CJMX-FM

Infobox Radio Station
name = CJMX-FM


area = Sudbury, Ontario
branding = EZ Rock
slogan = Sudbury's music at work.
airdate = 1980
frequency = 105.3 MHz (FM)
format = adult contemporary
erp = 100 kW
class = C
owner = Rogers Media
website = [http://www.ezrocksudbury.com/ EZ Rock Sudbury]
callsign_meaning =

CJMX is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts an adult contemporary format at 105.3 FM in Sudbury, Ontario. The station uses the on-air brand EZ Rock. The station is owned by Rogers Media.

History

CJMX was established in 1980 by F. Baxter Ricard, the owner of Sudbury's CHNO and CFBR. The stations became part of Mid-Canada Radio in 1985, and were then sold to the Pelmorex Radio Network in 1990. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/1990/DB90-676.HTM Decision CRTC 90-676] ] Pelmorex's ownership of the stations was controversial, as most of their programming was delivered by satellite from a facility in Mississauga. Under Pelmorex's ownership, the station was branded as Mix 105, and aired a more hot adult contemporary format.

After a change in CRTC media ownership rules, Pelmorex sold CJMX to Telemedia, the owner of CJRQ and CIGM, in 1998. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/1999/DB99-38.HTM CRTC Decision 99-38] .] In April 1999, shortly after the Telemedia purchase was finalized, CJMX dropped its hot adult contemporary format in favour of the softer EZ Rock format. Pelmorex subsequently sold its other stations in Sudbury to Haliburton Broadcasting Group.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, CJMX overtook former ratings leader CJRQ in the market, based in part on actively promoting itself as a station suitable for workplace listening. In 2006, however, it lost that status to a resurgent CHNO after the latter station flipped to an adult hits format.

Telemedia was acquired by Standard Broadcasting in 2002, but Standard sold the EZ Rock stations in Northern Ontario to Rogers before the main acquisition had closed and received regulatory approval. [ [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-92.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-92] ]

Under Rogers ownership in 2002, the station laid off several employees, including Dave Lindsay, afternoon drive time disc jockey and president of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union Local 725-M, which represented staff at CJMX and CHNO [ [http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-020722.html NorthEast RadioWatch] , July 22, 2002.] . Lindsay was replaced in the shift by program director Mike Allard. It was alleged in the press that Lindsay may have been targeted as a union leader, and the layoff was contested; eventually, Lindsay returned to the afternoon shift.

In late October 2004, a fire damaged a transmission line at the transmitter that knocked CJMX off the air for 25 hours. A replacement antenna was brought in from Thunder Bay to get the station back on the air. The station went back to its regular 100 kW power months after the fire. [ [http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2004/041101/nerw.html NorthEast Radio Watch] , November 1, 2004.]

References

External links

* [http://www.ezrocksudbury.com/ CJMX]
* [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php?id=288&historyID=311 CJMX History at Canadian Communications Foundation]
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