Vista Radio has entered into an agreement to purchase CAB-K Broadcasting, the owner and operator of Country 96.5 (CKLJ-FM) and Rock 104.5 (CKJX-FM) in Olds, AB and Country 106.5 (CKVG-FM) Vegreville, AB. Founded by Brian and Melanie Hepp in 2004 to establish Country 96.5, the first radio station serving the central Alberta community of Olds, CAB-K was awarded a second FM licence in Olds in 2007. The company went on to launch Country 106.5 in Vegreville, east of Edmonton, in 2016. Subject to CRTC approval, the deal would see the number of Vista Radio stations grow to 51. Read more here.
Vista Radio is partnering with the Salvation Army to help raise funds for evacuees in the Northwest Territories. The staff of Vista’s True North FM 101.1 (CJCD-FM) and MyTrueNorthNow.com in Yellowknife, as well as a rebroadcaster in Hay River, are among those who remain evacuated with a phased return last week hampered by an anticipated acceleration in wildfire activity along Highway 1. Vista Radio has set up a national fundraising initiative to raise funds to directly assist residents when they return to their homes. Every Vista property is promoting the initiative on-air and online with a goal of $20,000. Read more here.
The CRTC has denied two applications to amend the broadcast licence of Stingray’s CFXJ-FM Toronto, currently branded as 93.5 Today Radio, in order to operate two rebroadcasting transmitters in Mississauga and North York. Stingray maintained in its application that the station has experienced significant signal degradation over the past few years as new high-rise development and population density have increased. It added that audiences farther from the downtown core frequently have difficulty receiving the station’s signal. It proposed using Single Frequency Networking (also known as MaxxCasting), a technology that uses synchronized repeaters on the same frequency to enhance signal quality within the station’s authorized broadcast parameters. Dufferin Communications opposed both applications, arguing it was reasonable to expect the station would monetize on such a large addition to its potential market audience. The commission concluded that approving the technical changes, which it did not find Stingray had demonstrated a compelling need for, would give the station a distinct competitive advantage over others in the market and could result in undue financial impact on incumbent stations.
99.3 County FM, Prince Edward County’s volunteer driven non-profit community radio station, is continuing its partnership with local Ontario Junior Hockey League team, The Wellington Dukes, for the 2023-24 season. 99.3 County FM is the official voice of the defending Buckland Cup Champions, with play-by-play provided by former Ontario Hockey League broadcaster and County FM News Director Craig Foster. The production team includes Gage Broderick and Ken Murray.
LISTEN: Sean Ross of Ross on Radio returns to the Sound Off Podcast to talk radio and records, answering Matt Cundill’s burning question: What happened to the hits? They also discuss whether “Join the Conversation” radio has run its course, those songs of summer, Radiodays North America, the lack of programming-related radio conferences, and why Taylor Swift is as big as the Beatles.
