Acadia Broadcasting introduced a new Modern Rock station to Halifax on Monday morning. CKHY-FM is now Surge 105, launching with the Black Keys tune “Gold On The Ceiling” at 8 a.m. AT.
Surge 105 “Where Halifax Rocks” will feature artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arkells, Foo Fighters, Sloan, and City and Colour. Acadia says the blend of new music and ’90s-based rock is aimed at drawing in listeners in the coveted 25-45 demo.
For now, the station is airing music only with Station Manager Scott Pettigrew indicating they’ll announce a new on-air team “in the near future.”
Acadia Broadcasting took over operation of CKHY-FM and CKHZ-FM (Hot Country 103.5) from HFX Broadcasting (a subsidiary of Evanov Communications) this spring.
Carrying Evanov’s Jewel 105 branding since Jan. 2019 and playing Soft AC, the station briefly operated as Active Rock station Rock 105 in an attempt to go head-to-head with local ratings powerhouse Q104 (CFRQ-FM). Prior to that, it broadcast as the alt-leaning Live 105, which attracted a loyal base of listeners, but was not a ratings performer, finishing its final ratings period with a 3.3 share (12+).
“We believe there is a segment of the population in Halifax that is underserved when it comes to this format and we are looking to fill that hole,” Pettigrew told Broadcast Dialogue in an email. “We see space for both Surge 105 and Q104 to co-exist very nicely in the market.”
With the rebrand, former Jewel 105 morning show host Barry Rogers makes his exit, in addition to production manager/announcer Lee Rodgers.
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