Evanov Communications (ECI) has found a buyer for its Ottawa FM station slated for closure.
Torres Media Group has reached an agreement to acquire the assets of CJWL-FM, currently operating as Lite 98.5, pending CRTC approval.
Torres already operates Rebel 101.7 (CIDG-FM) in the market, which carries a mainstream Rock format. CJWL-FM would be the company’s fifth radio property, joining 103.1 Max FM (CKOD-FM) Valleyfield, QC, 105.5 Hits FM (CIUX-FM) Uxbridge, ON, K Country 93.7 (CKOU-FM) Georgina, ON, and traffic, weather and programming syndicator SkyWords Media.
“The acquisition of a second station in Ottawa is an exciting opportunity for our company that will give us a more competitive offering for our advertisers,” said Ed Torres, CEO of Torres Media Group, in an announcement. “Our SkyWords Division has operated in Ottawa since 1995, we started our first radio station here in 2010. We know the market well and our local ownership will continue to drive our business. This opportunity in Ottawa represents a significant milestone for our company.”
In the absence of finding a buyer, Evanov had planned to let the station go dark on Sept. 20.
“I am so thrilled that Torres and ECI agreed to keep the station on the air,” said ECI President and CEO Paul Evanov. “As an incumbent with a stand-alone station in the Ottawa market, like we have been, we know that a sister station for Torres’ Rebel 101.7 will provide a better competitive environment and efficiencies for the success of both stations. We also know that as a smaller, more locally-focused broadcaster, Torres is well equipped to succeed from day one”.
ECI announced last week it had found a buyer for CHRC-FM Clarence-Rockland and CKHK-FM Hawkesbury – two of the three Ontario FM stations it had planned to close this month – citing a difficult media climate and the residual impact of the pandemic. GO FM, which operates non-profit, community French-language station 92.1 GO FM (CHOD-FM) – licensed to Cornwall, ON, but operating out of studios in Casselman – is set to acquire the assets of those stations.
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