Radio & Podcast News – CRTC approves first of Bell Media station divestitures

The CRTC has approved the first of Bell Media’s 45 radio station divestitures. ZoomerMedia will acquire CJOS-FM Owen Sound – currently branded as Bounce 92.3 – for $1.5 million. ZoomerMedia indicated it plans to continue the operation of the station under the same conditions of service currently in place and maintain its Adult Hits format.  

Cogeco Media and Bell Media have filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC aimed at prohibiting Quebecor Media and Leclerc Communication from broadcasting QUB radio content on 99.5 FM CJPX-FM Montreal. Leclerc reached a content distribution agreement earlier this year with Quebecor Media’s NumériQ, which saw programming from its QUB talk radio and public affairs digital channel start airing on CJPX-FM at the end of August. 

Pattison Media’s The Zone @ 91.3 (CJZN-FM) Victoria, in partnership with Peninsula Co-op, has raised over $55,000 in monetary, gift card and new toy donations. The Zone’s Toy Drive began in 2010, inspired by Morning Zone host Dylan Willows, who passed away in June, and his mother, Marie Willows, who recognized a growing need within the community. Driven by Dylan’s vision and dedication, the Toy Drive became an annual tradition, uniting the station’s listener community, affectionately known as “Zoners.” In honor of Dylan and his enduring legacy, The Zone’s Toy Drive has been renamed “The Willows Family Toy Drive.” 

Evanov Communications’ Winnipeg stations Energy 106, HOT 100.5, and 92.7 FM CKJS teamed up with Harvest Manitoba for the annual “Hope for the Holidays” Radiothon. Broadcast live from Garden City Shopping Centre on Dec. 13, from 6 a.m. to 6  p.m. Energy 106’s Wheeler in the Morning (Dave Wheeler, Tyler Carr), along with HOT 100.5’s Mark & Dilly in the Morning (Mark Morris, Sean Dilworth), were on-air for 12 hours of music, prizes, auctions, and info on how to donate. CKJS’ Good Morning Philippines (Chester Pangan, Donna Natividad-Arenas), Radio Dhamaal (Mandeep Brar) and Afternoon Pasada (Lucille Nolasco Garrido) also supported the Radiothon throughout the day. Over $40,000 in food and cash were raised, with donations still coming in.  

99.3 County FM (CJPE-FM) Prince Edward County, ON is presenting its fifth annual “Celebrate Christmas” broadcast on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. Initially begun as a way to offer a traditional Christmas Eve experience during pandemic restrictions, Celebrate Christmas has evolved into a local Christmas tradition. This year’s program sees the community station partner with 18 local communities of faith to produce a curated combination of scripture, carols, and Christmas greetings on behalf of the various congregations. The complete program will be posted at CountyFM’s website closer to the broadcast date.

The Podcast Exchange (TPX) has announced a partnership with the Steve Dangle Podcast Network (SDPN). SDPN boasts a roster of sports-focused podcasts that currently includes The Steve Dangle Podcast, LFR, The Chris Johnston Show, Agent Provocateur with Allan Walsh & Adam Wylde, The Jesse Blake Sports Report, and Nailing the Apex with racing journalist Tim Hauraney, among other offerings. 

Canadaland publisher and editor-in-chief Jesse Brown has posted “a note of gratitude” to supporters, after what he terms a “difficult year” for the podcast network, acknowledging the high rate of staff turnover over the last few months. Brown, who has received a high amount of backlash for his strong views on anti-semitism and the Israel-Palestine conflict, says it’s been hard – and sometimes demoralizing – since Oct. 7, to see supporters leave the network over his views. Brown says despite that, Canadaland has experienced a 25% bump in listenership, encouraging him to believe that people still want to have challenging conversations. 

CBC and the BBC World Service debut new six-part true crime podcast Kaitlyn’s Baby on Jan. 14. Hosted by Canadian writer and producer Sarah Treleaven (iHeart Radio’s Unrestorable), the latest season of The Con podcast strand, follows Kaitlyn, a pregnant young woman in crisis, who takes dozens of birth workers through a series of disasters – rape, baby loss, and even a coma, before it’s all revealed as lies.

Triton Digital’s Canada Podcast Ranker for November 2024 cites the top-ranked podcast overall as Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard (Wondery Network). CBC/Radio-Canada earned the #1 spot on the Top Networks Report with 1.85M Average Weekly Downloads, followed by Wondery Network at #2 with 1.78M Average Weekly Downloads, and Audioboom at #3 with 1.22M Average Weekly Downloads. Top-ranked November debuts included Cogeco Media’s La nuit où j’ai failli mourir, the Mark Levin Podcast (Cumulus Podcast Network), and Crimes occultes (Cogeco Media).

LISTEN: On this year-end episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, we sit down with our publisher Shawn Smith, the president of Momentum Media, to reflect on 2024 and discuss his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for the broadcast industry in 2025. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:

LISTEN: Podcast pioneer Rob Greenlee, host of the New Media Show (along with Todd Cochrane), Podcast Tips, Trust Factor, Spoken Life Show and Behind the EV Wheel, is on the Sound Off Podcast. He continues to be an advocate for podcasters, frequently speaking at industry events, hosting panels, and educating others on podcasting trends, best practices, and technology.