City Edmonton, Alberta Frequency 97.3 MHz (FM) Format Classic rock | Branding K-97 First air date 1949 | |
Slogan Edmonton's Only Classic Rock Station | ||
CIRK-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 97.3 FM in Edmonton, Alberta. The station uses the on-air brand name K-97 with a classic rock format and is owned by Newcap Radio and prior to 2008, it was known as K-Rock. CIRK's studios are located inside the West Edmonton Mall, while its transmitter is located at Ellerslie Road and Provincial Highway 21, just southeast of the Edmonton city limits.
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CIRK is currently ranked #7 in the Edmonton market according to the Fall 2014 Numeris data report.
History
CIRK signed on the air in 1949 as CJCA-FM, originally located at 99.5 MHz as an FM simulcast of CJCA. It later began programming separately from CJCA between 5:50 p.m. and midnight on Monday to Friday, 5:50 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Saturday and 5:00 p.m. to midnight on Sunday. The station switched to its current frequency and call sign in 1975 and became known on-air in 1979 as K-97, becoming an Edmonton favourite during the 1980s. In the mid-1980s, CIRK was broadcast crystal clear throughout North America as a secondary audio frequency on channel 18 of Canadian satellite Anik D. For many years, mornings were hosted by Bruce Kenyon.
The station has a reputation of keeping long term talented announcers. Rob Berg since the early 1980s and Melissa Wright mid 1990s.
In 1997, the station was rebranded as K-Rock. In 1998, CIRK was purchased by Newcap Broadcasting, who already owned CKRA-FM and CFCW in the city. Through much of the next five years the station regained its success, however in the early part of 2007, the station has struggled in the ratings, with public firings of new and long time staff members. CIRK had rebounded to be the 5th most listened to radio station in Edmonton. As of July 7, 2008, the station returned to the old K-97 branding.
On February 10, 2009 the station announced that the morning team of Terry, Bill, and Steve would be returning after almost three years off the air. The Terry, Bill, and Steve Show dominated Edmonton ratings from 2000-2005. The show returned on February 23, 2009.
K-97's features include a classic Led Zeppelin song at 10:00PM every night called "Get The Led Out", as well as a classic AC/DC song at 3:00PM on a short segment called "AC/D @ 3". Other daily features include 97 Minutes of Non-Stop Classic Rock at 9:00am, the All Request Nooner and Classic Vinyl at 6:00pm.
As of 2015...Terry Evans with Bill Cowen in the morning. Melissa Wright 9am-3pm. Rob Berg 3pm-7pm. Todd James 3pm-Mid. Jake Taylor and Karl Douglas WKNDS.
Rebroadcasters
CIRK-FM also operates on a number of low-power FM transmitters.
Alberta
CIRK-FM was a rebroadcaster in Jasper, Alberta with local tourist information and has changed to its current call letters CJAG-FM.