The station originally launched in 1967 at 93.7 FM, and was acquired by Northern Broadcasting, the owners of CFCH.

In 1996, Telemedia swapped the stations in a move similar to its 1990 switch involving CKSO and CIGM in Sudbury.

In fall 2005, CKAT and CIGM underwent a format change, with country music cut back (although not entirely eliminated) in favour of increased news and sports programming.

The station's general manager is Peter McKeown, a former morning man for many years on CHUR and CKAT.

[1] On June 15, 2021, Vista Radio, an unrelated company to CKAT launched a new FM radio station with the return of the heritage CFCH call sign in North Bay airing a country music format as Country 90.5.