Whiteoaks Communications Group is expanding into HD Radio, reintroducing its Christian music and talk station JOY Radio (CJYE-AM) Oakville as a digital-first listener experience, and extending the reach of heritage news/talk station 610 CKTB St. Catharines into Hamilton.
Both JOY Radio and Whiteoaks’ CJMR 1320 Mississauga ceased broadcasting on the AM band early this year, as the company “re-tuned” their transmitters to boost CKTB’s 610 AM frequency and undertook the first-phase of the stations’ digital-first transition.
JOY Radio will debut on 102.9 FM-HD3 on June 1, while 610 CKTB will officially join 102.9 FM-HD2 on July 2, extending the station’s reached into Hamilton which Whiteoaks says has lacked dedicated radio news coverage since 2024 when Corus Entertainment shuttered 900 CHML.
“Expanding into Hamilton is a natural next step for CKTB,” said Program Director Lisa Vinc, in a Whiteoaks announcement. “FM-HD allows us to grow our reach and deliver local news to more communities, while continuing to serve the audience that relies on us every day.”
The company says the phased rollout is part of a broader multi-platform strategy, “supporting multiple brands with new access points alongside streaming, mobile apps, and third-party platforms,” including iHeartRadio and TuneIn. Whiteoaks says it’s also reflective of a broader operational focus on scale, accessibility, and audience-first distribution as in-car technology evolves.
“Listener habits are shifting faster than the industry is adapting, and we’re building for what comes next,” said Whiteoaks President Matthew Caine. “We’ve made a significant investment in FM-HD and digital audio to broaden how our content is delivered and discovered. This is about long-term growth while continuing to lead with trusted local programming that defines our brands.”
The company says it will announce additional platform strategy, including plans for CJMR 1320, in the coming weeks.
