Stingray Radio Inc. is a Canadian radio broadcasting conglomerate owned by Stingray Group. It owns and operates 101 radio stations in Canada, making it the largest radio conglomerate in Canada. It also once owned two now-defunct television stations in Lloydminster. The majority of its stations are situated in Atlantic and Western Canada, with its largest presences being in the provinces of Alberta and Newfoundland.
The company was founded in 1986 by Harold R. Steele as Newfoundland Capital Corporation Ltd. based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, later operating under the names Newcap Broadcasting and Newcap Radio. In October 2018, Newcap was acquired by Stingray. As a result of the acquisition, the Steele family became Stingray Group's largest third-party shareholder.
History
The company dates back to 1980. The group's Newfoundland and Labrador division, known as Steele Communications, included all but two of the full-power commercial stations in that province. In the past, Newfoundland Capital acted as a conglomerate with interests in diverse industries such as newspapers and freight transportation. The firm owns one asset unrelated to the broadcasting industry: a hotel in Corner Brook, the Glynmill Inn, which is operated as part of the Steele Hotels group which includes other properties held directly by the Steele family. The Steele family also has private holdings in other industries which are entirely outside of the Newcap corporate umbrella.
In 1986, NCCL received CRTC approval to acquire its first radio station, CHTN in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from Northumberland Broadcasting Ltd. By 2008, Newcap would own over 70 radio stations, and flipped many radio stations from the AM band to the FM band.
In July 2008, Newcap announced a deal to trade CFDR in Halifax to Rogers Media in exchange for CIGM in Sudbury. Both stations were the sole remaining AM stations in their respective markets, and in both cases the current owner already had the maximum permitted number of FM stations in the applicable market, whereas the acquirer only had a single FM station. Both companies successfully applied to move the stations to FM as part of the trade. Newcap flipped CIGM Sudbury to FM on August 25, 2009, and Rogers flipped CFDR Halifax to FM on August 7, 2009."Local country station will be converted to FM", Northern Life, July 24, 2008.
On July 28, 2008, Newcap announced that it had a tentative deal to acquire 12 stations in Ontario from Haliburton Broadcasting Group, subject to CRTC approval, for $18.95 million.Newcap signs agreement to acquire 12 radio licences in Ontario, The Nova Scotia Business Journal, July 28, 2008. The company's application to acquire the Haliburton stations was formally published by the CRTC on November 13, 2008,Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2008-14 but was subsequently withdrawn in January 2009.Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2008-14-7 Newcap CEO Rob Steele indicated that in light of the credit market crisis, the company did not feel that it was the right time to increase its debt load."Credit markets squelch $19M Newfoundland Capital radio purchase in Ontario", Canadian Press, January 19, 2009.
In May 2011, Newcap announced that it was selling its two stations in Winnipeg, CKJS and CHNK-FM, to Evanov Communications;Newfoundland Capital press release, via Canadian Newswire: "NEWCAP to Sell Winnipeg Radio Stations", May 19, 2010. the sale was approved on October 24, 2011.Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-661
In January 2013, the company announced it was exploring a possible sale of its remaining broadcasting assets in Western Canada, consisting of 32 radio stations and two television stations, and six rebroadcasters associated with those stations. These stations are predominantly in Alberta (including several stations in the Lloydminster region on the Alberta/Saskatchewan border), except for two stations in British Columbia. The company announced in May 2013 it was no longer planning to sell its assets in Western Canada. If such a sale had occurred, Newcap suggested that the proceeds might be used to either fund acquisitions "closer to [Newcap's] base in Atlantic Canada", pay down debt, or return capital to shareholders.
On August 26, 2013, Newcap Radio announced it would acquire four former Astral Media radio stations in Toronto and Vancouver, including CHBM-FM, CKZZ-FM, CHHR-FM and CISL, along with Bell Media's CFXJ-FM, for $112 million. The deal was made in the wake of Bell Media's acquisition of Astral. The deal was approved by the CRTC on March 19, 2014, and the sale closed on March 31, 2014.Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-129
On April 25, 2017, Rogers Media announced its intent to acquire CISL from Newcap, who relaunched it as a Sportsnet Radio sports talk station with rights to the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.
On May 11, 2017, Newcap Radio announced its purchase of NL Broadcasting in Kamloops and its three stations, CHNL, CKRV-FM, and CJKC-FM.
On May 2, 2018, cable radio broadcaster Stingray Digital announced its intent to acquire Newcap Radio for $506 million. On October 23, 2018, the CRTC approved Stingray's application to acquire Newcap.Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-404, Various radio and television broadcasting undertakings – Change in ownership and effective control, CRTC, October 23, 2018 The sale was completed just days later on October 26, 2018, with the Steele family holding the largest stake in the company besides its founders.
In 2019, Stingray began a broader strategy of networking morning and evening shows across groups of stations. This began with the syndication of CKMP/Calgary's Katie & Ed morning show as an evening show across Stingray's CHR and hot AC stations, CKGY-FM/Red Deer's The Real Wake Up with Vinnie & Randi across its country and adult hits stations in rural Alberta, the midday show The Paul McGuire Show across its country stations, and the CIGV-FM/Penticton morning show (featuring former CMT personality Casey Clarke) across Stingray's country stations in the British Columbia Interior. The morning shows incorporate inserts from local hosts. In the case of Katie & Ed, Stingray stated that the program would largely replace programming that had already been voice-tracked.
In January 2021, Stingray networked its rock stations in Atlantic Canada out of CFRQ-FM/Halifax, with all of them adopting the Q branding and airing CFRQ's morning show, in addition to the existing networked evening show Rock of the Atlantic. In late-March 2021, the company underwent a restructuring of some of its staff and local program directors, which resulted in layoffs. On April 5, 2021, Stingray launched The Morning Breeze with Brad & Deb for its The Breeze branded soft adult contemporary stations, which is networked out of CKUL-FM/Halifax and incorporates local inserts. Stingray also introduced the networked evening program Rock of the West (modelled after Rock of the Atlantic) on its rock stations in Western Canada, which is hosted by Travis Currah of CIZZ-FM/Red Deer.
In June 2023, Stingray Radio's stations joined Bell Media's iHeartRadio Canada service; it will still participate in Radioplayer Canada.
On May 13, 2025, Stingray closed its Lloydminster television stations CITL-DT and CKSA-DT, citing deteriorating economic conditions and other challenges facing the stations.
Assets
The following list is based on the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's media ownership charts as of January 26, 2013.
Radio City Call Sign BrandingNetwork FormatAthabasca, AlbertaCKBA-FMBoom 94.1BoomClassic hitsBlairmore, AlbertaCJPR-FMNew Country SouthwestNew CountryCountryBonnyville, AlbertaCJEG-FMHot 101.3HotContemporary hit radioBrooks, AlbertaCIBQ-FMNew Country 105.7New CountryCountryCIXF-FMBoom 101.1BoomClassic hitsCalgary, AlbertaCFXL-FMXL 103.1Classic hitsCKMP-FM90.3 AMP RadioContemporary hit radioCHUP-FMC97.7Hot Adult ContemporaryCamrose, AlbertaCFCW840 CFCWCountryCFCW-FMNew Country 98.1New CountryCountryCarbonear, Newfoundland and LabradorCHVO-FMNew Country NLNew CountryCountryChannel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and LabradorCFGN-FM590 VOCMVOCMFull-service radioCharlottetown, Prince Edward IslandCHTN-FMOcean 100Classic hitsCKQK-FMHot 105.5HotContemporary hit radioClarenville, Newfoundland and LabradorCKVO590 VOCMVOCMFull-service radioCold Lake, AlbertaCJXK-FMBoom 95.3BoomClassic hitsCorner Brook, Newfoundland and LabradorCFCB590 VOCMVOCMFull-service radioCKXX-FM97.5 K-RockK-RockClassic rockDrumheller, AlbertaCKDQ-FMNew Country 92.5New CountryCountryCHOO-FMBoom 99.5BoomClassic hitsEdmonton, AlbertaCIRK-FMK-97Classic rockCKRA-FM96.3 The BreezeThe BreezeSoft adult contemporaryEdson, AlbertaCFXE-FMNew Country WestNew CountryCountryFredericton, New BrunswickCFRK-FMNew Country 92.3New CountryCountryCIHI-FMHot 93.1HotContemporary hit radioGander, Newfoundland and LabradorCKGA590 VOCMVOCMFull-service radioCKXD-FM97.5 K-RockK-RockClassic rockGrand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and LabradorCKCM590 VOCMVOCMFull-service radioCKXG-FM97.5 K-RockK-RockClassic rockHalifax, Nova ScotiaCFRQ-FMQ104QClassic rockCKUL-FM96.5 The BreezeThe BreezeSoft adult contemporaryHappy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorCFLN-FMBig Land - Labrador's FMNews/Talk/Country/Classic hitsHigh Prairie, AlbertaCKVH-FMNew Country 93.5New CountryCountryHinton, AlbertaCFHI-FMBoom 104.9BoomClassic hitsKamloops, British ColumbiaCHNLRadio NLClassic hits/Talk/SportsCKRV-FMK 97.5Classic rockCJKC-FMNew Country 103.1New CountryCountryKelowna, British ColumbiaCKKO-FMK 96.3Classic rockKentville, Nova ScotiaCIJK-FMRewind 89.3RewindClassic hitsLac La Biche, AlbertaCILB-FMBoom 103.5BoomClassic hitsLloydminster, AlbertaCKSA-FMNew Country 95.9New CountryCountryCILR-FMUnlicensed travellers' information station Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-108, CILR-FM Lloydminster - Revocation of licence, CRTC, March 10, 2014Marystown, Newfoundland and LabradorCHCM-FM590 VOCMVOCMFull-service radioMiramichi, New BrunswickCHHI-FMRewind 95.9RewindClassic hitsMoncton, New BrunswickCJMO-FMQ103QClassic rockCJXL-FMNew Country 96.9New CountryCountryNew Glasgow, Nova ScotiaCKEZ-FMQ97.9QClassic rockCKEC-FM94.1 The BreezeThe BreezeSoft adult contemporaryOttawa, OntarioCIHT-FMHot 89.9HotContemporary hit radioCILV-FMLive 88.5Alternative rockPenticton, British ColumbiaCIGV-FMNew Country 100.7New CountryCountryRed Deer, AlbertaCKGY-FMNew Country 95.5New CountryCountryCIZZ-FMZ 98.9Classic rockSaint John, New BrunswickCHNI-FMQ88.9QClassic rockSlave Lake, AlbertaCHSL-FMBoom 92.7BoomClassic hitsSt. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorVOCM590 VOCMVOCMFull-service radioVOCM-FM97.5 K-RockK-RockClassic rockCJYQNew Country NLNew CountryCountryCKIX-FMHot 99.1HotContemporary hit radioSt. Paul, AlbertaCHSP-FMNew Country 97.7New CountryCountryStephenville, Newfoundland and LabradorCFSX590 VOCMVOCMFull-service radioStettler, AlbertaCKSQ-FMNew Country 93.3New CountryCountrySudbury, OntarioCHNO-FMRewind 103.9RewindClassic hitsCIGM-FMHot 93.5HotContemporary hit radioSydney, Nova ScotiaCHRK-FMHot 101.9HotContemporary hit radioCKCH-FMNew Country 103.5New CountryCountryToronto, OntarioCFXJ-FMNew Country 93.5New CountryCountryCHBM-FMBoom 97.3BoomClassic hitsVancouver, British ColumbiaCHLG-FM104.3 The BreezeThe BreezeSoft adult contemporaryCKZZ-FMZ 95.3Hot adult contemporaryWainwright, AlbertaCKKY-FMBoom 101.9BoomClassic hitsCKWY-FMHot 93.7HotContemporary hit radioWestlock, AlbertaCKWB-FMNew Country 97.9New CountryCountryWetaskiwin, AlbertaCKJRSports 1440Sports talkWhitecourt, AlbertaCFXW-FMBoom 96.7BoomClassic hits
3937844 Canada Inc. The numbered company 3937844 Canada Inc., a partnership between Newcap and Standard Broadcasting, was the licensee for most of the Alberta stations listed above from 2002, when Standard acquired the stations from Telemedia, until 2007, when Newcap bought out Standard's share of the stations.
References
External links Stingray Radio