Numeris PPM ratings are out for Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The last book of 2020 reflects the 13-week listening period covering Aug. 31 to Nov. 29. CBC Radio One topped the ratings in Toronto A12+, with Q107 (CILQ-FM) notably grabbing an even bigger lead with women 18-34, posting a 19.7% share (up from 17.3%). CKNW grabs the #1 spot for A12+ in Vancouver with a 14.6% share of hours tuned (up from 13.5%). UP! 99.3 takes #1 with A12+ in Edmonton, posting an 8.1% share of hours tuned (flat with the last book). In Calgary, News Talk 770 leads the way with a 9.6% share (up from 8.3%). In Montreal, CHMP 98.5FM is #1 for A12+ (Franco) with a 20.4% share (down from 21.8%). For A12+ (Anglo), CJAD 800 is #1 with a 29.8% (up from 28.7%). Find David Bray’s full market breakdown, here.
Rogers Sports & Media made a series of changes to the Ottawa radio landscape last Thursday that included rebranding its Ottawa news/talk station 1310 News (CIWW-AM) as “CityNews” which will now be simulcast on the FM frequency formerly used by Country 101.1 (CKBY-FM). Accordingly, Country 92.3 has debuted on CJET-FM in place of the JACK FM brand. Charmaine Khan, Senior Manager of Communications, News & Entertainment, for Rogers Sports & Media, told Broadcast Dialogue that the move is an investment in the news format at a time when information is vital. As part of the changes, OttawaMatters.com has also changed its name to Ottawa.CityNews.ca. Read more here.
Vista Radio rebranded Moose FM (CJCD-FM) Yellowknife as 100.1 True North FM on Friday, in a move to better reflect both the community and the market’s unique geographical location. With the station celebrating its 40th anniversary last year, Scott Armstrong, Director of Operations, Alberta & NWT, said the company had a realization that CJCD-FM needed to be a truer voice for its listening area. Previously playing Variety Hits under the Moose FM brand, True North FM is now airing pure Classic Hits and as part of the rebrand, has added another news person and debuted “True North Tales” – a series of human interest features, airing four to six times a day, that tell the stories and reflect the culture of the station’s audience. Its digital site has also seen an overhaul with MyTrueNorthNow.com featuring more local news and information. Read more here.
Jim Pattison Broadcast Group has rebranded its Red Deer alt rock station 106.7 The Drive (CFDV-FM) as 106.7 Rewind Radio, playing the best of the ‘80s & ‘90s. Matt Geddes and Ryan Simmons remain in mornings, while Charlee Morgan will be the voice of middays. Program Director Peter Michaels hosts weekday afternoon drive, with Patrick Bateman heard evenings and Saturday afternoons.
Jeff Hopper, morning co-host on Ottawa’s Pure Country 94 (CKKL-FM), returned home Friday afternoon after “fighting for his life” in hospital with COVID-19. Hopper praised Ottawa General Hospital staff in the COVID wing and thanked those who sent well wishes during his stay, saying in a video posted to Facebook that “my voice is a little messed up because my lungs still aren’t good…it’s going to be a bit of a recovery here…”
CJAD Montreal celebrated 75 years on Dec. 8. In December 1945, Joseph Arthur Dupont (a francophone whose initials inspired the station’s call letters), established CJAD 800 in studios on De la Montagne Street. CJAD 800 was one of the first English-language stations to appear in Quebec and over the years, its hosts have included names like George Balcan, Gord Sinclair, Ted Blackman and other Canadian broadcast industry legends. As part of the anniversary celebrations, the late Jack Finnigan was inducted as the eighth and newest member of the CJAD 800 Hall of Fame.
The CRTC has approved Akash Broadcasting’s acquisition of Edmonton ethnic radio station 101.7 World FM (CKER-FM) from Rogers for $6.7 million. Rogers’ only ethic radio station, which currently airs programming in 12 languages, the company acknowledged there were few synergies with its OMNI multi-ethnic TV service. Akash already operates CJCN-FM Surrey. The commission denied a request for an exemption to the payment of tangible benefits.
StatsRadio has analyzed pandemic listening across its 62 client stations in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, finding among other things, that morning show listening has been extended as audiences tune in against multiple time frames. StatsRadio found that pre-lockdown, morning listenership was well underway by 4 a.m. (88.71% of sample). That trend continued to increase for each month studied to finish at 98.39% in October. Morning audience decline continued until noon for 14.52% of the sample stations, increasing to 22.58% of the sample in October. While 61.29% of stations saw shifts in morning show primetime listening from February to April, just 35.48% saw that shift continue into fall. The majority saw an incremental shift between 15 to 30 minutes with 52% seeing an increase in morning show tuning from February until October. Read more here.
Radioplayer Canada has partnered with Google to launch one of the first apps developed for the new Android Automotive Operating System (OS) in the new Polestar 2 electric car. Radioplayer has been chosen as a launch app for the new electric car brand from Volvo and Geely Holding, which features the first embedded infotainment system powered by Android Automotive OS.
Howard Stern will continue to produce and host The Howard Stern Show exclusively for SiriusXM for the next five years, with the Howard Stern archive of audio and video to continue to be licensed to SiriusXM for an additional seven years. “Fifteen years ago, I joined SiriusXM, a fledgling group of broadcasters. I had been in a toxic relationship with terrestrial radio. And no matter how well I treated the medium, no matter how successful I made them, they abused me,” said Stern, in a release. “Going to SiriusXM liberated me. I felt like Tina Turner freeing myself from Ike. And despite the naysayers and the ridicule, we have persevered, and are thriving. I’ve been proven right about satellite radio over and over again. With this contract renewal, I can’t wait to see what else I’ll be right about…plus, now that I can work from home, I simply don’t have an excuse to quit.”
SiriusXM and Asian-focused music and media company, 88rising, have launched 88rising Radio on SiriusXM channel 305 and SiriusXM streaming, an all-Asian, multi-genre music channel. Founded by Sean Miyashiro, the Los Angeles-based artist collective and media platform, will develop and curate the 24/7 channel. It will broadcast an array of music, from the biggest pop songs topping the charts across Asia, to current emerging discoveries and feature artists from South Korea, China, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) have pushed the JUNO Awards 50th anniversary celebration to May 2021. Originally scheduled for March, the broadcast is now set for Sunday, May 16 on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and globally on CBCMusic.ca/junos. CARAS has also unveiled three new JUNO Award statuettes with a 50th anniversary gold version to be awarded to JUNO Award winners, a silver version given to Special Award recipients and a gold and silver version presented to Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees. The origins of the JUNOs date back to 1970 when Walt Grealis and Stan Klees, publishers of the weekly trade publication, RPM, organized the Gold Leaf Awards, held at St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto. A year later, the name of the award was changed to honour Pierre Juneau, the first head of the CRTC, responsible for the implementation of Canadian Content Regulations in 1971.
Hot Docs Podcast Festival is looking for submissions for its Opening Act program for the online edition of the festival, Jan. 27-29. Hot Docs is seeking two-minute excerpts from original Canadian podcasts to be featured before a selection of virtual events at the 2021 festival. Selected participants will have their shows played to a captive, global audience of podcast lovers and get exposure to attending audio executives and industry leaders. The deadline to apply is Dec. 21.
LISTEN: On the latest episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, we welcome Orlena Cain, longtime morning show co-host at Mix 97 (CIGL-FM) Belleville, ON, to talk about her success in the audiobook narration business, escaping your creative comfort zone, and taking time to slow down. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
LISTEN: 30-year radio veteran Sue Tyler is on the Sound Off Podcast. The afternoon host on Power 104 (CKLZ-FM) Kelowna is now streaming on Twitch. Matt Cundill talks with Tyler about that, the secret to good call-in, and her start in Ottawa, among other subjects. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
The 43rd annual CKNW Vancouver Kids’ Fund Pledge Day raised over $1.3 million dollars on Dec. 1. Formerly known as the “CKNW Orphans’ Fund,” the annual event supports B.C. kids with special needs.
The 81st Annual CFOS-Sun Times Christmas Fund Broadcast, a collaboration of Bayshore Broadcasting in Owen Sound, the Sun Times and the Royal Bank, has raised $40,000 so far, aiding 22 local charities in a year where the need is greater than usual. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event went virtual this year with local performers submitting recordings of their music, while the station read pledges. Donations will be accepted until the end of January at all RBC branches in Grey-Bruce.
The 26th Annual Q104 Toy Drive, Dec. 3-4, raised over $28,000, including $5,000 in matching funds from The Halifax Professional Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 268. Station distribution partner, Parker Street Food & Furniture Bank, will ensure every kid gets a toy under the tree this Christmas, with roughly $10,00 spent at local small businesses thanks to continued support from Moxies Grill & Bar. New this year, Q104 partnered with Global News as its official TV partner, which helped boost coverage of the Toy Drive.
The 3rd annual Miracle on 3rd was held Dec. 3. Supported by Jim Pattison Broadcast Group’s stations in Prince George, the event is usually held as a drive thru/drop off with its radio and TV stations broadcasting live from the station parking lot on 3rd Avenue. This year, COVID-19 restrictions required the fundraiser to go fully online in support of the Community Counselling Centre of Prince George, which helps masters level students earn experience in mental health counselling. This year’s event saw $13,517 raised. With a move to online sessions only, the centre will use the funds to purchase new laptops.
989 XFM (CJFX-FM) Antigonish, NS hosted its 27th St. Martha’s Hospital Foundation Hospital Help Day Radiothon, raising $91,332. The event has now helped raise a total of over $1.4 million.
