History
Launched by CHUM Limited on October 15, 1983, CKIX-FM originally carried a country music format as "KIX Country". Newcap acquired CKIX and sister station CJYQ from CHUM in 1989, following which the station changed its brand slightly to "KIXX Country".
On Monday, February 17th, 2002, Newcap converted its recently-acquired VOCM-FM from hot AC (Magic 97) to classic rock (K-Rock). As an unexpected side effect, CKIX's audience dropped significantly. Moreover, rival station OZ FM, which carried a combination of CHR and classic rock music at the time, elected to retain that hybrid format rather than move into the former Magic 97 niche. As a result, on the 28th of June, Newcap dropped CKIX's longtime country format in favour of contemporary hits as "Hits FM", and not long after managed to lure away longtime OZ FM radio host Randy Snow. The country music format moved to 590 VOCM, in line with Newcap's other AM stations across the province. The "KIXX" format and branding would eventually be revived on CHVO-FM, a Carbonear station which covers part of the St. John's market, in 2008.
Soon after CKIX became Hits FM, an image appeared on the Internet showing a "HITS FM" van with its side door open, modifying the HITS in the logo to "SHIT". The station subsequently produced a promo that played off this picture.
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