View source for CISS-FM

{{short description|Radio station in Ottawa}}
{{For|the radio station that began as CISS-FM|CKIS-FM}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2021}}
{{Coord|45|22|42.3|N|75|37|32.8|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=title|name=CISS's broadcast location}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = CISS-FM
| city = [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]]
| area = [[National Capital Region (Canada)|National Capital Region]]<br>[[Eastern Ontario]]<br>[[Western Quebec]]
| logo = CISS-FM logo.png
| logo_size = 150px
| branding = KiSS 105.3
| airdate = [[1972 in radio|1972]] (as CKBY)
| former_callsigns = CKBY (1972–2004)
| frequency = 105.3 [[Hertz|MHz]]
| format = [[Hot adult contemporary]]
| erp = 84,000 [[watt]]s
| haat = {{convert|323|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = C1
| callsign_meaning = Sounds like "'''kiss'''" (branding)
| owner = [[Rogers Radio]]
| licensee = Rogers Media, Inc.
| sister_stations = [[CHEZ-FM]], [[CKBY-FM]]
| website = [https://www.kissottawa.com/ kissottawa.com]
}}

'''CISS-FM''' (105.3 [[Hertz|MHz]]) is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[radio station]] in [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]]. The station is owned by [[Rogers Radio]], a division of [[Rogers Sports & Media]], and broadcasts a [[hot adult contemporary]] [[radio format|format]] branded on-air as ''KiSS 105.3''. The [[radio studio]]s and offices are co-located with its [[sister station]]s at Thurston Drive and Conroy Road.

CISS-FM has an [[effective radiated power]] (ERP) of 84,000 [[watt]]s. The [[transmitter]] is located in [[Camp Fortune, Quebec]], within [[Gatineau Park]].<ref>[https://fccdata.org/?lang=en&canfm=CISS-FM FCCdata.org/CISS-FM]</ref>

==History==
The station [[sign-on|signed on]] the air in 1972 with the [[call sign]] '''[[CKBY-FM|CKBY]]''', playing a [[country music|country]] format.<ref>[http://www.ottawacountrymusichof.org/inductees/ckby.htm CKBY Radio - Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame]</ref>

On January 9, [[2004 in radio|2004]], the station shifted to a [[hot adult contemporary]] format and adopted the ''105.3 KISS-FM'' moniker. The station launched with [[Pink (singer)|Pink]]'s "[[Get The Party Started|Get the Party Started]]". A month after the format change, the station adopted its current call letters. The CISS call sign was previously associated with a [[Toronto]] radio station, also owned by [[Rogers Sports & Media|Rogers]], which now uses the call letters [[CKIS-FM]]. The CKBY calls were subsequently transferred to a third Rogers station in [[Smiths Falls, Ontario|Smiths Falls]]. In the station's early years, the station's [[playlist]]  resembled that of [[CHUM-FM]] in Toronto, but with a less [[rhythmic contemporary|rhythmic]] lean. Later that year, it shifted from [[Hot AC]] to [[adult top 40]].

The introduction of CISS came at the expense of ''101.1 XFM'' ('''[[CKBY-FM|CIOX-FM]]'''), an [[alternative rock]] station that was shut down to make way for KISS and the relocation of [[country music|country]] radio 105.3 FM as ''Y105'', to 101.1 FM as ''Y101'', which later rebranded as ''[[CKBY-FM|Country 101.1]]''. The two [[Breakfast television|morning show]] hosts of XFM, Mauler and Rush, were temporarily left unemployed. They have since moved to The Morning Hot Tub on [[CIHT-FM]], which is also simulcast on other [[Stingray Group]] stations across Canada.

With the transition of the [[CKIS-FM|former CISS]] in [[Toronto]] from "[[Jack FM]]" to [[top 40]] as ''KiSS 92.5'' on June 5, [[2009 in radio|2009]], the CISS calls remained unchanged on this station. Instead, Rogers swapped the [[CJAQ-FM]] calls in Toronto with the former CKIS-FM (a "[[Jack FM|Jack]]" station) in [[Calgary]].

As of the fall of [[2009 in radio|2009]], CISS has begun leaning towards a more [[rhythmic contemporary|rhythmic]] sound again, dropping most [[modern adult contemporary]] artists.

As of [[2011 in radio|2011]], the station eliminated the majority of its pre-[[1999 in music|1999]] playlist, shifting towards a more 2000s-now direction. 

A new logo and tagline were introduced. The tagline was "The New" in its "KISS-FM" branding. The station leans on [[rhythmic contemporary|rhythmic]] material during nights and weekends. As of March 31, 2014, CISS faced additional competition from [[CKQB-FM|CKQB]], which transitioned from [[active rock]] to a [[Contemporary hit radio|Top 40/CHR]] format. CKQB's presentation heavily favours current rhythmic and [[dance music|dance]] products aimed at young adult and teen listeners. CISS is on the Canadian [[Hot AC]] panels of [[Mediabase]] and [[Nielsen BDS]].

By early 2016, CISS re-branded slightly to ''KiSS 105.3''.

In September 2016, CISS re-added 1990s music to their playlist and changed the slogan to "The Most Variety from the 90s to Now."

In August 2021, CISS re-branded as "The Capital's KiSS 105.3", and changed their slogan to "90's, 2000's, Now!"

On June 30, 2025, [[My Broadcasting Corporation]] acquired CISS-FM's sister station, [[CJET-FM]] Smiths Falls. <ref>[https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2025/2025-162.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2025-162], Three radio stations in Ontario – Change in ownership and effective control, ''CRTC'', June 30, 2025</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Official website|https://www.kissottawa.com/|KiSS 105.3}}
* [https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-stations/ontario/ontario-ottawa-valley/CISS-FM CISS-FM] at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the [[Canadian Communications Foundation]]
*{{RecnetCanada|CISS-FM}}

{{Ottawa Radio}}
{{Rogers Communications}}
{{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Ontario}}

[[Category:Rogers Communications radio stations|ISS]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Ottawa–Gatineau|ISS]]
[[Category:Hot adult contemporary radio stations in Canada|ISS]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1972]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in Ontario]]