Evanov Communications (ECI) has announced it’s shuttering three of its FM radio stations in Ontario, citing the difficult media climate and residual impact of the pandemic.
Set to cease operations on Sept. 20 are Hot Country 92.5 (CHRC-FM) Clarence-Rockland. Hot Country 107.7 (CKHK-FM) Hawkesbury, and Lite 98.5 (CJWL-FM) Ottawa.
CJWL-FM signed on-air in 2006, while CKHK-FM signed on in 2008, and CHRC-FM in 2013.
The company says since then, the media landscape has evolved with new outlets and platforms eroding traditional radio revenues, and the COVID-19 pandemic leading traditional radio listeners to park the car for a few years, the number one source of radio listening.
“The situation has proven a drain on cash and personnel resources,” the company said in a press release. “All broadcasters are now contending with the challenges of increased competition, a difficult media climate, and the residual effects of the pandemic. Like them, ECI is continuing to assess the ongoing impact of these factors on our business, and is readjusting, realigning and reinventing itself as necessary.”
“I, together with the consensus of my leadership team, have determined that, under the circumstances, our resources and some key employees with these stations would better serve the company if deployed to our other stations,” said Evanov President & CEO Paul Evanov. “I regret that the media industry, still regulated and a trusted source of news and information in a quagmire of fake news, misinformation and open social media borders, has not received the necessary support and relief sought during the crises or as a pre-emptive and insurance measure that would have us and our fellow broadcasters at a different place at this point. Nevertheless, we will persevere and are confident in the integrity and capability of our company to remain competitive in the markets we continue to serve along with actively pursuing new strategic opportunities.“
Among the employees being retained are programmer Ted Silver, who will shift to helping program in Evanov’s Quebec division at Lite 106.7 (CHSV-FM) Hudson-St. Lazare and Montreal multilingual station CFMB AM 1280; Danielle Cyr, Regional Sales Manager, Eastern Ontario & Quebec; and Brian Sylvester, who’ll continue to work in the company’s news division. The company told Broadcast Dialogue a total of six employees have lost their jobs.
Evanov says it is welcoming inquiries from anyone interested in operating any of the frequencies.
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