CFWD-FM
{{short description|Radio station in Saskatchewan, Canada}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = CFWD-FM
| logo = 963CruzFMCFWD.png
| logo_size = 200px
| city = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
| area = Saskatoon metropolitan area
| branding = 96.3 Cruz FM
| airdate = April 2008
| format = Mainstream rock
| erp = 96,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|179.1|meters}}
| class = C1
| callsign_meaning = CF WireD (former branding)
| former_callsigns =
| owner = Harvard Media
| webcast = [https://listen.streamon.fm/cfwd Listen Live]
| website = [http://www.cruzfm.com/ cruzfm.com]
}}
CFWD-FM (96.3 FM, "96.3 Cruz FM") is a radio station in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Owned by Harvard Media, it broadcasts a mainstream rock format.
History
Licensed to Harvard Broadcasting on May 28, 2007,[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/db2007-155.htm CRTC Decision 2007-155] the station was originally scheduled to launch on 92.3 FM. However, it applied for a change of frequency to 96.3 FM, citing the potential for third-adjacent interference to 92.9 The Bull.[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/pb2008-7.htm CRTC Public Notice 2008-7][http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/db2008-77.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-77]
On April 9, 2008, the new station signed on and began stunting with Christmas music as Santa FM in preparation for its official launch; the campaign also featured publicists parading the streets of Saskatoon in Santa Claus costumes.{{cite news |title=New station jingles all the way |work=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix |publisher=Postmedia |url=http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=2b3f4df6-2c4d-452c-848b-69cfed580c53 |url-status=dead |accessdate=11 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320024644/http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=2b3f4df6-2c4d-452c-848b-69cfed580c53# |archive-date=2016-03-20}} On April 11, 2008 at 3:00 p.m., the station officially launched with a CHR/Top 40 format branded as Wired 96.3.{{cite news|title=Radio station takes down the tree|url=http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=ea2e5bed-7be4-46b7-8614-1d47379b94c9|accessdate=11 March 2016|work=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320030155/http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=ea2e5bed-7be4-46b7-8614-1d47379b94c9#|archive-date=2016-03-20|url-status=dead}}
Wired 96.3 was known for their publicity stunts like smoking salvia on-air{{Cite web |date=2011-01-06 |title=Leave salvia alone |url=https://thesheaf.com/2011/01/06/leave-salvia-alone/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=The Sheaf - The University of Saskatchewan Newspaper Since 1912 |language=en}}
On November 16, 2012, Harvard laid off CFWD's on-air personalities and announced that Wired 96.3 would sign off that night at midnight; at that time the station returned to Santa FM for the holiday season in preparation for another change in format scheduled for December 26.{{cite web|title=Saskatoon radio station lays off staff|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatoon-radio-station-lays-off-staff-1.1193957|website=CBC News|accessdate=11 March 2016}} On December 26, 2012, at Noon, CFWD was relaunched as 96.3 Cruz FM, carrying an adult hits format.{{cite web|title=96.3 Cruzes in Saskatoon|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/80206/96-3-cruzes-in-saskatoon/|website=Radio Insight|accessdate=11 March 2016}} The Cruz FM branding would later segue to a mainstream rock positioning, and be extended to other Harvard stations in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, and Yorkton.{{Cite web |last=Thiessen |first=Connie |date=2025-02-24 |title=Harvard Media 'Rickrolls' Fort Mac ahead of CRUZ FM format tweak |url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/harvard-media-rickrolls-fort-mac-ahead-of-format-tweak/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Broadcast Dialogue |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.cruzfm.com/}}
- [https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-stations/saskatchewan/CFWD-FM CFWD-FM] at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
- {{RecnetCanada|CFWD-FM}}
{{Saskatoon Radio}}
{{coord|52|10|28|N|106|26|04|W|type:landmark_region:CA|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cfwd-fm}}