CISL (AM)

CISL is a Canadian radio station, in Vancouver, British Columbia, owned by Newcap Radio. The station currently offers an easy listening/adult standards format branded as "CISL 650 Smooth & Easy" broadcasting at 650 AM. It is one of Canada's few remaining successful music stations on the AM dial. The calls in its moniker are generally pronounced "C-Isle".

CISL's studios are located in Richmond, while its transmitters are located on Lulu Island.

History

CISL originally signed on on May 1, 1980, at a frequency of 940 kHz and a power of 2500 watts. The licence was granted to South Fraser Broadcasting, a group controlled by Michael Dickinson, whose previous broadcast experience included a stint at Vancouver radio stations CHQM AM/FM. While the original music content was primarily contemporary easy listening (and branded as "AM Gold Music Radio"), with its playlist consisting of music released from 1955 to the-then present, overall content placed an emphasis on the community of Richmond (the ISLand in CISL).