CKNO-FM

CKNO-FM
Broadcast areaEdmonton Metropolitan Region
Frequency102.3 MHz
Branding102.3 Now! Radio
Programming
FormatHot adult contemporary
Ownership
OwnerJim Pattison Group
CIUP-FM
History
First air date
February 23, 2010
Call sign meaning
CK NOW! Radio (branding)
Technical information
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
53°31′54.7″N 113°46′52.2″W / 53.531861°N 113.781167°W / 53.531861; -113.781167
Links
Website1023nowradio.com

CKNO-FM (102.3 MHz, 102.3 Now! Radio) is a radio station in Edmonton, Alberta. Owned by the Jim Pattison Group, it broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format.

As of Feb 28, 2021, CKNO is the top radio station in the Edmonton market according to a PPM data report released by Numeris. [1]

History

Logo until 2021

The station received approval by the CRTC on October 17, 2008,[2] and officially launched on February 23, 2010 as 102.3 Now! Radio.[3] At launch, Rawlco's programming director Doug Pringle stated that Now! Radio would have a large focus on music from singer-songwriters, uninterrupted blocks of music as long as 90 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 a.m. daily, and encourage DJs to engage in topical discussions. The Crash & Mars morning show from Regina, Saskatchewan sister station CIZL-FM also relocated to CKNO.[3]

On July 10, 2014, Rawlco announced the sale of CKNO and sister station CIUP to the Jim Pattison Group.[4]

Since the acquisition, Pattison has extended the Now! format and branding (which carries a focus on topical discussions) to sister stations, such as CKPK in Vancouver, and CHNW-FM in Winnipeg; however, these two stations would both drop the format in favour of modern rock in 2024.[5][6] CKCE-FM in Calgary also uses a similar format, but as Today Radio.[7][8] It has also syndicated the Crash & Mars show to sister stations, often as a replacement for local morning shows due to cost cutting measures.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Winter 2021 PPM Data". Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  2. ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-288, Licensing of new radio stations to serve Edmonton, Alberta, CRTC, October 17, 2008
  3. ^ a b Elizabeth, Withey (2010-02-24). "New radio station at 102.3 FM launches in Edmonton". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 2010-04-03. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  4. ^ "Edmonton radio stations Now! and Up! sold to Pattison broadcast group". Edmonton Journal. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ Thiessen, Connie (2024-06-07). "Pattison revives 102.7 The Peak in Vancouver". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  6. ^ Thiessen, Connie (2024-10-31). "Pattison Media drops NOW! radio format in Winnipeg". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  7. ^ "102.7 Now Radio Debuts in Vancouver". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  8. ^ Venta, Lance (June 30, 2022). "Rogers Launches Sonic Radio Vancouver". RadioInsight. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  9. ^ "As Broadcast Radio Struggles to Compete, Morning Show Hosts Are Losing Their Jobs". Billboard. July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.