CFWD-FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | Saskatoon metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.3 MHz (FM) |
| Branding | 96.3 Cruz FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Mainstream rock |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Harvard Media |
| History | |
First air date | April 2008 |
Call sign meaning | CF WireD (former branding) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 96,000 watts |
| HAAT | 179.1 meters (588 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | cruzfm.com |
CFWD-FM (96.3 FM, "96.3 Cruz FM") is a radio station in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Owned by Harvard Media, it broadcasts a mainstream rock format.
History
[edit]Licensed to Harvard Broadcasting on May 28, 2007,[1] the station was originally scheduled to launch on 92.3 FM. However, it applied for a change of frequency to 96.3 FM, citing the potential for third-adjacent interference to 92.9 The Bull.[2][3]
On April 9, 2008, the new station signed on and began stunting with Christmas music as Santa FM in preparation for its official launch; the campaign also featured publicists parading the streets of Saskatoon in Santa Claus costumes.[4] On April 11, 2008 at 3:00 p.m., the station officially launched with a CHR/Top 40 format branded as Wired 96.3.[5]
Wired 96.3 was known for their publicity stunts like smoking salvia on-air[6]
On November 16, 2012, Harvard laid off CFWD's on-air personalities and announced that Wired 96.3 would sign off that night at midnight; at that time the station returned to Santa FM for the holiday season in preparation for another change in format scheduled for December 26.[7] On December 26, 2012, at Noon, CFWD was relaunched as 96.3 Cruz FM, carrying an adult hits format.[8] The Cruz FM branding would later segue to a mainstream rock positioning, and be extended to other Harvard stations in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, and Yorkton.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ CRTC Decision 2007-155
- ^ CRTC Public Notice 2008-7
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-77
- ^ "New station jingles all the way". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Postmedia. Archived from the original on 2016-03-20. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- ^ "Radio station takes down the tree". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2016-03-20. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- ^ "Leave salvia alone". The Sheaf - The University of Saskatchewan Newspaper Since 1912. 2011-01-06. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ "Saskatoon radio station lays off staff". CBC News. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- ^ "96.3 Cruzes in Saskatoon". Radio Insight. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- ^ Thiessen, Connie (2025-02-24). "Harvard Media 'Rickrolls' Fort Mac ahead of CRUZ FM format tweak". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- CFWD-FM at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
- CFWD-FM in the REC Canadian station database