CKIX-FM - "Missing 9" Contest

"Missing 9" Contest

In late August 2008, CKIX temporarily began identifying itself as "9.1 Hits FM"; its actual broadcast frequency had not changed (although the "9.1" was also used in the station's legal IDs). Promotional signs throughout the listening area were also modified to appear as though the "9" had been removed. No reason for the change was given until September 8, when it was revealed that the missing digit had been "abducted" and hidden somewhere in the station's listening area, prompting a scavenger hunt-style contest where the abductor periodically "hijacked" the station's signal to provide clues to find a physical "9" object, and the station providing a $10,000 reward for its safe return.

The "9" was found on October 6 in the back of a pick-up truck adjacent to a private self-storage facility in a St. John's suburb, and returned to the station that morning. However, a video later posted by the station indicated that the truck only arrived at that location that day, generating some controversy and complaints to the station.

A later investigation by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council's Atlantic Regional Panel revealed that the "9" had been located in a storage locker at the aforementioned self-storage facility (without the knowledge of that facility, presumably to ensure that employees of that facility could not gain an unfair advantage), with the intention that the clues would allow a listener to access that locker and retrieve the object. While some listeners were apparently able to identify the facility, they were unsuccessful in retrieving the digit, prompting the facility to post a "no trespassing" sign disavowing any relationship to the Hits FM contest. According to the station, this forced the relocation of the item.

The CBSC panel later ruled that CKIX-FM's handling of the "Missing 9" contest – specifically placing the object such that it was not reasonably accessible to the public at the outset, and later moving the object in contradiction of the broadcast clues – violated Clause 12 of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Code of Ethics. That clause states that "ll on-air contests and promotions shall be conceived and conducted fairly and legitimately and particular care shall be taken to ensure that they are not misleading". As is standard practice for CBSC violations, the station was required to announce the decision twice during peak listening hours.

By January 2012, regarding CHOZ-FM's format shift back to hot adult contemporary, the station returned to their contemporary hit radio format as it has been always a reporter to the Canadian top 40 panel.