I'm guessing CING is now coming from the new CHCH tower.  Does anyone know if the signal is at full power yet?  It doesn't seem as strong as it use to be in Etobicoke.  It would be a loss if this is their new full power signal, as it use to come into Toronto very strong.

Radiowiz wrote:

paterson1 wrote:

I have found that Bell updates and reboots far less than Rogers and quicker whenever this rarely happens.  Sound and picture quality is excellent.  

Interesting point about the updates. My Rogers Ignite TV service has not updated at all since I switched from Legacy to Ignite...that's not to say it won't update, it's just amazing that there have not been any updates...by now.

Ignite does update fairly regular..   It's the firmware and most times it happens overnight and you would never notice when it happens.   They are not changing much on what you see.. but background items change... added apps etc. 

 

RadioActive wrote:

My point is it's not totally live 24-7 if it's not totally live 24-7. . 

I think you are really over thinking this.   CityNews 680 actually does do NEWS live, Traffic reports live, etc.  News stories most days are pre-recorded on any news station, and under your logic they should have those done live 24-7 as well?  With Newscasts and traffic being live around the clock... pardon me if I ignore sports reports and business not having a human in the seat 24/7.   The fact they have a radio newsroom staffed is more than any others alone.   The fact they are hosting on air live news coverage and traffic reports 24/7... that should be commended and is true to what matters.   Live 24-7 is in fact true even if a few reports get recorded during an hour.  

paterson1 wrote:

Saul wrote:

Just so I'm clear - this appears to mean 103.9 will stay on the air, as would 103.5, and they'd simulcast one-another, with some kind of dedicated effort to include the LGBT+ audience. If so, I wonder what the CRTC will think, if it will care...
 

The release from Evanov is a bit confusing.  It either means what you mentioned Saul, that 103.9 will be a rebroadcaster of Z1035, or they are closing Proud FM and incorporating some talent and features from Proud on 103.5. 

Based on the wording of their release... I'm willing to put some money down that the plan is to bring over the 2 in house hosts to Z1035 to be able to say they still cover some LGBTQ+ content, and "integrate" 103.9 and 103.5 together as one station.   Translation: running the same audio on both signals.      Sept 1st we will see, but I won't be surprised if 103.9 remains on air just rebroadcasting instead.    It may have taken them a few years, but the accusations of Z103.5  "sneaking in the back door to Toronto" may just be coming true.

HD2 was always HOT COUNTRY 93.9... but HD3 that Arise existed on has been completely turned off.

 

80 million is a one time expense.  They will consider that a write off...  It's a sad state of the business.   

RadioAaron wrote:

The AM signal's not really meant to be listened to, per se. (I wonder how many of the students drive to campus? Wouldn't be surprised if it's zero) It serves to add a layer of realness to the program - picking new call-letters as part of this rebrand being a good example.

More importantly, it makes their streaming music royalties being based on a radio simulcast rather than an originating stream.

Exactly my words...  It's only to be able to say they are a "REAL" station vs playing radio on the internet.  They are also a community station, so it would get them some funding that is available.   The AM signal is only the foundation for other things.   

Tomas Barlow wrote:

Again I find it odd that in this country we act like one person knows every single thing about every single song and artist in history and no one else knows anything.

He Googled her today just like everyone else did.

I think it's more to do with the fact he's known as a respected voice, and easy to get on air and book for an interview.  Sadly with the limited resources and newsrooms who have way less bodies/experience in the room, they go with who they can get fast and quick, vs who's different.     This is no knock on Alan or any one broadcaster.. It's just the reality of Canadian Media in 2023. 

RadioAaron wrote:

WPE9HAY wrote:

HD2 sound quality (Zoomer Radio) not nearly as good as the HD1 (Classical).
HD2 like inside a rattling tin can ...Is that the best that can be from the original source? 

It’s the best it can be without reducing the quality of the main classical signal, which would be a really bad idea.

There is a reason for this...   It's the source feeding the HD2 at first Canadian Place mostly.   Could be processing, but it seems like the audio feed is more the issue than the HD signal itself causing it. 

I get why they are doing what they are.  

AM HD requires the site to be tuned to allow for it.   Sadly it's a CBC site that is old and the cost would be outside the benefit likely at this time.

96.7 is a very weak signal, and only covers downtown.   

96.3's HD2 covers a much broader area, and more cost effective to get on there.   To be honestly, if you have HD in your car, not sure why you wouldn't listen here by default for Zoomer Radio.

A station I don't understand that has dropped their HD signal is Elmnt FM.   Since they dropped it, the country station in Buffalo has their HD takes over randomly when it grabs the HD signal from there, dropping Elmnt's analog.   In the west end especially, 106.5 becomes hard to lock in because of this, unless you turn HD off on your car.  If it's some weird cost cutting measure, they may want to re-think if they want to cover the west with anything useful.   

Radiowiz wrote:

Marc1178 wrote:

Another possible buyer is Evanov Communications.

Good speculation!
That might be a good guess...Arise Christian radio Hamilton is doable, but what about the other AM station? 
(& would they leave Windsor's AM 580 alone? Or make that Arise Christian radio also??)

 

I bet you multi-cultural will be on 820 or 1150.   I also can see this done in Windsor as a stand alone.    Multicultural or Religion are two formats that could work on AM and make money as stand alone operations or AM only.    Oakville is a great example of this. 

tvguy wrote:

102.5 has turned off its HD carriers, and now only broadcasting in stereo.  I have noticed an improvement in the stereo signal “locking in”. - in midtown.  Not that I have any interest in listening to the format.

I noticed this as well... along with some audio processing adjustments.   I'm not sure if they dropped HD for ever, or they are not done getting things setup.   Based on when the switch happened, and some audio level issues still existing, (Over the weekend, they are much quieter than other stations on the dial, which is not normal as they normally are on par)  I'm thinking they put an effort to get KLOVE's main audio on the air, and will address extras in the near future.   EMF isn't against HD as they have history of using it in many other markets. I also wonder if there was some transmitter adjustments made that could have lead to a better "STEREO" lock in Toronto, as I have never experienced analog issues on a HD enabled station.   I have experienced HD lock though from distant stations, so perhaps they could be leaving it off to better serve Toronto?    Only their engineers know/time will tell. 

Radiowiz wrote:

A Star 102 mini aircheck: Looks like Kiss 98five is now trying to be the new "at work" station, leaving a hole in the market for top 40, or all hit radio.


 

This video was recorded from Star before the simulcast started. 

I've had a listen for a bit today after they flipped over...   It's still basically a Top40/CHR but perhaps a little bit more dayparting, playing more a ADULT CHR during the day, and more mainstream CHR at night.   They do have some confused messaging going on with "TODAY'S BEST MUSIC" "HOME FOR MUSIC AND FUN" "HIT MUSIC" all going on at once.     They seem to have dropped the "Buffalo's #1 HIT music Station"   I do wonder if they will clean that up once things settle a bit.    Really should be a strong message and stick with it, as they mostly have under the BUFFALO's #1 HIT MUSIC STATION.     I also think they shouldn't stray too far from CHR, as it will welcome someone else to try it.   If they stay where they are musically, they likely can take the younger side of 102.5's audience and keep 98.5's current without issue.   I do think their focus on AT WORK may be a bit off brand for Kiss.   I could be wrong..   If you try to be too broad.,  you don't make anyone happy.  

With 96.1 becoming STAR 96.1, and musically being more mainstream modern AC doing 90's to Now, I think the market actually is in a better place for the future.   Soft AC wasn't really performing in the ratings there...    This should actually help them a lot  by grabing audience from STAR's mid-older demo, and actually balance things out better within the market of it's size.  STAR 96.1 should be focused on at work listening which it seems they are...  That is right in their lane. 

We will see... it's been a while since this much change happened in Buffalo's market. 

RadioQuiz wrote:

Agree. This may be the worst line up in the history of CFRB. To be fair they are playing with half a team now and no clear leadership.

Here's what I don't get?

The only success they have on TSN is Overdrive. The model works. Why do they not carbon copy that to 1010?

Find a good anchor with 2 good cohosts. Do it on the radio and simulcast on CP 24 for an hour or two? Seems like a no brainer.

TV audio on Radio is not a winner.   It's cost containment.    Sports you can get away with more of this.... News Talk and News?  Not so much.   Look at CTV NEWS AT 6 AND CTV NATIONAL NEWS ratings on 1010.   Not a win...  Only is cheap to do.   

paterson1 wrote:

I don't know if they can actually regulate change.  Bell and Rogers are not going to give their technology and networks away to the smaller upstarts, and why should they.  It would be like building a new in ground swimming pool in your backyard, and the city telling you that you must give 24/7 access to your pool to the tenants of the low rental apartments down the street. 

The real change will come from competition.  And hopefully it has started... more from Global News..
https://globalnews.ca/news/9723632/freedom-mobile-rogers-shaw-nationwide-plan/

but i have a bit of an issue here...   MVNO's are doing very well in the USA, which use one of the big players networks to reach their customers.  They also jointly work together on tower sites, via a 3rd party tower owner, or renting space from the other company.   The big players get paid for the use, and really act as a win for all involved.   In Canada, unless forced, the big 3 fight to keep any new competitor out.    They are not willing to work together on a business deal with most new startups because frankly, they want the market for themselves.   A MVNO start up could in fact keep money flowing to one of the big 3 companies based on a deal in place OR even tower space they rent over getting nothing.   It's very short term thinking to run like you are a monopoly, not to mention you are limited business deals when you have to be forced to do things, that you could have worked out jointly in the meeting room.     The big 3 will scream they are being freeloaded on, but facts are they are getting cost plus deals and are being paid well for MVNO's to use their networks.    

tvguy wrote:

.  And, HD transmission in Toronto is not cheap.   Brookfield which controls the roof rights at First Canadian place  probably charging $20,000 per year/per HD subchannel -  in additional rent to stations who utilize HD2, 3 and 4's. Plus they take a revenue share, if the channel is being leased out.  The main HD channel at First Canadian Place does not spike a rent increase.  Scott Fybush told me that he knows of no U.S. tower rental companies that charge a premium for HD2, 3 or 4 use.

  Toronto is a bad example because of the way it's setup for rental on FCP, but normal cases, you can add HD to an existing plant for much less on FM than you can on AM.    I do know the CN tower is going through an upgrade and not sure how they will handle HD via their existing tenants and the new master antenna system.   The point of the upgrade on top of getting equipment modernized, is to allow stations on the CN tower add HD if they want.   I'm willing to bet we see most jump on board. 99.9 only has HD because they are using their own antenna and space left from CFTO analog on the CN Tower.   I also wonder if most on FCP have been able to make deals because majority on FCP are in HD, some with 4 HD signals.     

I have long argued, that only exclusive content that people want will ever make people care about subchannels.  Putting something already available on another signal that requires a new radio, will not work.   Durham is one that does this with WAVE for Smooth Jazz.  And in the USA, there is options that are not available on regular broadcasts.    Sadly without promo, you will NEVER know they exist for most if they have to press 5 buttons to make it work vs 1.    The industry has to jump in with 2 feet, promo the HD and actually provide content.  Work with the makers of the radios to make the experience easy.      In Canada with limited options to move an AM to FM in major centers, i think they need to start now if they h