Bell Media simply could not justify the more than $3 Million in needed technical and structural transmission site upgrades just to keep London’s CKSL-AM on-the-air and in compliance with regulations. Bell has respectfully asked the CRTC to revoke the license, which it has, but the sign-off date is not known. Known as Funny 1410, CKSL has been on the air for 60 years. Over the decades, it has been a Top 40 station, news talk, soft adult contemporary, oldies and was Canada’s first radio station devoted to comedy radio.
CRTC has turned down Durham Radio’s application to improve coverage of KX96 in western Toronto. CJKX-FM Ajax applied to expand its service into the west side of Toronto and east side of Mississauga, but the Commission ruled the primary markets Durham is licensed to serve are Ajax and Oshawa.
The CBC has been given CRTC approval for a new transmitter in St. John’s in order to rebroadcast programming from Radio One. The CBC has indicated the new transmitter would improve the quality of its Radio One signal in St. John’s and surrounding areas.
Durham Radio, the new owner of Vista Radio’s CKJN-FM Haldimand County (Caledonia), has applied for a Canadian content reduction from 40% to 30%. Durham won CRTC approval July 8 for the station’s purchase. It also wants to move to Classic Hits from Country. Interventions/comments must be submitted by Aug. 29.
The CRTC has renewed the broadcast licenses for CIMM-FM 99.5 Ucluelet and CHMZ-FM 90.1 Tofino, but for a shorter time than normal, to August 31, 2019. Both stations, owned by Matthew McBride, have been found in non-compliance with various regulatory requirements.
TSN Radio 1150 (CKOC-AM) Hamilton is the new home of the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Bell Media’s multi-year deal brings every Hamilton Bulldogs regular season and playoff game, pre- and post-game shows and two all new weekly Bulldogs/OHL-themed programs, to TSN Radio 1150. The Bulldogs moved from AM 900 CHML-AM and also parted ways with play-by-play broadcaster Matt Holmes.
Ottawa’s KISS 105.3 (CISS-FM) helped provide Christmas in July for a local home daycare owner whose toys were pilfered from her yard after a fake Kijiji ad offered up her “free toys” while she was away. The station held a toy drive that produced a van load of donated toys.
