About OZ FM (CHOZ)

OZ FM (CHOZ)

OZ FM (CHOZ-FM) is St. John's heritage rock radio station — owned by the Stirling family's Newfoundland Broadcasting (Stirling Communications International), broadcasting on 94.7 MHz with 100,000 watts. Launched June 15, 1977, at 93.9 FM as "The New Radio OZ, The Rock of the Rock!" — the Newfoundland equivalent of Geoff Stirling's CHOM-FM in Montreal — it was the province's most popular FM station through most of the 1990s on the strength of its eclectic morning show "The Dawn Patrol." Its main transmitter is in St. John's, with additional transmitters across the island.

Overview

CHOZ-FM is a commercial FM station licensed to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, owned by Stirling Communications International (Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Ltd.). It broadcasts on 94.7 MHz with 100,000 watts (Class C), with additional transmitters throughout Newfoundland.

The station's format has shifted over the years — from full-time rock to CHR/classic rock, hot AC, and active rock — currently listed as hot adult contemporary/mainstream rock with the enduring slogan "The Rock of the Rock." Sister stations include CJON-DT (NTV), Newfoundland and Labrador's independent television station, and The Newfoundland Herald weekly.

History

The station launched June 15, 1977, at 93.9 FM, soon after Geoff Stirling sold his interest in what is now CJYQ. It was originally a full-time rock station known as "The New Radio OZ, The Rock of the Rock!" In 1984, CHOZ moved from 93.9 to 94.7 FM.

During most of the 1990s, OZ FM was the most popular FM station in the province and in the St. John's market, driven by the eclectic morning show "The Dawn Patrol." By the early 2000s, strengthened competitor Newcap (now Stingray) — owner of VOCM — began splitting CHOZ's market by converting VOCM-FM to classic rock and launching CKIX-FM as contemporary hits, while Coast Broadcasting's CKSJ-FM launched in 2004.

The station transitioned through formats: CHR/classic rock under the "OZFM" brand, active rock from August 17, 2009, hot AC from 2012, and CHR/classic rock again from 2023. Its "Jigs and Reels" block showcases traditional Newfoundland music.

OZ FM launched June 15, 1977, on 93.9 FM, soon after Geoff Stirling sold his interest in what is now CJYQ — one of the various media properties of the Stirling family, alongside television station CJON-DT (Newfoundland Broadcasting Company / Stirling Communications International). It was originally a full-time rock station, "The New Radio OZ, The Rock of the Rock!" — perhaps intended as the Newfoundland equivalent of other Stirling stations such as CHOM-FM Montreal. It eventually transitioned into a CHR/classic-rock hybrid under the OZ FM brand, keeping "The Rock of the Rock" slogan. On August 1, 1984, CHOZ was approved to move to 94.7 FM.

Through most of the 1990s it was the most popular FM station in the province and in the core St. John's market, driven largely by the eclectic morning show The Dawn Patrol — hosted by Randy Snow, Deborah Birmingham, and Larry Jay. In the summer of 2003, Snow left for rival CKIX to host his own morning show; his replacement was Brian O'Connell, who left the VOCM Morning Show to join OZFM. By 2004 the station was shifting toward hot adult contemporary with slogans like "More Music, More Variety" and "Newfoundland's #1 FM Station." O'Connell became station manager of the OZ FM Network in April 2007 (hosting the daily Electric Lunch), then left for Stingray, with staff announcer Paul Kinsman replacing him alongside Dawn Patrol veterans Birmingham and Jay.

On August 17, 2009, CHOZ changed to active rock; then at midnight on January 2, 2012, it unexpectedly flipped back to hot AC with the new slogan "Today's Best Music" — ending the longtime "Rock of the Rock" slogan and resurrecting the heart-and-rainbow logo used from the late 1980s to 2007, surfacing on the Mediabase Canadian hot AC panel the following month. In 2023 it returned to its classic rock roots while maintaining a mix of current hits.

The station's superpower is its network: CHOZ can claim the largest audience of any FM station in the province largely because it is the only station with a province-wide network of transmitters all carrying identical programming, accumulated for ratings as a single station. On March 1, 2012, the CRTC even approved multicasting CHOZ-FM on a sub-channel of CJON-DT — the FM signal had inadvertently appeared on the TV sub-channel after the digital facilities were set up, and Newfoundland Broadcasting argued it was a beneficial extra technical means to reach listeners; with no interveners, the Commission agreed. In fall 2012, two repeaters (CKSS 96.9 Red Rocks and CIOS 98.5 Stephenville) were deleted for aged, disrepair towers — though CIOS Stephenville was ultimately kept on air at 4,270 watts.

Programming

OZ FM plays a mix of rock and pop hits spanning the 1980s through the 2000s, with traditional Newfoundland music in its "Jigs and Reels" segments. The station's programming includes morning and drive-time shows, community events, and the long-running traditions that made it a Newfoundland institution. Its playlist leans heavily on familiar favorites, with syndicated programming such as the Bryan Adams Radio Show.

Coverage and Audience

CHOZ's 100,000-watt signal covers the St. John's area, with retransmitters across Newfoundland extending its reach island-wide. The station competes with Stingray's K-Rock (VOCM-FM), Hot 99.1 (CKIX), and Coast 101.1 for music listeners.

OZ FM's deep community ties show in its long promotional history. As a corporate partner of the St. John's Maple Leafs (AHL), the station ran the "Seasons to Remember" promotion in October 2004 for the team's 14th season: Dawn Patrol contestants heard three statements about Maple Leafs history and picked which of three consecutive dates the events happened on, with daily winners receiving tickets to the October 21 home opener against the Syracuse Crunch and the grand-prize winner dropping the ceremonial puck at opening ceremonies.

The station's sound has always been distinctive in its dayparting. Listeners who grew up with OZ remember Casey's Top 40 / American Top 40 and Rick Dees' Weekly Top 40 as weekend staples — the station was a familiar carrier of the syndicated countdowns — and a dayparted identity that one long-time listener described as hot AC-leaning CHR/pop from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. shifting to rock and classic rock after 6 p.m. That split personality reflects Newfoundland's distinct music taste: a province-wide network that must serve both contemporary and heritage appetites in the same broadcast day.

Ownership

CHOZ-FM is owned by Stirling Communications International (Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Ltd.), the Stirling family's media company. Geoff Stirling founded the station in 1977; it remains one of the family's media properties alongside CJON-DT and The Newfoundland Herald.

OZ FM's digital home is ozfm.com, with studios at 446 Logy Bay Road, St. John's (A1C 5S2) and a published line at 709-576-6936. The station streams online, reaching Newfoundlanders beyond the transmitter network — including the diaspora that keeps the station's Newfoundland-music identity alive from afar.

Digital Presence

OZ FM streams live online and maintains an active web presence. The station maintains social media accounts promoting its hosts, contests, and events. The station is associated with the ozfm.com web portal; Wikipedia lists ozfm.com as the station's official website.

The station's history — from the 1977 "Rock of the Rock" launch through the Dawn Patrol heyday to the present — is documented by the Canadian Communications Foundation's broadcasting-history.ca project and in CRTC licensing records.