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JON POLE wrote:

For the record - I agree with Radio Aaron about the frequency. 99 is not an actual frequency. 98.9 is. Why confuse it? Lower the friction as much as possible for people to find you, remember you and to listen to you. Of course, you don't have to... just my 2 cents.

I'm not a huge fan of calling stations randomly by 93 or 102 or 106.    It made sense when radios had dials.. it does not in the digital world.   People need to find you easy, and not have to think...  Remember.. listeners are not all radio geeks.   They don't think like radio fan people do on average.

They also use more than just one way to listen to the radio today, with streaming being most home listening now while the car still holds the radio tuner. 

I think it's wise to go with NEW COUNTRY 98-9.   Easy to find, less guessing and allows a brand to carry over between platforms.   "Pure Country 93" says ZERO to the listener unless they already know... because it actually sounds like it should be 93.1, when it's not. 

We all need to remember in 2025... listeners are not the same and have a million choices.  They mostly listen to something digital, not an analog dial.    Make it stupid easy and you will never have a problem. 

I would also echo this to the website url side... that at the very least, you should buy the domain with the station name and redirect where you want to go when using a generic community website.  You don't need to promote the station URL's but just to limit the confusion of finding your digital home... it makes it easy.    That's my 2cents. 
 

Jody Thornton wrote:

Could this not be us witnessing the moments when CKTB is switching to "Neeti-based" programming, rather that Bell network programming?

Last I checked 610 was going to WhiteOaks ownership....  Unless they have plans that I missed, they had intended to keep things as they are where they can.    610 has to be hard to relaunch with so much coming from Bell. 

Whiteoaks history is owning religious, multi-cultural, and formally adult standards, but highly professional broadcaster.

 

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:

They are also listed on worldradiomap.com with listen live links.
But I have my own Hd home radio so here's what's in Toronto and the GTA.
88.1 CIND HD1 only the main signal.
88.9 CIRV HD1 main signal with hindi and punjabi programs, hd2 portuguese, HD3 thaalam tamil radio, HD4 persion music and programming.
90.3 CJBC HD1 Ici musique, HD2 CJBC am simalcast.
92.5 CKIS HD1 kiss 92.5, hd2 680 news, hd3 sportsnet 590.
93.5 new country 93.5 only has hd 1.
95.3 energy cing HD1 Pop hd 2 AM 640.
96.3 The new classical 96.3 on hd1, hd2 zoomer radio.
97.3 Boom only has hd1.
Same goes for CHFI.
99.1 HD1 cbc radio 1, hd2 cbc music.
99.9 HD1 vergion radio, hd2 newstalk1010, hd3 tsn 1050, hd4 pure country.
100.7 HD1 chin, hd2 chin1540 mostly ittalian, chinhd3 chin fm 91.9, hd4 spanish music I think the name is ondasfm.
101.3 hd1 CMR, HD2 tamilfm, HD3 bollywood music, hd4 punjabi music.
104.5 chum only has hd1.
Same goes for elmnt fm.
Not much variety on hd radio in the GTA and even less in buffalo.
The only ones that have subchannels that you can get cleerly in the GTA are WBFO, WNED, WKSE and WDCX.

5 stations  you missed that come in depending where you are.

95.9 KX96 Country HD1, Wave (smooth Jazz/soft AC) HD2, and CKDO Classic Hits HD3.   This is setup on both their cochannel repeater in downtown Toronto and their main in Ajax/Oshawa

94.7  KX94-7 Country HD1, Wave (Smooth Jazz/Soft AC) HD2, and THE GRAND Classic Hits HD3   This is mostly heard west side of Toronto without issue.

103.5  Z1035 uses HD1

AM530 Multicultural is in HD (sounds FM Stereo)

92.1  Lite 92 - AC HD1  Hot Country HD 2.   Strong signal from Brantford, most of the west GTA gets it without issue. 

Kitchener has only one in HD 99.5 Bounce Radio, but this was done mostly to push back 99.5 from Buffalo.  This signal is too small to hit any part of the GTA...




 

Jody Thornton wrote:

Problem is, is that younger audience interested?
 

Based on 680's ratings, and demographics from those ratings, I would say on a few of your points,   Yes... 25-54 and 18-34 are very much interested.  They may listen on digital streaming, or in the car... but 680 is the go to for them, as well as older demos.   The thing is, it doesn't matter how... it's just if they do...+ have a PPM.   680 isn't even playing in the same ball park as 1010 and 640.  They are not even close to their share.

I think regular people also are not into the older style of authoritative delivery.. they want the info to be accurate, and the info they need when they want it.   They also want it from voices they can relate to, especially in younger demos.   I would argue 680 has found the balance based on the results in the ratings.  

680 being just the news... and not the opinion goes a long way. Younger demos don't want to be told what to think.   They want the facts and immediate information.  The same thing is happening in A LOT of US major markets with ALL NEWS formatted stations.   It's why Talk and News Talk has aging and shrinking demos mostly, while all news is growing in younger 25-54. 



 

Shorty Wave wrote:

I agree that this is a rare CRTC decision not to allow AMI a rate increase. If you read their decision, AMI was looking for a one cent rate increase for their English service and two cents for the French service, not a huge increase. AMI provides a great service for those with sensory challenges so I don’t see why this was rejected by the CRTC, considering they approved channels like bravo for Rogers no problem, and it is a fairly trashy channel with little cultural merit to say the least. Go figure.

No approval was required for "Bravo"  They simply rebranded/reformatted the existing OLN network they already owned.   Bravo also is not a mandatory skinny basic required channel, so not playing in the same ballpark as AMI, which is required to get for any cable services.  
 

darcyh wrote:

Not sure it is worth spending the money to upgrade the transmitter to deliver HD programming unless the content already exists; with respect to the London market, CFPL AM 980 could be added to FM 96's signal. But at the end of the day will it get them any more listeners?

The issue is more as people get new cars... will they have AM in them to ensure CFPL-AM can be heard?    Adding HD to CFPL-FM could get them around this. Transmitters don't last forever.   The time to replace them is likely a good time to add HD features if you can.   Saying that, you also need to promo it.. and as others have said... Canada  has done poorly promoting it.   People who have it and know, normally admit listening to it over the AM signal if that's what is put on it. I also think Durham sees a point with their WAVE brand. 
 

CING is on CHCH's tower...   They moved to the new one, but ever sense I find their signal is no where near as good as it use to be in parts of Toronto.   This means HD has become spotty in some areas.   Really was a downgrade for 95.3 from my experience. 

With HD now available on the CN tower, it would be nice to see Corus join the rest and put HD on their signals, and move 640 there. 

1150 back playing music is going to be a hard sell in 2024...  It was a hard sell when Bell owned it before flipping to sports. Being part of a 2 station AM group, with a smaller sized owner, is not going to offer much for employees once the bills are paid.   I would say Mike is better off enjoying his time away from the circus. 

I do have to wonder how/when the CRTC will ask questions here.

Last I checked they agreed to the license conditions being a standard English commercial station.    Since the ownership and format flip, the only English part of the station is the ID's.   I also question how/if they are hitting the 35% Cancon.   They could apply for a multicultural license, but I don't think this has happened.   I have to wonder how long before the CRTC calls a hearing?   Not all that long ago 1220 tried this... and ended up being pulled from the air.   

To be clear, I'm not against 820 being a multicultural format... but they should play by the rules the rest of the broadcasters have to.   IDS being in English, but the music being in other languages does not count as an "ENGLISH" radio station to my knowledge.     

Muffaraw Joe wrote:

Hot Country, has a 0.3 share and yet another Country Station is entering the marketplace, how might they do?



 

So much behind the 0.3 issue with 88.5 VS 93.5.    Not sure if you have tried to listen to 88.5..   the signal is very unreliable in anything south of the 401, or to the west GTA.  88.5 is a York Region station first and foremost.    I think you will find 93.5 will do better ratings wise than 88.5 in Toronto, but not York Region (because 93.5's signal is more focused towards the lake)   Playing new country, they may get a 3 share... which is way more than Today had.    I think that's the logic at this point...   Get something they can sell, but perhaps will never be #1.   93.5's signal isn't great either.. but has more CMA population than 88.5 covers.    

Stingray i think is just wanting to pay the bills at this point. 

Reading this thread really shows the age of people on this board.

First of all, MOST people at home do not own radios.. they use smart speakers and their mobile.   PPM is sent via streaming the same as over the air, so the station gets credit the same if you listen to a smart speaker OR the radio. Diary markets work very simlar.    The station benefits by this by better sound quality and ease of use.  They also get added data that streaming provides.     AM or FM is only a delivery method.. NOT the station itself.    Car use is very much AM/FM/HD.     People in the older demos on this forum perhaps own radios in their home, but you will find regular people in the world don't.   That ship has sailed.    2024 is here. Like it or not. 

RadioAaron wrote:

cash wrote:

They could package these French channels and make Franco Ontarians pay for them. And give others some  options. It's lazy and political. Nothing more. 

You're not paying for them.

I disagree on the "NOT PAYING FOR THEM"  You do via the package price.    In Today's world sadly, most people want only what they want.  With lack of competition, tv providers try to justify the price increase/levels by the amount you get, but sadly, if you don't speak french, these channels are ZERO value and should be an optional add on  outside Quebec and French speaking areas.   I get where "cash" is coming from on this.   In 2023 you should be able to get an extremely local only basic package (which skinny is not fully) and pick past that what you want.  Sadly unless forced, it never happens or they try and change huge monthly fees on single channels to make them way less attractive.   This just makes cord cutters cut more! 

I won't lie.. I'm shocked.   With the amount of effort they have been doing to try and get Z1035 into Toronto proper, this could have been a possibility to fill in the hole in downtown that their current signal has.   I can only assume that costs to keep it operational along with the huge possibility of the CRTC calling them to a hearing over it, likely outweighed the benefit.    103.9 being so close to 103.5 also can't be used by anyone else without Evanov signing off on it.    Sad state of the business currently... I sadly don't think this is the end of these moves yet.   I do wonder if Elmnt FM is next in Toronto and Ottawa, unless some major change happens..  

torontomike wrote:

FWIW, my sources tell me 103.9 will just go quiet... there will be no simulcast of 103.5.

I don't doubt your sources, but their release caused more questions than answers and does make it sound like they could very well try to keep both signals on the air, just run them as one station.  If not, I would expect more direct wording of shutting down 103.9, which they are safe to not make any mention of.    As they are required to cover Orangeville news and info with 103.5.. they do also cover Toronto... so technically I think it would adhere to requirements there on both signals for local content.  

Only Evanov's management and owners know their true plans.... but I wouldn't be shocked Sept 1st either way. 

Forward Power wrote:

I'm aware of caller ID spoofing, but the text from Rogers was from a shortcode. Regardless of whether the call was legit or not, I'm about to invest in an office phone with an auto attendant to weed out the scammers, autodialers etc.

Shortcodes again mean nothing... I get shortcodes all the time from someone saying I have an account with CIBC, which I don't.   Spoofing happens on texts, calls and some of these short codes are bought by scammers.      If you don't have services with a company, never trust the calls or texts unless they clearly identify your account info (name, package etc.)   If they don't know anything but your number... chances are they are trying to scam you.