The station received approval in October 1999.[2] It originally launched in May 26, 2000 as CFEX, a modern rock station branded as Extreme 107.3. It was owned by Seacoast Communications, which also owned CFAX in the city. On August 16, 2002, at 1:07 p.m., it changed to adult hits as B107.3.
Kool FM (2004–2019)
CFAX and CHBE were acquired by CHUM Limited in November 2004. On the 19th of that month, CHBE began playing all Christmas music. At Midnight on December 26, CHBE changed to hot AC as 107.3 Kool FM, bringing back the format since CHTT-FM flipped to adult hits in January that year. Kool's first song was The Black Eyed Peas' Let's Get It Started.
CHUM Ltd., in turn, was purchased on June 22, 2007 by CTVglobemedia, which now owns CFAX, CHBE and CIVI-TV in Victoria. Months later, CTVglobemedia would acquire CFBT-FM in Vancouver, with CHBE shifting to Top 40/CHR. The shift to top 40 proved unsuccessful, and around August 2010, songs from the 1980s and 1990s were phased back in the playlist, bringing the station back to hot AC.
The station placed 3rd in the Spring 2012 BBM Ratings for Victoria.[3]
In its final rating survey as "Kool", the radio station placed 6th for the fall 2018 Numeris Diary Survey for Victoria.[4]