CCMA 2016 Award Winners Announced (Radio)

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)

103.9 Country – CISN-FM – Edmonton, AB

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)

KG Country 95.5 – CKGY-FM – Red Deer, AB

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)

Amanda Kingsland – CKBY FM – Ottawa, ON

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)

Paul Ferguson – CHCQ FM – Belleville, ON

ON-AIR PERSONALITIES OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)

*TIE*

Leanne Cater (Boss Lady Leanne Cater) – QX104 – CFQX-FM – Winnipeg, MB

Chris Scheetz, Jacqueline Sweeney, Matt DeBeurs (CISN in the Mornings with Chris, Jack & Matt) – 103.9 Country – CISN-FM – Edmonton, AB

ON-AIR PERSONALITY(IES) OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)

Jack Latimer and Carey Moran (Jack & Carey) – 105.9 KICX 106 – CICX-FM – Orillia, ON

Steele Communications has closed three VOCM stations in Newfoundland and Labrador resulting in six job losses. The frequency for each signal will remain in the affected areas, but local programming and information will be originated regionally. CHCM 740 AM in Marystown will now broadcast the 590 VOCM feed from St. John’s. CFSX 870 AM Stephenville will carry programming from 570 CFCB Corner Brook. CKCM 620 AM in Grand Falls-Windsor will carry programming from 650 CKGA Gander. The mayor of Stephenville, Tom O’Brien, said he is disappointed their station, with 50 years history in the town, is gone. Steele Communications cites the economic conditions in the province and changing consumer media habits for the realignment.

The Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) is calling for member stations to submit their best public service campaign and station promotion for consideration at the upcoming OAB Awards. Winners will be selected in both Large and Small Market categories.  Awards will be presented during the OAB annual conference Nov. 10. More information can be found here.

Northern Native Broadcasting (CFNR) Terrace, BC has been awarded the Aboriginal Business Partnership of the Year award as part of the eighth annual BC Aboriginal Business Awards presented by the BC Achievement Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. The honourees will be celebrated at a gala dinner on Oct. 19 in Vancouver. CFNR is active across 60 signals reaching 80 communities throughout British Columbia.

CBN St. John’s has been given CRTC approval to expand CBC Radio One programming to FM. The station currently broadcasting on 640 kHz AM, will also be rebroadcast by a new transmitter operating at 88.5 MHz FM. The CBC says the new transmitter will improve signal quality in the St. John’s and surrounding areas, with a cleaner and clearer signal in apartment and office buildings. The CRTC requires the transmitter to be operational before August 2018, but it’s expected to be up and running before the end of this year.

The CRTC has turned thumbs down to a request by CFMS 105.9 in Markham, ON to decrease power, raise the height of their tower and relocate the transmitter. Station owner Radio Markham York Incorporated wanted to go from 981 to 379 watts (2,500 to 1,300 watts maximum E.R.P.). The company said it was an effort to improve their signal, but the CRTC said they didn’t present a compelling technical need to justify the changes.

CITA 105.1 FM Moncton has been approved for a rebroadcaster in Bouctouche, NB. The CRTC gave the OK for the International Harvesters for Christ station to operate with 50 watts with a 2.5 metre antenna. The Christian music station wants to expand the broadcast of Moncton Wildcats hockey games into the Bouctouche community. The station has two years to make the changes.

The CBC Radio One station in Nain, Newfoundland & Labrador is moving to FM with CRTC approval to convert CBNZ 740 to 95.1 FM. The station will operate with 50 watts. Programming will continue to originate from CFGB 89.5 FM in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. CBC has two years to make the changes.

CKWR 98.5 FM in Kitchener, ON, Canada’s oldest community radio station, is ruffling feathers with a plan to charge its volunteer hosts and programmers $10 an hour to keep their shows on the air. Volunteers got the news in a letter sent last month. The not-for-profit station made the move after it learned it was losing its charitable status, which could affect its main revenue source, listener donations.

Podcasts continue to gain traction with marketers and agencies in the US, according to new research from Advertiser Perceptions. The survey of 594 executives at marketers and agencies in July and Sept. found 21 per cent already advertise on podcasts, up from 15 per cent last Sept. Just under 60 per cent said they have “discussed podcast advertising for potential media investment,” up from 41 per cent who said they’d done so last fall. And 21 per cent said they plan to advertise on podcasts in the next six months, up from 10 per cent.

Union JACK is the U.K.’s newest national DAB+ digital radio station from Oxis Media. The latest iteration of the Canadian-born JACKfm brand debuted Friday Sept. 9 from Oxford, and it’s British all the way. It’s 100% BritCon with a mission to celebrate the best and support new homegrown talent. The music spans six decades with artists ranging from the Beatles to Ed Sheeran, The Rolling Stones to Coldplay, The Who to The Stone Roses, Oasis to April Towers with playlists chosen by listeners. Union Jack imaging is hyper-Anglicized and the voice is Paul Darrow (who can also be heard on 96.9 JACKfm Vancouver). The station is also available via Union JACK app and RadioPlayer in the U.K. Hear the live stream here.