Radio & Podcast News – Evanov’s CHLO first Canadian AM to adopt IBOC HD tech

Numeris has released the Spring PPM ratings, covering the 13-week period covering March 1 to May 30, 2021. 

Toronto: Bragging rights at the top of the ratings heap go to CBC Radio One delivering a 15.5% share A12+ (down from 16.0%). Taking the #1 spot with women 25-54 is CHUM-FM delivering a 12.6% share (up from 7.9%). boom is back on top with men 25-54, posting a 12.1% share (up from 11.1%). Q107 leads the way for M18-34 with an 15.7% share (down from 20.0%). Despite some unusual results in recent books, F18-34, CHFI-FM is in front with 20.1% (down from 24.6%).

Vancouver: CKNW grabs the #1 spot for A12+ with a 13.3% share of hours tuned (down from 13.9%). Jumping up to take the top spot F25-54 was Z95.3, posting a 12.2% share (up from 11.3%). CFOX holds the lead for M25-54 listeners, delivering a 12.1% share (up from 11.2%). The FOX is also well out in front for M18-34 with a 20.0% share of hrs. tuned (down from 25.8%). When it comes to women 18-34, 104.3 The Breeze is #1 with a 19.1% share.

Edmonton: UP 99.3 sweeps in to take #1, A12+, posting a 9.2% share of hours tuned (up from 8.4% in the last book). NOW! Radio holds top spot for F25-54, delivering a 13.6% share (down from 13.9 %). Sonic tops the list for M25-54 with an 11.9% share (up from 11.7%). For M18-34, Sonic also leads the way posting a 20.8% (down from 21.5%). NOW! led F18-34 delivering a 17.9% (down from 22.8%).

Calgary: CBC Radio One leads the way A12+ with a 19.9% (up from 20.8%). 101.5 Today Radio takes #1 with F25-54 delivering a 10.1% share (down from 11.8%). For M25-54, X92.9 rules with a 9.5% (down from 9.9%). 101.5 Today Radio takes top spot for M18-34, delivering a 17.9%. Country 105 steps out front for F18-34 posting a 12.9%

Montreal: CHMP 98.5 FM is #1, A12+ (Franco), with a 23.0% share (up from 20.4%).  For A12+ (Anglo), CJAD 800 is #1 with a 29.9% (up from 29.8%). 105.7 Rythme is tops with women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 (Franco), delivering a 16.3% share (down from 17.2%). For F25-54 (Anglo), The Beat 92.5 is out in front with a 31.1% share (down from 32.3). For M25-54 (Franco), CHMP 98.5 FM is on top at a 21.0% share (up from 16.8%). For M25-54 (Anglo), CHOM is #1 at 22.6% (down from 23.1%).

Find David Bray’s full breakdown here.

Numeris’ Spring Radio Diary Release uses data collected from Aug. 31, 2020 to May 2, 2021 (continuous measurement). 

Ottawa-Gatineau: CBC Radio One is out in front (again) delivering a 16.8% share A12+ (up from 15.8% in Spring 2020). The New Hot 89.9 grabs the #1 spot with women 25-54 delivering a 12.2% share (down from 12.9% in Spring 2020). CBC Radio One holds the #1 spot for males 25-54, posting a 9.3% share (down from 10.7%). CHEZ 106 leads the way for M18-34 with an 8.4%. For F18-34, Hot 89.9 leads, posting an impressive 18.9% share.

Winnipeg: CBC Radio One grabs the #1 spot A12+ with a 16.7 % share of hours tuned (up from 13.9% in Spring 2020). Top spot for F25-54 goes to QX104 with a 12.8% share (up from 11.3% in Spring 2020). In a very significant change, there is a three-way tie for top spot for M25-54 listeners, a 9.7% share for Power 97, 680 CJOB and CBC Radio One. QX104 heads the list for M18-34 with an 11.9%, followed by 92.1 CITI at 10.6%. For F18-34, the favourite is QX104 at 15.2%.

Halifax: CBC Radio One takes #1, A12+, posting a 21.5% share of hours tuned (up from 18.5% in the Spring 2020 book). MOVE 100 (formerly C100) takes top spot for F25-54, delivering an 18.1% share (down from 18.2% a year ago). As usual, Q104 tops the list for M25-54 with a 22.6% share (down from 26.5% last Spring). For M18-34, Q104 leads the way with 28.2%. When it comes to women 18-34, Move 100 takes top spot posting a 28.7% share.

Hamilton: For originating stations, KX 94.7 leads the way for A12+ with a 7.0% (down from 7.4% in the Spring 2020 book). K-Lite is popular with women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 delivering a 10.9% share (down from 12.1% last spring). For M25-54, Y108 remains on top with an 18.0% (down from 10.0%). Y108 also takes top spot for M18-34 delivering a 10.1% (down from 16.4% a year ago). KX 94.7 stays out front for F18-34, posting a 13.2 % share.

Victoria: CBC Radio One is #1 for A12+ with a 21.7% share (down from 20.4% in the Spring 2020 book). Ocean 98.5 is tops with women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 delivering an 18.3% share (up from 13.2% a year ago). For M25-54, The Q! is on top at 19.4% share, followed by The Zone with 17.7%. For M18-34, The Q leads with 27.0%.  Virgin Radio is #1 with F18-34, posting a 17.5%. Read David Bray’s full summary here.

Evanov Communications is banking on HD technology to help alleviate growing sound quality and interference issues plaguing the AM broadcast band. The company has begun testing IBOC (In-band on-channel) HD technology on CHLO, its heritage multicultural station serving Greater Toronto, becoming the first AM station in Canada to utilize the tech on the AM band. Right now, there are just a handful of stations in North America using IBOC HD on the AM band, including WGY 810AM New York. Many others broadcast as a sub-channel of their FM sister station or FM repeater, but not on the AM band itself. Carmela Laurignano, Evanov’s VP Regulatory Affairs, sees the move as necessary to maintain AM radio’s relevance. Read more here.

Telefilm is behind a new six-episode podcast interview series with Canadian film and TV icons,  entitled Maple Popcorn. Produced by The Brand is Female and hosted by Marriska Fernandes, featured guests include Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy, Bad Blood), Mary Galloway (Supernatural), director Thyrone Tommy (Mariner, Avalanche), and writer and Black Screen Office co-founder Clement Virgo.

99.3 County FM’s (CJPE-FM) 2021 Radiothon exceeded its goal raising $70,505 in four days for the Prince Edward County not-for-profit community radio station. The station, which relies on donations and grants for one third of its operating budget, set out to raise a minimum of $53,000. General Manager Craig Mills says response from residents and businesses was overwhelming with 111 volunteers involved in the Radiothon production, including the 45 musicians who generously donated their time. The station has also launched a new downloadable CD – Songs of Light from the Shadow: A Musical Snapshot of the Pandemic  – featuring 17 homegrown artists, available at 993countyfm.ca.

Kolter Bouchard, the co-host of afternoon drive on 102.1 The Edge (CFNY-FM) Toronto, alongside Meredith Geddes, has announced he’ll be taking the summer off to undergo a stem cell transplant. Bouchard, 30, announced in October he’d received a diagnosis of Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  

LISTEN: Vinny Barrucco is on the latest episode of the Sound Off Podcast. The Montreal morning host has done most of the day parts on Montreal radio, currently heard on Virgin Mornings, alongside Shannon King and Adam Greenberg. Barrucco covers how he nearly left Montreal on a few occasions, how the Quebec star system towers over Canada’s, and gets into some Habs talk. (Bruins and Leafs fans might want to skip over this episode and listen in July). Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:

WATCH: CHOM 97.7 Montreal has released a five-minute short offering a behind-the-scenes look at newly-minted Canadian Broadcast Industry Hall of Famer Terry DiMonte’s last day on-air May 28, capping a more than four-decade career in broadcasting. Watch “Terry’s Last Dance” here. 

FEATURE: Veteran programmer Sean Ross of Ross on Radio is out with a new blog post on pop radio’s uneven recovery from shifting pandemic listening habits and how having more hits is possible with a change in mindset. Read his latest here.