Radio & Podcast News – CRTC continues consultation on sale of Bell Media radio properties

The CRTC is consulting on the sale of some Bell Media radio stations with comments open until Aug. 1, ahead of a virtual hearing on Sept. 5. That includes applications put forward by Arsenal Media to acquire seven stations in Quebec, Durham Radio to acquire three stations in Ontario, My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to acquire four stations in Ontario and Vista Radio’s intention to acquire 21 stations in B.C. Meanwhile, the commission has approved Neeti P. Ray’s application to take ownership of CKWW Windsor, CHAM Hamilton and CKOC Hamilton.

Shane Hewitt’s “The Night Shift” has joined the lineup on Bell Media’s iHeartRadio talk network. Hewitt’s previous late night show “The Shift” was abruptly cancelled by Corus Entertainment last November. He now takes over the 7 – 11 p.m. weeknight time slot on most stations in the iHeartRadio talk network, resulting in a lineup shuffle for some properties including Toronto’s Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM). Jim Richards moves into the drive home time slot from 4 – 6 p.m. ET, while Deb Hutton will be heard from 2 – 4 p.m., following The Vassy Kapelos Show.

SiriusXM Canada, which broadcasts every NTT Indycar Series race, has announced programming plans for the 2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place, July 19-21. SiriusXM listeners will have access to the live call of the race on Sunday, July 21 on SiriusXM Indycar Nation (ch. 218). SiriusXM will be co-sponsoring two cars from the Meyer Shank Racing team: No. 60 SiriusXM Honda piloted by Felix Rosenqvist and the No. 66 SiriusXM Honda driven by David Malukas, showcasing a special red and black livery featuring SiriusXM’s The Tragically Hip Radio (ch. 757). Members of The Tragically Hip will be appearing at festivities throughout the weekend with Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay acting as honorary grand marshals for Sunday’s race.

JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto presents the fourth season of Discover Women in Jazz, in partnership with the Pat and Tony Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts. The concert series champions and highlights women’s contributions to jazz as musicians, composers, lyricists and bandleaders with featured artists including Joy Lapps, Debi Botos, Nicky Schrire, and Virginia MacDonald. One concert will be broadcast live to air and live-streamed to YouTube each week throughout August. 

Radioplayer has unveiled an app integration specifically designed to leverage the capabilities of the newly-launched Apple Vision Pro, introducing a virtual radio device that users can place within their own reality, enhancing the immersive experience of listening to their favorite radio stations. Radioplayer CEO Yann Legarson says by embracing Apple Vision Pro, Radioplayer is ensuring radio remains central to the future of digital experiences. The integration is now available in Canada, the UK, France and Germany.

Curiouscast’s Crime Beat has surpassed 1 million downloads/listens over the span of 30 days with total downloads now sitting at 1,063,749. Researched and hosted by Calgary-based Global News reporter Nancy Hixt, each episode takes listeners through some of Canada’s most high-profile criminal cases. The award-winning podcast premiered its sixth season in February, while the television adaptation is now in its fifth season on Global.

Tested, a new limited series from CBC and NPR original documentary podcast Embedded, traces the 100-year history of sex testing female athletes in elite sports. The six-episode series, hosted by Rose Eveleth (Flash Forward), launched this week ahead of the Paris Olympics. Last year, track and field authorities announced new regulations that mean some athletes cannot compete in the female category unless they lower their body’s naturally occurring testosterone levels. Tested follows the story of two of these women athletes: Christine Mboma, an Olympic silver medalist from Namibia, and Maximila Imali, who holds two Kenyan national records. 

Lisa Williams, the longtime co-host of The Morning Drive on AM 800 CKLW Windsor, will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce. Williams, who retired on May 31 after 38 years with CKLW, will be recognized at an event on Oct. 18.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up in memory of late Winnipeg radio personality Larry Updike, who passed away last month. His friends and family have now organized a fundraiser benefiting Updike’s autistic son, Gordon. “Gordon is 32-years-old, autistic and non-verbal,” wrote Updike’s longtime co-host Tom McGouran, who is leading the effort. “Developmentally he is at a pre-school level. Mary-Ann [Updike’s wife of 33 years] is aware he will outlive both his parents now.” Read more here.

LISTEN: Jeremy Baker has come full circle. After starting the commercial part of his career at The Zone (CJZN-FM) Victoria, he’s returned. He’s on the Sound Off Podcast talking about his time working in campus radio before heading to The Zone, CFOX Vancouver, and later The Peak (CKPK-FM), as well as his recent stint at Acadia Broadcasting’s Surge 105 (CKHY-FM) in Halifax, before heading back out west.