CKDK-FM

Infobox Radio station


name = CKDK-FM
airdate = 1997
frequency = 103.9 MHz (FM)
city = Woodstock, Ontario
format = classic hits
owner = Corus Entertainment
erp = 50 kW [http://www.thehawk.ca/home/NewsInfo/AdvertiseWithus/tabid/415/Default.aspx Coverage Map]
branding = 103.9 The Hawk
slogan =
class = C2
website = [http://www.thehawk.ca/ www.thehawk.ca]
webcast = [http://www.fm96.com/shared/player/?id=ckdkfm @thehawk.ca]
callsign_meaning =

CKDK, branded as 103.9 The Hawk, is a radio station owned by Corus Entertainment and based in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada that transmits at 50,000 watts at 103.9 MHz on the FM dial. Until August 2008, the station primarily played classic rock; it has since evolved to a 1960s-1980s oldies/classic hits playlist.

The station primarily plays classic rock music. Although based in Woodstock, the station primarily targets the larger London, Ontario market. This station can be heard from London and Strathroy in the west, to Georgetown in the east, covering much of Western Ontario, broadcasting to a potential audience of around 1.5 million people. Under the right conditions, CKDK programming can also be heard in parts of metropolitan Detroit.

Popular shows under the former classic rock format included the "McArthur in the Morning ", "Little Steven’s Underground Garage" and "The Legends of Classic Rock". The station's slogan is "Playing the Greatest Rock and Roll of All Time, 103.9 The Hawk". "The Legends of Classic Rock" is syndicated from Q107 in Toronto, and is heard on all Corus-owned classic rock stations.

History

CKDK began broadcasting on AM 1340 in 1947 as CKOX. The call letters changed to CKDK in 1977, and moved to FM 102.3 in 1986. It moved to the current 103.9 in 1993, known at the time as "K104" with an adult contemporary format. The station joined the Energy Radio network in 1998, simulcast from CING-FM in Burlington. On January 12, 2000, CKDK and sister station CFHK 103.1 in St. Thomas, swapped formats, but not call letters. The Hawk format on CFHK was originally an "alternative format", like FM96, but this was changed to a classic rock format on December 21, 1997.

CKDK became highly focused on London once it joined the Energy Radio network, leaving Woodstock without a local radio station. In 2004, competing Standard Radio filed a complaint with the CRTC accusing owner Corus Entertainment of "neglecting" Woodstock by operating CKDK out of London. Corus subsequently moved some of its operations for CKDK to Woodstock, and Byrnes Communications received approval to start up a new station in Woodstock, CIHR-FM.

On July 16, 2008, The Hawk introduced a new on air imaging package, changing their slogan to "The Greatest Rock N' Roll of All Time". The station's format and imaging is now similar to those of sister stations CFMK-FM in Kingston and CILQ-FM in Toronto.

In early August 2008 the station officially changed their playlist from classic rock to classic hits, however it had slowly been changing for over a year. The station has added rebroadcasts of Casey Kasem's "American Top 40" shows from the 1970s as part of its new image.

The Hawk Rocks the Park

The Hawk Rocks the Park is an annual concert put on by The Hawk in Harris Park in London. All proceeds from the concert go to the Bethany's Hope Foundation.

External links

* [http://www.thehawk.ca/ CKDK]
* [http://provisioning.streamtheworld.com/asx/CKDKFM.asx The Hawk Live Audio]
* [http://www.rockthepark.ca Rocks The Park Site]
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