The station was licensed by the
CRTC in 2001, to broadcast a
rhythmic contemporary/
dance music format known as
The Planet 89.9. The station launched on February 7, 2003, as
The New Hot 89.9 under a rhythmic contemporary format, but flipped to its current format after
105.3 Kiss FM signed on the air in 2004. Both CIHT and
CHBN-FM in
Edmonton share the distinction of having been shifted from rhythmic contemporary to
Top 40 in less than a year after their 2003 sign-ons. Even while CIHT is the only English Top 40 station in
Ottawa, it was one of the few Top 40 stations in Canada to continue supporting older music, making CIHT lean towards more of a
hot adult contemporary direction than most Top 40 stations in
Canada, but on March 31, 2014, CIHT picked up new competition with
CKQB-FM's flip from
active rock to a
rhythmic-leaning
CHR format, a move that prompted CIHT to back off from the
hot AC fare and become more hit-driven with more currents. The station produces the
Stingray Hit List Countdown (formerly the
Canadian Hit 40 and the
Canadian Hit 30), a weekly countdown show that is syndicated to other Stingray sister stations. ==References==