CHAY-FM
{{short description|Radio station in Barrie, Ontario}}
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{{More citations needed|date=July 2016}}
{{Original research|date=May 2012}}
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{{Infobox radio station
| logo = CHAY-FM.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| format = Rhythmic-leaning CHR
| owner = Corus Entertainment
| licensee = Corus Radio Company
| name = CHAY-FM
| city = Barrie, Ontario
| area = Central Ontario
| branding = Fresh 93.1
| airdate = May 21, 1977
| frequency = 93.1 MHz
| erp = 100,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|303.5|meters}}
| class = C1
| callsign_meaning = "CHAY" is a Huron greeting loosely translated to "good day"
| sister_stations = CIQB-FM
| webcast = [http://player.931freshradio.ca/ Listen Live]
| website = [http://www.931freshradio.ca/ 931freshradio.ca]
}}
CHAY-FM (93.1 MHz) is a Canadian radio station in Barrie, Ontario. The station airs a Rhythmic-leaning CHR format, using its on-air brand name as Fresh 93.1. The station is owned by Corus Entertainment.
History
CHAY signed on the air originally with a hybrid easy listening/beautiful music format on May 21, 1977, but changed to more of an adult contemporary format the following decade with the decline of beautiful music on FM radio. The station was initially broadcast from a 1,000 foot tower just south of Barrie that it had shared with local television station CKVR-TV. On September 7 of that year, a small plane crashed into the tower, destroying the building and killing everyone on board. Toronto station CHIN-FM assisted CHAY in temporarily restoring its signal until the tower was replaced one year later.
In 1989, CHAY moved to more of a mainstream adult contemporary format. Throughout the transition period, the station continued to attract an audience of a quarter million listeners per week.
On October 15, 2000, CHAY flipped to a rhythmic contemporary/CHR format as Energy 93.1, simulcasting some programming from its sister station CING-FM in Hamilton. In 2003, the station returned to its adult contemporary format as The New CHAY 93.1 FM. In 2008, the station was rebranded to FM93, Barrie's Fresh Music Mix, but kept the same AC format.
On March 11, 2011, the station flipped to an adult hits format as CHAY TODAY @ 93.1 FM; by summer 2014, the station moved back to an upbeat mainstream adult contemporary format.
On May 15, 2015, CHAY re-branded as 93.1 Fresh Radio with a hot AC format. CHAY became the eighth Corus radio station to adopt the "Fresh Radio" branding.{{cite web|title=Fresh Start for CHAY|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/92946/fresh-start-for-chay/|website=Radio Insight|date=14 May 2015 |accessdate=16 May 2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://formatchange.com/chay-becomes-fresh-radio-93-1/|title=CHAY Becomes Fresh Radio 93.1|date=15 May 2015}}
On April 1, 2016, Shaw Media was sold to Corus Entertainment.
In 2019, the station was slightly re-branded to Fresh 93.1 with a Rhythmic-leaning CHR format.
Former logos
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.931freshradio.ca/|Fresh 93.1}}
- [https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-stations/ontario/ontario-central/CHAY-FM CHAY-FM] at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
- {{RecnetCanada|CHAY-FM}}
{{Barrie}}
{{Simcoe County, Ontario Radio}}
{{Contemporary Hit Radio Stations in Ontario}}
{{Corus Entertainment}}
{{coord|44.4361|N|79.7298|W|display=title}}
Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in Canada
Category:Rhythmic Top 40 radio stations in Canada