CKPW-FM (107.1

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...

, ''Play 107'') is a

radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...

Edmonton Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

. Owned by

Harvard Media Harvard Media, formerly Harvard Broadcasting is a radio broadcasting and digital media company in Canada. It is owned by The Hill Companies of Regina. Radio stations * Calgary, Alberta - CFEX-FM * Edmonton, Alberta - CKEA-FM, CKPW-FM * Fort McMu ...

, it broadcasts a

rhythmic adult contemporary Rhythmic adult contemporary, often abbreviated as rhythmic AC or RAC, is an adult contemporary radio format. The format focuses primarily on rhythmic hits aimed towards an adult audience, often resembling a mixture of the classic hits and hot adult ...

format. Its studios are located on the

Calgary Trail Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, making ...

, while its transmitter is located in Acheson.

History

On October 17, 2008, the CRTC approved an application by John Charles Yerxa for a new

FM radio FM broadcasting is a method of radio broadcasting using frequency modulation (FM). Invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong, wide-band FM is used worldwide to provide high fidelity sound over broadcast radio. FM broadcasting is cap ...

station in Edmonton, which would feature a "diverse" format of new popular music aimed towards teens and young adult demographics. CJNW-FM started testing on September 16, 2009 (under the working title ''New 107 FM''), and officially launched on October 6, 2009 as

rhythmic contemporary Rhythmic contemporary, also known as Rhythmic Top 40, Rhythmic CHR or rhythmic crossover, is a primarily American music-radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip hop and upbeat R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary never uses ...

''Hot 107 FM''.Yerxa's HOT 107 Launches
/ref> John Yerxa is the son of Hal Yerxa, a former broadcaster at

CFCA-FM CFCA-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 105.3 FM in Kitchener, Ontario. The station currently plays a Top 40/CHR format branded as ''105.3 Virgin Radio'' and is owned by Bell Media. CFCA's studios and offices are located in Wate ...

, and was the only local station owner in Edmonton. On December 21, 2011, the CRTC approved the sale of CJNW-FM from Yerxa to

Harvard Broadcasting Harvard Media, formerly Harvard Broadcasting is a radio broadcasting and digital media company in Canada. It is owned by The Hill Companies of Regina. Radio stations * Calgary, Alberta - CFEX-FM * Edmonton, Alberta - CKEA-FM, CKPW-FM * Fort McMu ...

Regina, Saskatchewan Regina () is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province, after Saskatoon, and is a commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. As of the 2021 C ...

, making it a sister station to

CKEA-FM CKEA-FM (95.7 MHz, ''95.7 Cruz FM'') is a radio station serving Edmonton, Alberta. Owned by Harvard Media, it broadcasts a rock-leaning classic hits format. CKEA's studios are located on Calgary Trail in Edmonton, while its transmitter is loca ...

. Yerxa cited health issues as a factor in the sale.

Power 107 and trademark dispute

On August 15, 2019, the station flipped to a

format (promoted by Harvard Media as "rhythmic

classic hits Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes songs from the top 40 music charts from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, with music from the 1980s serving as the core of the format. Music that was popularized by MTV in the early 1980s ...

") format as ''Power 107''. The new format focuses mainly on pop,

rhythmic Rhythmic may refer to: * Related to rhythm * Rhythmic contemporary, a radio format * Rhythmic adult contemporary, a radio format * Rhythmic gymnastics, a form of gymnastics * Rhythmic (chart) The Rhythmic chart (also called Rhythmic Airplay, and ...

, and

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...

hits from the 1990s and 2000s, along with some recurrents. The station changed its call letters to CKPW-FM to match the new branding. The "Power" brand was formerly used by

CKNG-FM CKNG-FM is a radio station broadcasting at 92.5 FM in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The station plays an adult hits format branded on-air as ''Chuck @ 92.5''. CKNG's studios are located on 84th Street in southeastern Edmonton, while its transmitte ...

during their run as a

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...

station from 1991 through 2004. This prompted that station's current owner

Corus Entertainment Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian mass media company. Formed in 1999 as a spin-off from Shaw Communications, it has prominent holdings in the radio, publishing, and television industries. It is headquartered at Corus Quay in Toronto, Onta ...

to file a trademark lawsuit against Harvard in October 2019, alleging that CKPW's branding and imaging was deliberately intended to trade upon the goodwill of the "Power" brand, including use of a similarly-designed black and white logo, and use of a nearly-identical catchphrase for its "phrase that pays" promotion. Corus previously held trademarks on the names "Power 92" and "Power 107" (the latter for CFGQ-FM in Calgary), but they expired in 2015 due to non-renewal. It continues to hold a trademark on the previous "Power" logo, which was renewed through 2033. On November 18, 2019, a Calgary court approved an injunction by Corus Entertainment, ordering Harvard to cease using the "Power" name or any variation of it. Harvard stated that it would not attempt to continue pursuing the matter in court, and planned to seek suggestions for a new name from listeners (who would also be entered in a contest to win $1,007). CKPW rebranded as ''Play 107.1'' on December 20, 2019. In the

Numeris Numeris (formerly the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement, or BBM Canada) is a Canadian audience measurement organization. Established on May 11, 1944 as a division of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, Numeris is the primary provider of viewers ...

November 2019—February 2020 report, CKPW held a 3.1 audience share, increasing to 4.3 in the spring report. In September 2020, Harvard would extend the "Play" format to Regina sister station

CHMX-FM CHMX-FM (92.1 MHz, ''Play 92'') is a radio station in Regina, Saskatchewan. Owned by Harvard Media, it broadcasts a rhythmic adult contemporary format. History The station was launched on February 4, 1966 by Metropolitan Broadcasting with the ...

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ckpw-Fm KPW KPW Rhythmic adult contemporary radio stations Radio stations established in 2009 2009 establishments in Alberta