CRTC approves sale of Bell Media’s Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson radio stations

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The sale of 21 British Columbia radio stations, including two in Fort St. John, has been approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Moose Media – which owns both Energeticcity.ca and 100.1 Moose FM – is not included in or connected with the sales. 

Bell Media, the company selling the 21 stations, initially announced the sale roughly one year ago.

Vista Radio is purchasing the stations, and the company says there will be no layoffs as a result of the change in ownership.

The stations being sold include CKNL, also known as Bounce Radio, and CHRX, or Move, in Fort St. John. 

CKRX — Fort Nelson’s Bounce Radio station — and Dawson Creek’s CJDC radio station are also changing hands from Bell to Vista as part of the deal.

The remaining 17 stations being sold are based out of other B.C. communities like Prince Rupert, Salmon Arm and Penticton.

“We are delighted to move forward and welcome the talented teams and these outstanding stations into Vista Radio,” said Bryan Edwards, Vista Radio’s president.

“Their values and focus on local programming, community service and economic support align perfectly with our own. Together, we will enhance the strength of every market we serve, bringing even greater value to listeners, local businesses and communities across British Columbia.”

When the sale was first announced last year, B.C. Premier David Eby responded to the announcement by calling Bell “corporate vampires” who had overseen the “encrapification” of local news by laying off journalists.