Frequency 89.9 MHz (FM) Format Top 40 (CHR) | Branding Hot 89.9 First air date February 7, 2003 | |
Slogan Ottawa's #1 Hit Music Station | ||
CIHT-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 89.9 FM in Ottawa, Ontario with a CHR format branded as Hot 89.9. The station is owned and operated by Newcap Radio. CIHT's studios are located on Antares Drive in Nepean, while its transmitter is located in Camp Fortune, Quebec.
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History
The station was licensed by the CRTC in 2001 to broadcast a Rhythmic CHR/dance format known as "The Planet 89.9". The station launched on February 7, 2003 as "The New Hot 89.9" under a rhythmic CHR format, but flipped to its current format after 105.3 Kiss FM signed on the air in 2004. Both CIHT and CHBN-FM in Edmonton share the distinction of having been shifted from rhythmic top 40 to Top 40 in less than a year after their 2003 sign-ons.
Ottawa was the largest market Newcap owned radio stations until its expansion into Toronto and Vancouver in 2014, thanks to the purchase of five stations from a blind trust being run by Bell Media as part of their merger with Astral Media. Even while they were the only English top 40 station in Ottawa, it is one of the few top 40 stations in Canada to continue supporting older music, making CIHT lean towards more of a hot adult contemporary direction than most top 40 stations in Canada, but on March 31, 2014, CIHT picked up new competition with CKQB's flip from active rock to a rhythmic-leaning Top 40/CHR presentation as "JUMP 106.9," a move that prompted CIHT to back off from the Hot AC fare and become more hit-driven with more currents.
The station carries a syndicated national show, the Canadian Hit 30 Countdown, which is a locally produced show hosted by Mauler and Rush.
April Fool's Day Contest
On April 1, 2010, the station temporarily changed its name to "Ho 89.9" as part of a contest. According to the station, the "T" from the slogan has been stolen, and there is a $10,000 cash prize to be awarded to the listener who follows the clues to locate the hidden "T". Three clues were given out daily.
The missing "T" was found at "Rooms by Design" on Highway 31 in Greely.