CHBE-FM


CHBE-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 107.3 FM in Victoria, British Columbia. The station is owned by Bell Media.

History

The station received approval in October 1999 and was originally launched in 2000 as CFEX, a modern rock station branded as Extreme Radio 107dot3. It was owned by Seacoast Communications, the owner of AM radio station CFAX in the city. On August 16, 2002, at 1:07 p.m., it changed to adult hits as B107.3.

Kool FM (2004-2019)

CFAX and CHBE were acquired by CHUM Limited in November 2004. On the 19th of that month, CHBE began stunting with Christmas music; at Midnight on December 26, CHBE changed to hot AC as 107.3 Kool FM, bringing back the format since CHTT-FM flipped to adult hits in January that year. Kool's first song was The Black Eyed Peas' Let's Get It Started. CHUM, in turn, was purchased on June 22, 2007 by CTVglobemedia, which now owns CFAX, CHBE and CIVI-TV in Victoria. Months later, CTVglobemedia would acquire CFBT-FM in Vancouver, with CHBE shifting to top 40. The shift to top 40 proved unsuccessful, and around August 2010, songs from the 1980s and 1990s were phased back in the playlist, bringing the station back to hot AC.
The station placed 3rd in the Spring 2012 BBM Ratings for Victoria.
In its final rating survey as KOOL FM, the radio station placed 6th for the fall 2018 Numeris Diary Survey for Victoria.

Virgin Radio (2019-present)

On February 8, 2019, the station re-branded as 107.3 Virgin Radio. The last song played on "Kool" was "Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande, while the first song on "Virgin" was "High Hopes" by Panic! At the Disco.