CIND-FM (88.1 MHz), branded as Indie88, is an FM radio station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The station, which broadcasts an adult album alternative format, had its "soft launch" on July 31, 2013, and had its official launch on September 3, 2013.[1][2]
 | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Toronto Area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 88.1 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Indie88 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult album alternative |
| Subchannels | HD2: Active rock "Real Rock Toronto" HD3: Alternative rock |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Local Radio Lab Inc. |
| History | |
First air date | July 31, 2013 |
Call sign meaning | C INDie (branding) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 4,800 watts average 12,000 watts peak |
| HAAT | 281 meters (922 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) Listen Live (HD3) |
| Website | indie88.com realrocktoronto.com (HD2) |
The station is owned by Local Radio Lab Inc. Indie88, as the station is branded, places a priority on on-air and online interaction with its audience.[1]
Indie88's offices and studios are located on Hanna Avenue in Toronto's Liberty Village, while its transmitter is located on top of First Canadian Place in Toronto's Financial District.
History
editOn September 11, 2012, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved an application by Rock 95 Broadcasting Ltd. (which operates as Central Ontario Broadcasting) to operate on 88.1 MHz, which was formerly used by CKLN-FM from 1983 to 2011.[3] Staffing announcements made before the station's launch included Megan Bingley (general manager), Adam Thompson (program director), Alan Cross, former announcer and program director of CFNY-FM, and Raina Douris, a broadcast personality formerly associated with CFNY and CBC Radio 3.[4]
CIND-FM broadcast a full 24-hour online music stream throughout the period between its licensing date and its formal launch. On July 25, 2013, the station announced its formal launch date of July 31 at noon; at the same time, the station replaced its online stream and began test broadcasts on 88.1 FM, stunting with a loop of "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley (in a reference to the Rickroll meme).[5][6]
The first song played on the station on its July 31 launch was Arcade Fire's "Ready to Start".[5]
The July 31 date, however, was a soft launch for the station; throughout August, the station aired a continuous music format with no hosted programming except for "Throne of Glory", an afternoon drive program in which a guest personality was invited to play music of their own choosing. Cross hosted the first "Throne of Glory" on August 1; other personalities who hosted throughout the month include Hannah Georgas, Joel Plaskett, Adam van Koeverden, Wade MacNeil, Born Ruffians, Silversun Pickups, k-os, Torquil Campbell, METZ, July Talk, Raina Douris, The New Pornographers, Matt Mays, Jay Ferguson, Dave Hodge, Dan Mangan, Toronto Star music critic Ben Rayner, Tokyo Police Club, Matthew Good, Hollerado, Ed the Sock and Liana K (Steven and Liana Kerzner), former CFNY personality Dave Bookman and former CFNY program director and personality Don Berns.
The station officially launched on September 3 with its full complement of on-air personalities and regular features;[1][4] the station's regular schedule included Douris, Bookman, Brian Bailey, Candice Knihnitski, Matt Hart and Carlin Burton.[7] Cross was also heard on the station as a contributing personality, voicing some of the station's identification bumpers and hosting a weekday programming feature called "Crackle and Pop" in which he played rare and classic songs from his own archive of vinyl singles, until he rejoined CFNY in August 2014. The station has also since added Brent Albrecht and Sarah Burke to its roster.
On November 1, 2013, the CRTC approved an application by the station to increase the average effective radiated power (ERP) of CIND-FM from 532 to 2,100 watts (maximum ERP increasing from 875 watts to 4,000 watts) and to decrease the effective height of antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 328.4 to 281 metres (1077' to 922').[8] In the most recent available Numeris ratings, the station held a 1.3 share of the Toronto radio audience,[9] up from 0.8 in the prior ratings period.
On September 13, 2014, the station held the "Indie88 Birthday Bash" to celebrate its first birthday. The show, which took place at Toronto's Opera House concert hall, featured live performances by Lowell, The Darcys and Dan Mangan.[10]
In 2015, former CBC Radio 3 host Lana Gay joined the station, while in early 2016, Bailey departed for reasons unknown.
After a months-long transitional period, Indie88 began its new regular schedule on April 11, 2016. Douris moved from afternoons to join Matt Hart as new co-host of the morning show, with Candice stepping back to report only news and weather, in light of her impending maternity leave. In the afternoon slot vacated by Douris, Lana Gay was appointed the new permanent afternoon drive host.
Douris left the station in fall 2016 to join CBC Radio 2, with Knihnitski returning as Hart's morning cohost. In 2017, former CFNY-FM personality Josie Dye joined the station as cohost of the morning show with Hart and Burton.[11]
Bookman died on May 20, 2019, approximately one month after suffering an aneurysm which had left him in intensive care.[12] On May 29, the station aired a special fundraising radiothon, "A Day to Make Music Count", to raise money in his memory for MusiCounts, the music education initiative of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.[13] The broadcast raised over CA$69,000, significantly exceeding the station's CA$50,000 goal.[13]
In October 2023, Central Ontario Broadcasting announced a deal to sell the station to Local Radio Lab, a company established by former Haliburton Broadcasting Group president Christopher Grossman, pending CRTC approval.[14]
Dye left the station in 2023 to join CHUM-FM,[15] with Burton and Albrecht now hosting the morning show. In 2024, comedian Jackie Pirico also joined the morning show as co-host.
On July 29, 2024, the CRTC approved the sale of CIND to Local Radio Lab.[16] Local Radio Lab also owns CJML-FM in Milton, CKMO-FM in Orangeville, and CIMA-FM in Alliston.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Spirit of radio in Toronto getting an indie twist". Globe and Mail. July 30, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- ^ "Indie-rock station coming to Toronto". Toronto Star, September 11, 2012.
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-485, Licensing of a new radio station to serve Toronto, CRTC, September 11, 2012
- ^ a b "Indie 88 radio station marches to an independent drummer". Toronto Star, July 26, 2013.
- ^ a b "Indie88, Toronto's newest radio station, puts the listener in charge". National Post. July 31, 2013. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
- ^ "A new Toronto radio station is Rickrolling for a week". canada.com, July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Indie 88/Toronto Officially Launched Today" Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine. alancross.ca, September 3, 2013.
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-588, CIND-FM Toronto, CHES-FM Erin and CFRH-FM Penetanguishene –Technical changes and new transmitter, CRTC, November 1, 2013
- ^ PPM Top-line Radio Statistics: Toronto CTRL, February 24 to May 25, 2014 Archived September 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Bureau of Broadcast Measurement.
- ^ "Celebrate Indie88's (Rickroll-free) first birthday". Toronto Life. September 9, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ^ "New morning show for Toronto’s Indie88". Media in Canada, March 16, 2017.
- ^ "Toronto radio host Dave (Bookie) Bookman of Indie88 dies at 58". CTV News, May 21, 2019.
- ^ a b "In Memory of Dave "Bookie" Bookman Donate To MusiCounts". Samaritan Mag, May 23, 2019.
- ^ Connie Thiessen, "Local Radio Lab to acquire Indie88 pending CRTC approval". Broadcast Dialogue, October 3, 2023.
- ^ Connie Thiessen, "Josie Dye joins CHUM 104.5". Broadcast Dialogue, January 12, 2024.
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2024-170 CIND-FM Toronto - Change in ownership and effective control, CRTC July, 29, 2024
External links
edit- Indie88
- CIND-FM at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
- CIND-FM in the REC Canadian station database