92.9 The Grand (CHTG-FM) Caledonia, ON launched with a classic hits format on Sept. 1 at 9:29 to Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones. Peter Jaycock, most recently with 1150 CKOC Hamilton, hosts mornings with morning news contributed by Yvonne van de Wiele. After 10 years as CKOC morning host and PD, Ted Yates joins the staff as midday host. Rock N Ray Michaels, also an alumni of CKOC and most recently of online radio station D-Moos.com, will host afternoon drive.
CHCH-TV weather anchor/reporter and former CKOC announcer Shelly Marriage will host evening and weekends. Nicolina Martino will cover events/evenings/weekends as well. Named after the Grand River, the station covers most of the Niagara Peninsula, to Brantford in the west and Burlington to the north.
Rogers’ 107.7 The River (CFRV-FM) Lethbridge rebranded to KiSS 107.7 on Friday Sept. 2 to reflect its more Hot AC sound. The air staff remains with Troy Vincent moving laterally across the hall into KiSS mornings from sister 106.7 Rock (CJRX-FM). Cliff Kriz arrived from Rogers’ 97.7 Rock Grande Prairie to join Rosie for Cliff and Rosie mornings on 106.7 Rock, which debuted Sept. 6. KiSS 107.7 kicked off with commercial free long weekend to celebrate.
The CBC responded to last week’s CRTC ruling against its application to continue placing ads on Radio 2 and ICI Musique, stating the decision shows a lack of understanding about the reality of public broadcasting. According to the CBC, the Aug. 31 decision will mean fewer resources to invest in the programs and services it provides to Canadians. It also says by cutting off a source of revenue, the CRTC is simply ensuring there are fewer resources available to serve Canadians.
Golden West’s Mix 104.9 (CKVX-FM) Kindersley, SK has completed its power boost from 50 watts to 100,000 watts. The CRTC approved the increase in June 2015. The station will now serve a wider swath of west-central Saskatchewan.
The CRTC has approved Blackgold Broadcasting’s application for a radio station in Ponoka, AB. The station will occupy 89.7 FM with 1,000 watts of power and a country format. Blackgold’s 2015 application was rejected because the original 10,000 watt proposal would have resulted in encroachment into the neighbouring Wetaskiwin, Lacombe and Red Deer, AB markets.
Multicultural CHTO AM 1690 Toronto has received the CRTC go ahead to add an AM rebroadcasting transmitter in Mississauga to better serve Brampton, Etobicoke and Mississauga. The rebroadcaster will transmit on 1490 AM with 23 watts daytime and 770 watts at night. The Canadian Hellenic Toronto Radio station broadcasts primarily in Greek but features other languages as well.
According to the Infinite Dial 2016 digital media consumer behavior survey from Edison Research and Triton Digital, there’s good news for terrestrial radio. 84% of Adults 18+ (and 77% of Adults 18-34) who had driven/ridden in a car in the past month cited AM/FM radio as their most used in-car device. Read more stats regarding online radio and podcasts as well as the conclusions and observations from the study, here.
