Stingray has introduced New Country 93.5 (CFXJ-FM) in Toronto, as the company takes a bet on the rising popularity of Country music. The New Country format, which is already carried on 19 Stingray stations across the country from Kamloops, BC to Carbonear, NL, replaces the former 93.5 Today Radio. Paul McGuire, Stingray’s Country network midday host, takes on mornings in Toronto, in addition to maintaining his network duties. Read more here.
CBC/Radio-Canada is asking the commission for expedited permission to install a new antenna for CBUI-FM Stewart, BC before weather conditions deteriorate in the remote area. CBC/Radio-Canada is seeking approval to amend the broadcasting licence for CFPR Prince Rupert, BC, by adding a new FM rebroadcasting transmitter in Stewart, replacing the existing AM rebroadcasting transmitter CBKA Stewart. The proposed call sign for the new FM rebroadcasting transmitter is CBUI-FM. The public broadcaster says the AM antenna in Stewart is 50 years old and has reached the end of its useful life, with listeners in the area exposed to a high risk of signal loss. Comments are open until Sept. 16.
Quest Global Research Group has announced its acquisition of media research firm, Coleman Insights. Quest says the partnership will enable both companies “to broaden their offerings and deliver enhanced services to clients across the market research community,” with Coleman Insights continuing to operate under its brand and retaining its existing team, while benefiting from Quest’s expanded resources and capabilities. Founded in 2003 in Oakville, ON, Quest currently operates in over 70 markets, employing over 200 people globally. Its portfolio includes online research data collection company Quest Mindshare, panel management company SampleGurus, online panels Opinion Champ and Panel Champ, and data quality platform, dtect. Coleman Insights has been delivering media research since 1978. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, its radio, podcasting, and streaming clients include Hubbard Radio, iHeartMedia, Bonneville, Audacy, Stingray, and blubrry. Read more here.
Bobby Bones will take the stage as host of the 2024 NAB Marconi Radio Awards, set to take place Oct. 9 during NAB Show New York. Bones will also be honored with the NAB Distinguished Service Award (DSA), the National Association of Broadcasters’ highest honour. Bones is widely known as the host of the nationally syndicated iHeartRadio program, The Bobby Bones Show. His work also extends to television, where he’s served as host of USA Network competition series Snake In The Grass, starred in National Geographic’s Breaking Bobby Bones and has been the official in-house mentor on ABC’s American Idol. Additionally, he hosts the BobbyCast podcast, which has nearly 40 million downloads to date.
Pro Bono Group has released fresh creative for the Pro Radio Project for September. Radio Connects has stepped up to be the official distributor of Pro Radio creative, with support from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) and the Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB). All Radio Connects member stations and non-member stations will receive each new piece of creative as it’s trafficked through the national sales teams at Bell Media, CBS and Target Broadcast Sales. “Hockey Family” can be used to rest the current three spots — “University Girl”, “First Time Mom” and “Just Moved Here” — or it can go into rotation with them. Pro Bono Group says another fresh-up will be released in about six weeks with creative geared to shopping for the holidays in November.
SiriusXM Canada has announced extensive coverage plans for the 2024 NFL season. SiriusXM will deliver live broadcasts of every game from Thursday’s NFL Kickoff through Super Bowl LIX, as well as comprehensive talk coverage on the SiriusXM NFL Radio channel. SiriusXM will be the exclusive third-party audio provider of live play-by-play for every NFL game across North America. Joining the SiriusXM NFL Radio team this season will be quarterback Brian Hoyer, linebacker Manti Te’o, cornerback Logan Ryan and offensive lineman Justin Pugh. Miami Dolphins running back Alec Ingold and former NFL tight end Colin Thompson return to host the weekly, “The Players’ Point,” delivering the current player’s perspective on what’s happening around the league.
LISTEN: Jeff Umbro, the founder of The Podglomerate podcast services firm, is on the Sound Off Podcast. He and Matt Cundill discuss his transition from book publicist to podcasting, insights on video’s role in podcasting, and the complexities of monetization, including the challenges of dynamic ad insertion and the need for fair CPMs.
