CFIT-FM is a Canadian radio station that broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format on 106.1 FM in Airdrie, Alberta. The station is now owned by Golden West Broadcasting. The station played more pop/rock music than its competing station CHFM-FM. The launch of the station in 2007 was the first time that two modern FM radio stations started operating in Calgary.
In 2011, in response to CIGY-FM’s shift to adult hits, the station changed its format from a contemporary rock contemporary to a more modern adult contemporary format, leaving CHFM-FM as the only adult contemporary station in Calgary and with a continuity of rock music on its playlist. It was also the largest English-language adult contemporary radio station in Canada. Similar to CKNO-FM in Edmonton, the station mixed classic hits despite not being reported by Mediabase & Nielsen BDS’ Canadian AC Hot Stations, Calgary is the largest market in Canada with two English AC hot stations, the other being CKCE-FM.
History
On August 2, 2006, Tiessen Media received approval for an FM license in Airdrie with a transmitter in Cochrane. In February 2007, Tiessen Media received approval to operate an FM repeater in Cochrane at 95.3 MHz.
On November 25, 2008, Tiessen Media applied to change the frequency of its Cochrane CFIT-FM-1 transmitter to 91.5 MHz. This application was approved on March 9, 2009.
On March 17, 2011, the station changed its permitted contours by increasing its average effective radiation power (ERP) from 3000 to 60,000 W (maximum ERP from 6000 to 100,000 W with an effective antenna height above average terrain of up to 40 meters). This application to increase the ERP was approved by the CRTC on September 8, 2011. In early 2011, the change of ownership of the station to Golden West Broadcasting was approved by the CRTC.
On December 7, 2011, Range changed its brand to Air 106.1 and changed its format to 40 of the most popular adult contemporary adult titles, adding more rhythmic contemporary titles. All pre-1989 titles were dropped and are now heard on the affiliate station CKUV-FM.
In 2015, Golden West applied to turn CFIT-FM-1 in Cochrane into a separate country station on the same frequency, broadcasting news and information relevant to the community. However, the CRTC rejected the application, citing concerns that the station would potentially have to rely on seeking advertising outside of Cochrane to be economically viable in the current environment, and that this could dilute stations located in Calgary. The CRTC approved a revised application in 2018, which debuted on October 24, 2019 as CKXY-FM.