CFBT-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = CFBT-FM


city = Vancouver, BC
area = Greater Vancouver
branding = The Beat 94.5
slogan = "Vancouver's #1 Hit Music Station"
airdate = February 2002
frequency = 94.5 MHz
format = Contemporary hit radio
power = 46,000 watts
erp =
class =
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = CTVglobemedia
licensee = CHUM Radio
webcast = [http://www.thebeat.com/player/player.cfm?AudioID=1 Listen live]
website = [http://www.thebeat.com The Beat 94.5]

CFBT-FM (identified on air and in print as "The Beat 94.5", with the slogan "Vancouver's #1 Hit Music Station") is a Canadian contemporary hit radio (CHR) radio station in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia. It broadcasts at 94.5 MHz on the FM band with an effective radiated power of 46,000 watts from a transmitter on Mount Seymour in the District of North Vancouver. CFBT is owned by CTVglobemedia, with studios located on West 2nd Avenue in Vancouver.

History

The CRTC began the application process for a new Vancouver FM station in the fall of 2000. There were eleven prospective applicants, reflecting the fact that the 94.5 MHz frequency was the last remaining high-power FM slot in the Vancouver market. On June 5 2001, Focus Communications was granted a licence to operate an Urban format. The station's call letters, CFBT-FM, were assigned in November of the same year, and an official launch date was set for March 4 2002. Test transmissions began in mid-February 2002. The station adopted a "soft start" launch wherein announcers and programming were gradually introduced over a period of several weeks.

In September 2004, CFBT changed its format to a CHR format, significantly decreasing the amount of hip hop and R&B on the stations playlist. This change was prompted by Z 95.3's move to a Hot AC format in August 2002.

On February 26, 2007, CHUM Limited (CHQM-FM, 1410 CFUN, and 1040 The Team) announced that it would acquire the station from previous owner Focus Entertainment Group. [cite web | url = http://www.milkmanunlimited.com/tunedin.htm | title = CHUM Buys The Beat | work = Milkman Unlimited | accessdate = February 26 | accessyear = 2007] The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the sale in October, and CTVglobemedia (CHUM's successor) assumed ownership on November 2, 2007.

The Beat Music Awards

The station conducts an annual local talent search, The Beat Music Awards. The winner of the competition gets to record four songs with the professional production team RockSTAR Music International.

The 2007 winner, Elise Estrada, scored a Top 40 hit on the Canadian charts in the summer of 2007 with "Insatiable".

References

External links

* [http://www.thebeat.com/ The Beat 94.5]
*RecnetCanada|CFBT-FM