Nearly five decades after becoming Canada’s first licensed instructional campus radio station, London’s 106.9 The X is facing an uncertain future. Fanshawe College, which operates CIXX-FM, announced last week that it can no longer financially sustain the station and is now seeking new partners to assume control of its operations.
The decision comes on the heels of Fanshawe’s move to cancel its long-running radio broadcasting program, along with 39 other programs, following a review of enrolment trends, industry demand, and financial viability. What the transition might mean for students—or whether they’ll continue contributing to The X’s programming and news coverage—has yet to be determined.
Fanshawe has set a November 14 deadline for interested parties to come forward. If no proposals are received, the future of the station remains uncertain.
Licensed by the CRTC in 1978, CIXX-FM launched on Halloween of that year as part of Fanshawe’s then–Radio Arts program. Its broadcast license, held by Radio Fanshawe Inc., was renewed in March 2023 and is valid through August 2030.
While The X’s future is in question, Fanshawe’s journalism program will continue. The college plans to focus more on online media and podcasting and continues to operate an internal radio station to support student learning and hands-on experience.
Written by: C. Soares