About Power 97 (CJKR)

Power 97 (CJKR)

Power 97 (CJKR-FM) is Winnipeg's rock radio station — a Corus Entertainment outlet broadcasting on 97.5 MHz, and the most powerful FM station in Canada at 310,000 watts (grandfathered from its early days, when most FM stations are limited to 100,000 watts). The station first signed on May 27, 1948, as CJOB-FM simulcasting CJOB, and has worn the call signs CHMM and CKIS before becoming CJKR in 1991. On October 8, 2024, it flipped to classic alternative while retaining the Power 97 branding, and it serves as the FM co-flagship of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets.

Overview

CJKR-FM is a commercial FM station licensed to Winnipeg, Manitoba, owned by Corus Entertainment. It broadcasts on 97.5 MHz with 310,000 watts from a transmitter on Brady Road in south Winnipeg. Its studios are at 1440 Jack Blick Avenue at Polo Park (previously at 201 Portage Avenue and 930 Portage Avenue).

The station's format is classic alternative (flipped October 8, 2024, from active rock), retaining the "Power 97" brand. Its broadcast area covers the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, and it is simulcast on Shaw Direct channel 860. Sister stations in the Corus Winnipeg cluster include CJOB, CFPG-FM (Country 99), and CKND-DT (Global Winnipeg).

History

The station first signed on May 27, 1948, as CJOB-FM, an FM simulcast of CJOB. It moved from 103.1 to 97.5 MHz and began distinct programming in 1962. It featured a country format as CHMM-FM in the late 1970s and early 1980s, then changed to soft rock as CKIS-FM in 1984. In the late 1980s, CKIS moved to a rock format — not in compliance with its licence at the time — and was eventually allowed to amend its licence, keep the rock format, and change its call letters to CJKR-FM in 1991. In the late 2000s, it moved from mainstream rock to active rock, aiming at a youthful male audience.

At noon on January 29, 2015, after playing Metallica's "Fade to Black," CJKR flipped to classic rock as "97.5 Big FM," competing with CITI-FM; the first song was Peter Gabriel's "Big Time." On August 12, 2016, it rebranded back to Power 97 and returned to active rock, with Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Give It Away" as the first song. On October 8, 2024, CJKR flipped to classic alternative while retaining the Power 97 branding.

In 2000, WIC sold its Winnipeg stations to Corus Entertainment. In 2011, the stations moved to 1440 Jack Blick Avenue at Polo Park. On October 5, 2020, CJKR became the FM co-flagship of the Winnipeg Jets under a seven-year deal with True North, simulcasting games with CJOB; during game broadcasts, the rock format continues on the station's online stream.

Power 97 has one of the longest FM lineages in Western Canada — and a distinction no other station holds. It signed on May 27, 1948, as CJOB-FM on 103.1 MHz, inaugurated when Mrs. J.O. (Betty) Blick christened the FM tower atop the Lindsay Building with a champagne bottle; the aim was to have the first FM station between Toronto and Vancouver. The FM carried AM programs from 7 a.m. to midnight with a radius of about 35 miles, and by 1957 it was an independent station at 250 watts with no network affiliation. It applied to the BBG to move to the current 97.5 and began distinct programming in 1962.

The format changed with the decades: country as CHMM-FM in the late 1970s and early 1980s, soft rock and the CKIS-FM calls in 1984, then in the late 1980s a move to rock that initially didn't comply with the licence — eventually the station was allowed to amend the licence, stick with rock, and take the current CJKR-FM calls in 1991. In the late 2000s it moved from mainstream to active rock, trimming classic rock for a youthful male audience. Ownership moved from Western International Communications to Corus Entertainment in 2000.

Then came the branding adventures: at noon on January 29, 2015, after Metallica's "Fade to Black," the station stunted with "big"-themed song clips and liners promising Winnipeg would be "bigger" the next morning — and flipped to classic rock as 97.5 Big FM, first song Peter Gabriel's "Big Time," described as "an homage to Winnipeg's rock heritage," in direct competition with long-time classic rocker CITI-FM. Veteran broadcaster Shadoe Davis was hired for mornings in November 2015, joined by Joe Aiello in March 2016. On August 12, 2016, the station rebranded back to Power 97 with active rock — first song the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Give It Away."

On October 5, 2020, CJKR became the FM co-flagship of the Winnipeg Jets under a seven-year deal with Corus, airing games in simulcast with sister AM station CJOB (rock format continues on the online stream during games). On October 8, 2024, CJKR flipped to classic alternative while retaining the Power 97 branding.

The technical distinction: CJKR is the most powerful FM station in Canada at 310,000 watts — grandfathered from an era before the 100,000-watt norm (Winnipeg's 98.3 CBW-FM, at 160,000 watts, is another outlier). Its transmitter sits on Brady Road in south Winnipeg; the studios moved in early 2011 to 1440 Jack Blick Avenue at Polo Park, a state-of-the-art digital facility shared with CJOB and CJGV-FM. The station is also heard on Shaw Direct channel 860.

Programming

Power 97 plays classic alternative rock with the slogan "Winnipeg's Best Rock." Its programming has included morning shows, midday and afternoon drive hosts, and specialty programs such as "The Ongoing History of New Music" and "Vinyl Tap." The station is known for hosting rock concerts and events throughout Manitoba, and its Jets game simulcasts make it a sports destination on game nights.

Coverage and Audience

CJKR's 310,000-watt signal — the most powerful FM signal in Canada — covers the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and well beyond. The station targets rock fans, competing with Rogers' CITI-FM, Pattison's alternative outlets, and streaming services.

The Big FM experiment's launch mechanics show how deliberately Corus approached the flip. Three days after Corus laid off five of its on-air personalities, word leaked that Power 97 would move to a new format — and on January 30, 2015, the station launched 97.5 Big FM with a non-stop commercial-free weekend, premiering its lineup on Monday, February 2. The Big Morning Show with Jay Richardson and Jolene Lebsack led the new lineup, and the playlist was explicitly built around Manitoba natives — Neil Young, The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Tom Cochrane — alongside Bon Jovi, the Stones, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, U2, Billy Joel, and John Mellencamp. General manager Scott Armstrong called it filling "the greatest hole in the market," mixing pure classic rock with pop-influenced big hits; the target shifted from Power's 18–39 (70/30 male) to 30–50, skewing slightly male at 55% — a demo Armstrong said would bring "better value" to advertisers. Power 97 personalities TJ Connors and Holly Bausman lost their jobs in the change. The context was ratings: CJKR had registered a 2.6 share in fall 2014, down from 4.2 in the spring.

The October 2024 flip kept the Power 97 name but changed the promise: "Power 97, Winnipeg's Iconic Alternative" — greatest new wave, grunge, and classic alternative hits, in line with Corus's earlier rebrand of Calgary's CFGQ as 107.3 The Edge. Veteran music journalist Alan Cross serves as ambassador, bringing his long-running series The Ongoing History of New Music; the lineup runs Power Mornings with Jay Richardson, middays with Lex, Power Afternoons with Ed Garcia, and evenings and weekends with Fearless Fred, while Vickie Shae moved down the hall to sister station Country 99 for afternoon drive. The station's history — from 1948 FM pioneer to rock heritage to classic alternative — is a map of changing rock tastes.

Ownership

CJKR-FM is owned and operated by Corus Entertainment. Corus acquired the station in 2000 as part of its purchase of Western International Communications' Winnipeg stations. The station was previously owned by WIC (1948–2000).

Digital Presence

Power 97 streams live through Corus's digital platforms and maintains active social media accounts promoting its hosts, concerts, and contests. The station is associated with the power97.com web portal; Wikipedia lists power97.com as the station's official website.

The station's history — from the 1948 CJOB-FM launch through the CHMM, CKIS, Big FM, and Power 97 eras — is documented by the Canadian Communications Foundation's broadcasting-history.ca project and in CRTC licensing records.