WINNIPEG – Wednesday marked a historic day in Winnipeg radio as Rogers Broadcasting, officially turned off Oldies KY58 AM, and launched a brand new radio station, 102 CLEAR FM.
The station “aims to put the magic back in radio, providing an exciting format for an audience that has been largely ignored for the past few years,” says the press release.
The switch to FM for CKY marks the end of an era for the Winnipeg station, which has been operating for over 81 years. Once dubbed as “Manitoba’s Friendly Giant” the 50,000-watt CKY is Canada’s biggest signal, crossing 6 borders, heard in three provinces and three U.S. states. “CKY led the country in innovative and unique promotions and hired disc jockeys who are still revered throughout the industry today,” says Rogers’ press release.
CKY launched in 1923 as an arm of the Manitoba government, which at the time, had an agreement with the Federal government to control radio broadcasting in the province, according to the Canadian Communications Foundation. In 1948, the CBC bought it and changed its call letters and frequency. However, CKY was revived in 1949 by Manitoba broadcaster Lloyd Moffat. The Moffat family owned the station until 1992, when it sold its radio holdings in the city to Rogers.
On its final morning, CKY morning man, Don Percy, one of Canada’s legendary broadcasters, was joined by a cast of former CKY announcers, city dignitaries and old friends of CKY to say “thanks for the memories” and bid a fond farewell to what has become an institution in Winnipeg, in Canada, and in the broadcasting industry.
“In order for us to stay economically viable in this highly competitive marketplace, we had to seize the opportunity to launch a new FM station,” said Geoff Poulton, vice-president and general manager for the Rogers stations. “But we are very aware of the impact that KY58 has had in Winnipeg which is why we wanted to celebrate the station and all its memories. It was important to us that Don be given the chance to give KY58 a proper send-off. The last thing we wanted to do was simply pull the plug without any notice.”
CRTC regulations prohibit an oldies format on FM which meant that KY58 could not be broadcast on the FM band.
“This is a bittersweet day for us. On one hand we say good-bye to a good friend in KY 58 while on the other we welcome a dynamic new radio station to Winnipeg,” added Poulton.
In 2024 Roger’s Broadcasting Ltd. applied for and received approval to launch a new FM station in Winnipeg, which was contingent on Rogers relinquishing its current AM license. Rogers also owns Winnipeg’s CITI FM.
The new station is designed for adults with an emphasis on women. “102 Clear FM will play a lot of music that is not currently heard in Winnipeg radio and it’s designed for long listening. Our research clearly showed that listeners, especially female listeners, felt abandoned when Magic left the air. They felt there was not a radio station for them in Winnipeg anymore. The feedback was extraordinary,” said Gayle Zarbatany, program director. “These listeners were very clear on what was missing in Winnipeg radio.”
Magic was the old FM format of CHUM’s current BOB FM, which now leads the Winnipeg ratings.
102 Clear FM will mix the best music of today with the songs and artists they know and love from the ’80s and ’90s.
“The one thing we hear loud and clear”, added Zarbatany, “was that the station needed to reflect a lifestyle and it needed to sound and feel upbeat. We are so excited about 102 Clear FM. The way the station feels and sounds we believe it will be a huge success.”
102 Clear FM, which will retain the call letters CKY, can be heard at 102.3 FM and will be simulcast on 580 AM for three months.
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