied thatCapital was a direct response.[13][14]
On December 26, 2018, CKRA flipped tosoft adult contemporary as96.3 The Breeze, along with sister stationCHLG-FM inVancouver.[15] In April 2021, as part of a restructuring by Stingray, the station dropped its local morning show in favour ofThe Morning Breeze from sister stationCKUL-FM in Halifax, which uses a mix of national and localized segments.[16]