Radio & Podcast News – Pattison expands NOW!radio format to Vancouver

Pattison Media has debuted its NOW!radio brand in Vancouver. 102.7 NOW!radio is being heard on CKPK-FM, formerly home to Alternative Rock station 102.7 The PEAK, which as of Monday has moved over to HD Radio. The talent lineup helming the Hot Adult Contemporary format includes Christy Farrell and Fraser Tuff, who arrive from the morning show at the similarly formatted 101.5 Today Radio (CKCE-FM) Calgary. Farrell and Tuff will take over mornings, while Brayden Mack from 102.3 NOW!radio (CKNO-FM) Edmonton will be heard in middays. Denai Johnson, who has been co-hosting afternoons on Virgin Radio (CHSU-FM) Kelowna, joins the station as the host of afternoon drive. Sharing swing duties on evenings and weekends are Jaclyn Tatay, who arrives from Pulse FM (CISF-FM) Surrey, and longtime The Peak personality Emily Czerwinski. Read more here.

The Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets and Pattison Media have reached a three-year deal to air regular season and playoff games on 104.7 The Lizard (CKLZ-FM). The broadcast rights were previously held by Bell Media’s AM 1150 (CKFR-AM), the team’s broadcast partner for nearly 25 years. Pattison plans to support the team through its video-stories app Kelowna10, as well as sister radio station, 103.1 Beach Radio (CKQQ-FM), in addition to a new online channel to live stream game audio and host other Rocket content. Regan Bartel has joined Pattison Media as the voice of the Kelowna Rockets. Since 2000, he’s called over 2,000 regular season, playoff and Memorial Cup games and will begin his 23rd season as the voice of the team when the Rockets opens their 2022-23 regular season at home vs. the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Dave “Bookie” Bookman has been posthumously honoured with a Heritage Toronto plaque outside the Horseshoe Tavern at Queen and Spadina where he hosted long-running, weekly live music showcase Nu Music Night, concurrent with a radio career that included contributing to 102.1 The Edge (CFNY-FM) for more than two decades and a six-year run at Indie88 (CIND-FM). A fierce crusader for independent music, Bookman passed away in May 2019, following a brain aneurysm.

The CRTC has found that the market of Newmarket, ON cannot support an additional commercial radio station at this time. Consequently, the commission will return an application filed by Frank Torres, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, for a broadcasting licence to operate a commercial radio station in Newmarket. The commission will publish an application by Pickering College Campus Radio for a broadcast licence to operate a new English-language community FM station in this market as part of the non-appearing phase of an upcoming public hearing.

The CRTC has found that the market of Sarnia, ON cannot support an additional commercial radio station at this time. The commission will return an application filed by Sarnia Media and Entertainment for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language low-power commercial FM station in Sarnia.

The CRTC has found that the Squamish, BC market can sustain an additional radio station. Given that no parties other than Four Senses Entertainment submitted an application to serve the market, the commission will publish their application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language commercial FM station.

The CRTC has granted an extension until Sept. 2, 2023 for the Vernon Community Radio Society (VCRS) to get its new station, CFAV-FM, on-the-air. Helmed by society president and radio veteran Gord Leighton, VCRS is still fundraising for a transmitter and other equipment. In its application to the commission, the society cited obstacles to its progress, including the COVID-19 pandemic and last year’s wildfires in the Okanagan.

The National Football League and SiriusXM have announced a five-year extension of their broadcasting and marketing agreement. The new agreement extends their content partnership, which began in 2004, beyond two decades. SiriusXM becomes the exclusive third-party audio provider of every NFL game across North America, with subscribers continuing to receive access to every NFL game live through Super Bowl LXI in 2027 on SiriusXM radio and on the SXM App, as well as SiriusXM NFL Radio. The SXM App offers 32 NFL team channels, each dedicated to carrying the official radio broadcast for each NFL team. Starting this season, each team channel on the SXM App will now also feature the team’s pre- and post-game shows before and after every game. 

LISTEN: On the latest Sound Off Podcast, Matt Cundill catches up with Jamie Cawdell, Assistant Programme Controller at Radio Essex in England. He is also the curator of the CHR Prep Service used by radio stations around the world including Virgin Radio in Canada and Z100 in New York. In this episode, you’ll hear how Cawdell got started in radio, the ins and outs of producing a breakfast radio show, and why he started his prep service. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here: