CKKW-FM

CKKW-FM (99.5 FM) is a commercial radio station in Kitchener, Ontario, serving the Waterloo Region. It is owned by Bell Media and airs an adult hits format branded as Bounce 99.5. The studios and offices are on King Street East, off Ontario Highway 8, in Kitchener.^[1]

CKKW-FM

Kitchener, Ontario
Broadcast area	Waterloo Region
Frequency	99.5 MHz (FM) (HD Radio)
Branding	Bounce 99.5
Programming
Format	Adult Hits HD2: Pure Country
Ownership
Owner	Bell Media
Sister stations	CFCA-FM, CKCO-DT
History
First air date	July 30, 1959; 66 years ago (1959-07-30) on the AM dial January 6, 2009; 16 years ago (2009-01-06) on the FM dial
Former frequencies	1320 kHz (AM) (1959–1975) 1090 kHz (1975–2009)
Call sign meaning	CK Kitchener-Waterloo (broadcast area)
Technical information
Licensing authority	CRTC
Class	B1
ERP	1,700 watts (average) 4,300 watts (peak)
HAAT	110 metres (360 ft)
Links
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	iheartradio.ca/bounce/kitchener-waterloo

CKKW-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,700 watts (4,300 watts peak). The transmitter is located off Ottawa Street South near Trussler Park in Kitchener.^[2] CKKW-FM broadcasts using HD Radio technology. The HD2 subchannel carries the "Pure Country" radio network.

History

1090 AM

CKKW signed on the air on July 30, 1959.^[3] It began as an AM station, broadcasting on 1320 kilocycles. It moved to 1090 AM in 1975, powered at 10,000 watts, using a directional antenna. For most of its time on the AM band, CKKW aired a full service, middle of the road format of adult popular music, news and sports. In February 1984, CKKW began broadcasting in AM stereo, using the Motorola C-Quam format.^[4]

"Oldies 1090" logo until 2009

CKKW was originally owned by Carl Pollock and later becoming a subsidiary of his company Electrohome. CHUM Limited acquired CKKW in 1993, and shortly thereafter put an oldies format on the station, using Oldies 1090 branding. This was maintained until 2009, except for a brief period from 2001 to 2002 when it was part of CHUM's short-lived sports radio network, The Team.

Move to FM

"KFUN" logo (2009–2021)

On April 10, 2008, CKKW applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to convert the station to the FM band at 99.5 MHz.^[5] The application indicated that CKKW would keep its oldies format after the switch. The application was approved on October 3, 2008.^[6]

The flip, which occurred on January 6, 2009, resulted in a continuation of the oldies format as KFUN 99.5.^[7] Although the station was allowed to simulcast at 1090 AM until April 6 of that year, the AM signal was likely shut down on January 16. The old AM towers were taken down in March.^[8] CKKW later flipped to adult hits, but kept the same call sign and branding.

As part of a mass format reorganization by Bell Media, on May 18, 2021, CKKW rebranded as Bounce 99.5.^[9]