RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST:
The Radioplayer Canada streaming app launched Wednesday, marking the initial North American expansion of what’s now the top-rated digital app in Europe. Listeners are now able to access live and catch-up radio broadcasts from 400 stations across the country through Radioplayer Canada’s browser-player and on connected devices through the iOS or Android app, including integrations with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Chromecast, and smartwatches. CBC/Radio-Canada is the latest broadcaster to come on board, joining previously announced companies Bayshore Broadcasting, Blackburn Radio, Blackgold Radio, Byrnes Communications, CAB-K Broadcasting, Central Ontario Broadcasting, Clear Sky Radio, Cogeco Media, Corus Entertainment, Durham Radio, Fabmar Communications, Golden West Broadcasting, Harvard Broadcasting, Larche Communications, Newcap Radio, Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, Rogers Media, Rawlco Radio, RNC Media, Saskatoon Media Group, Vista Radio, and Westman Communications Group as well as the member stations of the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC).
Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. has extended the outside date by which its recapitalization go-private transaction must be completed to April 30, 2017. The company is currently awaiting CRTC approval.
Edmonton’s 91.7 The Bounce (CHBN-FM) has been rebranded as KiSS 91.7. The CHR station made the switch last week by going 91 hours commercial free. The station’s on-air line-up remains the same. The Rogers station joins KiSS-branded counterparts in Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.
Denham Jolly, the licence holder of Canada’s first black-owned and operated urban radio station, has published his memoir In The Black: My Life. Jolly was president of Milestone Communications, which launched The Flow 93.5 (CFXJ-FM) Toronto, after a 12-year battle to get a licence, fueled by the the need for a stronger voice for the black community. At its launch in 2001, Flow 93.5 became the model for urban music stations across the country and is credited with helping introduce artists like Drake and many others to commercial airwaves.
The North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) has announced support for a voluntary North American Digital Radio Standard at the NABA Future of Radio & Audio Symposium in Washington, D.C. A position paper was developed by the NABA Radio Committee’s Digital Radio Working Group after consulting widely with radio broadcasters, broadcast associations, manufacturers and service providers in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. NABA believes that all stakeholders would benefit from a continental North American approach to over-the-air digital radio. The position paper can be found here.
