AM800 CKLW Windsor was broadcasting on its sister station AM 580 (CKWW-AM) for about 13 hours on May 1 after a transmitter fire. There’s still no word on what started the fire at the transmitter site, which was in the Amherstburg area.
The CRTC has denied a format change for Christian music station CJLT-FM Medicine Hat, saying the move would hurt other stations. Vista Radio Ltd. had made the application with the intention of flipping the station to a “new-to-the-market” Indie/Alternative music format with an eye to making the station marginally profitable by 2020. In their interventions, Clear Sky and Pattison cited the poor state of the Medicine Hat radio market and the negative economic factors currently affecting the province of Alberta. Consequently, the commission found that approval of the proposed amendments could have an undue financial impact on the four incumbent, commercial Medicine Hat radio stations.
Country 101.1 (CKBY-FM) Smith Falls and Ottawa has launched 101 Minutes Commercial Free during morning drive in what the station is billing as a first in the country. The Rogers station started the commercial-free sets at 8 a.m. last Friday.
Sun FM (CICF-FM) Vernon’s 14th annual Have-a-Heart Radiothon hit a new record Apr. 27, with donations topping $82,675. The radiothon has now raised over $670,000 for kids at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
Gordon and Jill Rawlinson and Rawlco Radio have donated $1 million to Remai Modern Art Gallery, set to open in Saskatoon later this year. The gift provides for the Free Admission Program, which will ensure free access to the museum, six days each year for five years. Rawlco Radio will be an active partner with the museum, promoting Remai Modern events.
VOCM-AM St. John’s helped raise over $45,000 on May 2 with the first annual VOCM Cares/Red Shield Radiothon. The Red Shield Appeal supports Salvation Army services throughout Newfoundland & Labrador.
SiriusXM Canada will launch The Beatles Channel on May 18 on SiriusXM channel 18. Fully authorized by The Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd., the channel will explore live recordings, rarities and solo albums, while also spotlighting musicians who have inspired and drawn inspiration from the band. The channel is being launched in conjunction with SiriusXM’s free listening preview which will offer 24/7 listening on inactive SiriusXM radios from May 17 to May 30.
