CFIT-FM


CFIT-FM is a Canadian radio station that broadcasts an adult top 40 format at 106.1 FM in Airdrie, Alberta. The station is currently owned by Golden West Broadcasting. The station played more pop/rock music other than its rival station, CHFM-FM, which has since been rebranded to 95.9 Kiss FM, but still played soft rock as well as pre-1979 titles. The station's launch in 2007 marked the first time Calgary began having two adult contemporary stations on FM.
In 2011, regarding CIGY-FM flipping to adult hits, the station switched formats from a rock-leaning adult contemporary to more of a modern adult contemporary, leaving CHFM-FM as Calgary's only adult contemporary station and regarding the continuity of rock music in its playlist. It was also the largest English-language modern adult contemporary radio station in Canada. Like CKNO-FM in Edmonton, the station mixed in classic hits, and despite not reporting to Mediabase & Nielsen BDS' Canadian hot AC panels, Calgary is the largest market in Canada having two English hot AC stations, with the other station being CKCE-FM.

History

On August 2, 2006, Tiessen Media received approval for an FM licence at Airdrie, with a transmitter at Cochrane. In February 2007, Tiessen Media received approval to operate an FM rebroadcaster at Cochrane on the frequency 95.3 MHz.
On November 25, 2008, Tiessen Media applied to change the frequency of its Cochrane transmitter CFIT-FM-1 from 95.3 MHz to 91.5 MHz. This application received approval on March 9, 2009.
On March 17, 2011, the station applied change the authorized contours by increasing the average effective radiated power from 3,000 to 60,000 watts. This application for increasing the ERP was approved by the CRTC on September 8, 2011. In early 2011, the station's ownership change to Golden West Broadcasting was approved by the CRTC.
On December 7, 2011, the Range changed their branding to Air 106-1, and shifted its format to adult top 40 from modern adult contemporary by adding more rhythmic contemporary titles. All the pre-1989 titles were dropped as well as they are now heard by its CKUV-FM sister station.
In 2015, Golden West submitted an application to convert CFIT-FM-1 in Cochrane to a standalone country station on the same frequency, carrying news and information relevant to the community. However, the application was rejected by the CRTC, citing concerns that the station would potentially have to rely on soliciting advertising outside of Cochrane in order to be economically viable in the current conditions, and that it could dilute Calgary-based stations. The CRTC approved a revised application in 2018, which debuted on October 24, 2019 as CKXY-FM.