CJRP-FM
| Branding | CKO-2 |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 103.5 MHz (FM) |
| First air date | 2003 as CFHA |
| Format | Christian country music |
| Former callsigns | CFHA-FM (2003-2006) CJEF-FM (2006-2009) CJRP-FM (2009-present) |
| Owner | Houssen Broadcasting |
| Website | www.cjrpfm.com |
CJRP-FM (branded as CKO-2) is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting a Christian country music format at 103.5 FM in Saint John, New Brunswick.
CJRP-FM also has a low-power rebroadcast transmitter, CJRP-FM-1 95.1 MHz in Rothesay, serving the Kennebecasis Valley. This is due to the low power of the transmitter in Saint John and was built and put into use by the previous owner, Geoffrey Rivett, to widen the reach of the station.
On February 14, 2003, Tom Gamblin, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated (TFG Communications), received Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approval to operate a new English language FM radio station at Saint John. CJRP would begin broadcasting later that year as CFHA-FM, originally branded as Comedy Radio 103.5.
On March 23, 2006, Thomas F. Gamblin sold TFG Communications to Geoffrey Rivett.
In May 2006, Comedy Radio 103.5 was re-branded as 103.5 The Pirate, with a diverse mix of rock and urban music and adopted its CJEF-FM callsign.
In May 2008 the station was sold to Toronto broadcaster Bob Pritchard who, along with longtime staff member Marc Henwood, refined the music mix and added extensive local news and information.
In 2009, the station adopted its current CJRP-FM call-sign, and flipped format blending Classic Rock and 1970s top-40 hits, becoming the first "Classic Hits" station in Canada. Later when CRTC regulations changed restricting the number of "hits" an FM station could play, CJRP refined their format playing only the top songs from the era. By the Fall of 2010 the station had grown substantially gaining an audience in key demographics approaching a 12-share, becoming the highest rated LPFM (50 watt specialty station) in Canadian history, and out pacing several full powered stations within the Saint John market. The on-air staff had Bob Pritchard and Kim Cookson hosting the morning show and Marc Henwood on afternoon drive. Mark Lee hosted a daily interview show called Grater Saint John Today (later replaced by John Campbell and Bob McVicar). Graham Brown and Bob Pritchard manned the news desk.
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