iHeartRadio is now in Canada. Bell Media made the announcement that access to hundreds of its stations was available as of Oct. 10. The digital radio service is free on iOS and Android apps. Available stations include Virgin Radio, TSN Radio and news/talk stations. iHeartRadio Canada also announced the inaugural iHeartRadio Canada Jingle Ball, on Nov. 25 at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre featuring The Weeknd, The Chainsmokers, Alessia Cara, Hedley and more acts to be announced. Bell Media entered into an exclusive partnership with iHeartMedia earlier this year. Listen to an interview with Rob Farina, senior advisor for the launch of iHeartRadio in Canada, in this week’s Broadcast Dialogue Podcast.
Corus Radio has paired up with Apple Music to stream seven of its news talk stations across Canada for free. The offerings include CKNW AM 980 Vancouver, News Talk 770 (CHQR) Calgary, 630 CHED Edmonton, 680 CJOB Winnipeg, AM 980 (CFPL) London, AM 900 CHML Hamilton and AM 640 (CFMJ) Toronto. Corus is the first commercial radio company in Canada to stream with Apple Music via iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Carplay.
The Broadcasters Association of Manitoba held its Annual Fall Conference on Sept. 28 and recognized three industry leaders. Brian Barkley was inducted into the Broadcast Hall of Fame after 30 years of service starting in Portage La Prairie and then Winnipeg at CJKR-FM and CJOB AM as morning show traffic reporter. Named Builder in the Hall of Fame was Doug O’Brien who passed away in Flin Flon, MB on May 26 at the age of 80 after a career that started in 1959 as a sales rep for Rawlco in Saskatchewan. In 1972 O’Brien moved to Flin Flon to become the general manager of CFAR and eventually CJAR in The Pas, MB and CHTM in Thompson. He later bought all three stations from the Rawlinsons. The Broadcaster of Tomorrow Award was given to KiSS 102.3’s (CKY-FM) Winnipeg junior swing announcer Karly Troschuck. She started with Rogers three years ago in promotions with a goal of getting on-air. Since then, she has become a regular fill-in host for all day parts.
TSN Radio 1290 (CFRW) Winnipeg will air 40 Manitoba Moose AHL games this season. Mitch Peacock returns for his second season calling the plays when the puck drops Oct. 18. TSN Radio 1290 Winnipeg also has the Winnipeg Jets.
Bayshore Broadcasting has been given the OK from the CRTC to launch a new country station in Bracebridge-Gravenhurst, ON. The new station will operate on 102.3 FM at 22,000 watts with a country format and a guaranteed 40 per cent Canadian content. The station has been instructed to be on the air by October 2018.
Moose FM 94.1 (CKNR-FM) raised $9,236.56 for the Elliot Lake Emergency Food Bank during its annual radiothon on Oct. 1. Hosted by Moose announcer Bobby Alexander, the radiothon featured live local performances and a silent auction that produced a winning $450 bid for a signed Tampa Bay Lightning jersey from Markham-born Steve Stamkos.
CFBW 91.3 FM Bluewater Radio in Hanover, ON has raised over $42,000 in its first ever radiation on Oct. 1 in support of the hospital foundations in both Hanover and Walkerton. Approximately $16,000 will go to the Hanover and District Hospital Foundation and $26,000 to the Walkerton Hospital Foundation.
Bay of Islands Radio, community radio for Corner Brook, NL, will make the jump from online to on-air after getting the green light from the CRTC on Oct 6. BOIR started in 2009 as a temporary station to cover the East Coast Music Awards. It later moved online and will now operate at 50 watts at 100.1 FM covering the communities of Humber Arm. The call letters will be CKVB.
Durham Radio’s Classic Hits 92.9 The Grand (CKJN-FM) in Haldimand, ON received its requested CRTC licence amendment allowing the station to reduce its Cancon commitment to 30% between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday because 90% of the playlist is pre-1981. Durham agrees to move that number back to 40% in the event of a format change.
The CRTC has approved technical changes for Radio communautaire de Lévis (CJMD-FM). Average ERP goes from 110-509 watts (max ERP from 216 to 1000 watts) with an effective antenna height increase from 10.2 to 18.9 metres. The resulting contour changes will improve poor signal quality in Lévis, QC. The station has 24 months to effect the changes or apply for an extension.
Radio communautaire Intergénération Jardin du Québec (CHOC-FM) Saint-Rémi has also received CRTC approval to change its contours. Average ERP goes from 250 to 572 watts (max ERP from 250 to 1,714 watts) with an effective antenna height increase from 30 to 53.9 metres. The municipal building used as an antenna structure had been demolished which necessitated a 50% power reduction while the station used a temporary transmission site provided by the municipality. Now the station will be able to once again cover its service area adequately. The station has 24 months to effect the changes or apply for an extension.
Bob McKenzie is host of the new TSN Hockey Bobcast audio podcast. It’s fan-focused with Bob answering listener questions. New episodes bow every other Friday starting Oct. 14 via TSN.ca, iTunes and SoundCloud.
