Update 12/26: The worst kept secret in Canadian radio came true today as CTVglobemedia flipped CHIQ Winnipeg to Classic Hits “Fab 94.3” at 3:00pm today.

The first hour consisted of:
Beatles – She Loves You
Beatles – All My Lovin
Supremes – Baby Love
Rolling Stones – Satisfaction
Rascals – Good Lovin
Elton John – Crocodile Rock
Guess Who – Shakin All Over
Bob Seger – Old Time Rock And Roll
Pointer Sisters – I’m So Excited
Four Seasons – Walk Like A Man
Billy Joel – Uptown Girl
Four Tops – It’s The Same Old Song
Badfinger – No Matter What
Neil Young – Cinnamon Girl
Lovin Spoonful – Do You Believe In Magic
Beach Boys – Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Bruce Springsteen – Hungry Heart
Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
Raspberries – Go All The Way
Kinks – All Day And All Of The Night

Update 12/7: What do you do when your top secret plans for your radio station get out due to your domain registration being public data? Add a few more domains to attempt to throw people off their scent. CTVglobemedia made those registrations yesterday adding Country943.com, Kool943.com, TheBeat943.com and their .ca counterparts.

We’re still expecting Fab 94.3 after the holidays, but the other three at least have some logic behind it. Kool 94.3 fits the Classic Hits name as well as Fab. The market lost its second Country outlet in June when 100.7 Hank-FM flipped to Classic Rock. The Beat moniker, while mainly used by Urban and Rhythmic stations in the US, is used by CTV’s Mainstream CHR in Vancouver. Astral Media’s “Hot 103” CKMM is the top rated music station in Winnipeg.

Original Report 12/4: Firing the majority of your airstaff and flipping to Christmas music is a sure way to get placed on our format change watch list. CTVglobemedia’s Modern AC “Curve 94.3” CHIQ Winnipeg made those moves in late November without giving any indication of what will happen after the holidays. Based on Thursday’s registration of Fab943.com and Fab943.ca by CTV, it appears that the station will go Classic Hits after the holidays.

The flip will restore the Oldies format dropped by sister station 1290 CFRW in September when that station became “Sports Radio 1290“. In the recently completed Fall BBM ratings, Curve was 10th out of 14 stations in the market with a 2.9 share.