City Halifax, Nova Scotia Slogan 90's to Now Format Hot AC | Branding Mix 96.5 Frequency 96.5 MHz (FM) | |
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First air date August 30, 1990 as CIEZ-FM | ||
CKUL-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 96.5 FM in Halifax, Nova Scotia. CKUL's studios are located on Kempt Road in Halifax, while its transmitter is located on Washmill Lake Drive in Clayton Park. The station currently broadcasts a Hot AC format branded as Mix 96.5. The station is owned by Newcap Radio which also owns sister station CFRQ-FM.
Based on the current format, CKUL-FM competes with CIOO-FM.
History
After receiving CRTC approval on March 5, 1990, the station first went on the air on August 30 of that year as "96.5 Sun FM", under the original call letters CIEZ-FM originally with an easy listening/beautiful music format. Shortly thereafter, the station became adult contemporary. In 2003, the station became adult hits, branded as "FM 96.5", and on November 1, 2004, the station rebranded as "96.5 Kool FM", and adopted its current call letters. The adult hits format evolved into classic hits over the years.
The station was operated for several years as a joint venture between Newcap Radio and CHUM Limited (later purchased by CTVglobemedia), as part of their five-station "Metro Radio Group" local marketing agreement, later disbanded by order of the CRTC. In 2007, both companies received approval to convert their remaining AM stations in the market, CFDR and CJCH respectively, to the FM band, which would give each company two wholly owned FM stations in the Halifax market, the maximum permitted under current CRTC regulations.
Newcap later acquired CTV's share of CKUL, while announcing the sale of CFDR to Rogers Radio, which became CFLT-FM.
On August 26, 2013, at Noon, after playing "Thank You for Being a Friend" by Andrew Gold, CKUL-FM flipped to AAA, branded as "Radio 96.5." The first song on "Radio" was "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons.
On February 25, 2016, at 4 p.m., after playing "Electric Love" by Borns, CKUL-FM flipped to Hot AC, branded as "Mix 96.5". The first song played on "Mix" was "Adventure of a Lifetime" by Coldplay. The format change occurred a month after former CKHZ-FM program director Dan Barton joined Newcap to program CKUL. Unlike its new competitor CIOO, CKUL's playlist leans towards rock material.