Corus Radio has rebranded Q107 (CFGQ-FM) Calgary to QR Calgary: Talk on FM. The pending format flip of the Classic Rock station, that had been a staple on the city’s airwaves for nearly two decades, was first announced Dec. 16, the last day Q107 featured on-air announcers, including local talent Tarzan Dan and Cam Sullivan. Simulcast of 770 CHQR began Monday morning. The news/talk station has been a high ratings performer for Corus, tied with CBC Radio One for first place, A12+, in the fall PPM ratings with a 9.7% share, down from 10.3% in the spring book. By comparison, Q107’s ratings had been soft, particularly with women in the key 25-54 demo. John Vos, Regional Program Director, told Broadcast Dialogue that attracting a wider audience was the main motivator behind the decision to simulcast. Vos said core talent will remain the same weekdays and weekends, adding that there are no plans to drop the AM signal. Read more here.
100.1 Moose FM (CKFU-FM) in Fort St. John is celebrating 20 years of broadcasting to B.C.’s Peace Region by relaunching with a refreshed sound. One of the only low-power commercial radio stations in the country, serving the community of just over 20,000, owner and general manager Adam Reaburn brought in the Country station’s first program director, Chris Walker, this past fall following a staffing-up over the pandemic as the independent station weathered COVID-19 much better than its larger market counterparts. Walker said the station’s milestone anniversary presented an opportunity to put “every little detail under the microscope.” Those programming changes start with a tweak to a more current Country Hits playlist. The refresh also includes an earlier start for the station’s morning show team, Dub & Catarina, who will now be heard starting at 5:30 a.m., offering the region’s first available newscast and morning show of the day to appeal to early risers. Read more here.
Canoe FM (CKHA-FM) Haliburton, ON has been recognized by the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce with its Not-for-Profit of the Year Award. Powered by more than 100 volunteers, the community radio station gives a free-of-charge platform to local organizations, charities and other non-profits to get their message out about events and activities. In the last year, station fundraising efforts have also allowed it to support 36 other not-for-profits in the area with donations totalling almost $150,000.
The Sox That Rock Sock Drive, led by Harvard Media’s X92.9 (CFEX-FM) Calgary and X100.7 (CKEX-FM) Red Deer, hit a record 2,115 donations this year in support of Calgary’s Inn From The Cold and The Outreach Centre in Red Deer, a far cry from the event’s humble beginnings of 584 pairs in its first year in 2016. This year, the station partnered with Canadian sock company, Sock Rocket, who agreed to triple donations if over 929 pairs were collected, bringing the total number of socks donated to 6,345 pair. Charlesglen Toyota, students at The Edge School, Southside Dodge and Gasoline Alley Farmers Market also supported this year’s campaign.
BBC World Service and CBC Podcasts have announced the launch of new original true crime podcast, Love, Janessa, premiering Jan. 23 on BBC Sounds, CBC Listen and most podcast apps. Hosted by journalist Hannah Ajala and produced by Antica Productions and Telltale Industries, the eight-part series delves into the murky world of online romance scams to find adult entertainment star Janessa Brazil, the unwitting face of several global catfishing schemes.
The Gent’s Talk podcast series, an extension of the Toronto-based Gent’s Post men’s lifestyle publication – co-hosted by editor Samir Mourani and contributor Matthew Chapman – is now available on Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment system, in addition to everywhere podcasts are streamed. New episodes drop every Monday featuring guests like comedian Russell Peters, Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio, and director Justin Wu. The podcast has obtained sponsorship from BULOVA Canada.
Podcamp Toronto is set to return Feb. 24-26, following a pandemic hiatus, and is currently accepting speaking proposals. Celebrating its 15th year, the free digital media “unconference” will return to its host venue at Toronto Metropolitan University. Learn more here.
LISTEN: On the latest episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, we welcome Zane Schwartz, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of the newly-launched Investigative Journalism Foundation to talk about the not-for-profit’s mission to help Canadian journalists uncover government waste and corruption and facilitate more investigative journalism. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
LISTEN: Randi Chase returns to the Sound Off Podcast. Chase, whose morning show on Real Country 95.5 (CKGY-FM) Red Deer with Vinny Taylor is now simulcast across 15 stations in the Stingray radio group, talks about how Alberta has changed and weathering the pandemic, in addition to discussing her podcast collaboration with Canadian actress and podcaster Sarah Edmondson (A Little Bit Culty).
