Pattison Media abandoned the NOW! radio format in Winnipeg at midnight CT, introducing ALT 94.3 – Winnipeg’s Music Alternative. CHIQ-FM will now play the best of Alternative music from the 2000s to now, with a playlist featuring artists like Muse, Coldplay, Arkells, Death Cab for Cutie, Twenty-One Pilots, Cage the Elephant, Foster the People, and Foo Fighters. The NOW! radio format was introduced to the city in October 2021, a departure from 94.3 The Drive, the Classic Rock format the station previously had carried since 2016. A consistent ratings performer for Pattison in Edmonton, the NOW! format has struggled to gain traction in other markets. Pattison introduces ALT 94.3 less than a month after Corus Entertainment’s move to rebrand Power 97 (CJKR-FM) as Winnipeg’s Iconic Alternative. Read more here.
Rogers Sports & Media has expanded the footprint of Sandra & Chris, originating from KiSS 105.3 (CISS-FM) Ottawa. The morning show is now being heard in evenings in 15 markets, including Winnipeg, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and North Bay.
Corus Radio’s 680 CJOB Winnipeg has entered into a long-term broadcast partnership with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The 12-time Grey Cup winners have called CJOB home for most of the past 60 years. Terms of the partnership extension have not been disclosed.
SiriusXM Canada has announced the return of its holiday music lineup on Nov. 1 with 26 festive channels, including new addition, Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Radio, featuring a mix of holiday classics handpicked by the holiday connoisseur himself as well as stories, holiday dedications to fans and an inside look at the making of his new album Holiday Seasoning. The channel will also air “Jimmy Fallon’s 12 Days of Christmas” special consisting of a dozen curated genre-specific playlists from yacht rock to country, as well as an American Thanksgiving dinner special hosted by Fallon. Among the channels returning for the season are Hallmark Radio, Trans-Siberian Orchestra Radio, and the Mannheim Steamroller Channel.
Orbyt Media has announced a new partnership with imaging, voiceover, production and jingle provider Benztown, beginning in January 2025. The partnership makes the Bell Media-owned syndication group the exclusive home of Benztown’s radio libraries in Canada – spanning all major formats as well as topical and seasonal “in a box” content across Country, News/Talk, Classic Hits, Rock, and Hot AC – on a cash or barter basis. Read more here.
Pro Bono Group’s new Pro Radio Project creative is titled, “Christmas Shopping,” designed to help drum up new business right now and into the holiday season. It stars Canadian actor and voiceover performer Noel Johansen, and Gemini Award-nominated actor/comedian Bob Bainborough. Like everyone else connected with the Pro Radio Project, Noel and Bob donated their time and talent because they believe in the power and future of radio. Stations are free to run “Christmas Shopping” by itself or in rotation with other Pro Radio spots. A fresh spot will be released in late December that stations can run in January and February that will resonate with potential winter advertisers.
Ed the Sock and 94.9 The Rock’s first-ever Socktoberfest was a smashing success. While bands rocked Oshawa’s Biltmore Theatre stage, bins were overflowing with donations of new socks and gently-used winter outerwear, clothing and footwear for those experiencing homelessness this winter, to be distributed by Durham Region’s Street Outreach Program. The program provided four bins for clothing donations and those quickly overflowed, filling up another 11 garbage bags. As the first of what promises to be an annual event, Socktoberfesters were treated to comedy performances and music by Highteens, Blamethrower, Dustin Macaulay and Rowan Picard – as well as audience karaoke duets with Ed the Sock, whose All-Night Show on 94.9 The Rock is now in its second year.
The Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) Connection 2024 returns Nov. 6-7, with sessions exploring AI and digital revenue, among other hot topics impacting local radio. The conference’s Leadership sessions will kick off with a presentation from Pierre Bouvard, Chief Insights Officer, Cumulus Media and Westwood One, on Effective Advertising Insights. Deloitte will present on AI and Media trends, while an afternoon President’s Panel will address the current state of broadcasting. Conference Chair Jody Brooker says the panel will feature four radio industry CEOs – Stingray Radio President Steve Jones, Acadia Broadcasting President [and OAB President] Chris Pearson, My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) President Jon Pole, and Evanov Communications President Paul Evanov – “answering the big questions that keep us all awake at night.” Read more here.
Canadaland is the runaway Canadian winner at the third annual Signal Awards, recognizing the podcasts that define culture, “from mainstream and independent, underground and above the fold.” Canadaland’s A Field Guide to Gay Animals was the Canadian podcast that picked up the most honours, claiming Gold in the General Documentary category, Silver for Best Show Artwork, and Silver for Best Co-host Team for Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson. Canadaland’s Pretendians picked up Silver for Best Co-host Team for Robert Jago and Angel Ellis, and was also recognized with Silver in General Documentary. CBC Podcasts’ Broomgate: A Curling Scandal won Gold in General Documentary (Sports), while Corus’ Curiouscast and Great Pacific Media’s Deadman’s Curse: Volcanic Gold captured Gold in the General-History category. Read more here.
Maureen Holloway and Wendy Mesley are pivoting their podcast Women of Ill Repute after 95 episodes. The veteran broadcasters acknowledge the podcast, which was produced by the Sound Off Podcast Network, was a harder project to take on than they’d anticipated, including the challenge of finding sponsors. Holloway and Mesley are moving their content over to a subscription-based Substack, where they’ve already been publishing a weekly newsletter, with some paywalled bonus content planned. The podcast will still be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms.
Terry Evans is the host of new Sound Off Podcast Network offering Reluctantly. The Edmonton radio veteran, who continues to helm the K-97 (CIRK-FM) morning show, will feature “remarkable people with fantastic stories that deserve to be heard.” Guests so far include Canadian blues musician David Gogo, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, and singer/songwriter Clayton Bellamy.
The Town Show is the latest podcast from boutique Vancouver creative studio Kelly&Kelly. Hosted by Mark Chavez and Ryan Beil, each week a guest comedian is featured, set to build a fictional town, pitching new residents, landmarks, history and events that shape the community. Actor, comedian, and longtime CBC contributor Peter Oldring is among the pod’s first guests.
PodSummit will return to Calgary’s The Grand theatre, Sept. 19 – 20, 2025. Building on the success of this year’s event, PodSummit says it’s “diligently refining” its vision for next year.
