Frank Ryan originally launched the station in 1947 as CFRA-FM, simulcasting the programming of its AM sister station. In 1959, the station began airing some separate programming. In 1961, Ryan sought approval to increase power from 860 watts to 146,000 watts via a new transmission site at Camp Fortune. The Ryan Tower would become the area's main radio and television transmission site. Two years later, in 1961, the station's programming became fully independent of CFRA's, and the station adopted the callsign CFMO. CFRA and CFMO were subsequently acquired by CHUM Limited in 1968.