Word is that the Kitchener stations will move to Guelph and operate out of those studios. 95.3 is already running from Toronto as none of the shows are broadcast locally. Y108 is going to move into the Guelph studios but they only have one host that broadcasts from within the studio anyways. Everything else is broadcast from elsewhere. These changes should all be happening early 2025

Stefanie wrote:

Jonah Sigel is not even based in Canada. He's located in Seattle and has been wrong on a variety of subjects in the past. To me this sounds like click bait!

He shares his time between Toronto and Seattle. 
I will say that a lot of the stuff he posted in that article is stuff I have been hearing for the last several months. My information is coming from the same people that had told me about the fact bell was looking to sell a number of stations, and the only difference in that information and the information when it was announced was there were a few more bell stations that should have been added to the list but it was modified due to negotiations falling apart. 
The stations that didn't get sold? The TSN stations and the couple of other stations they had not turned in the license for that had been shut down. 
Lets see how all this stuff plays out, but I suspect there will be a lot of changes in the media landscape in Canada over the next few years

Big Doug wrote:

brian451 wrote:

I am wondering if this is a placeholder format for now. I have heard in the past that Rebel has had a lot of signal issues and they wanted a stronger frequency. So I believe at some point that 98.5 will most likely become Rebel and then this Mix format will move up to 101.7 
Also this is pretty fast for a full on sale. I am wondering if Torres is just operating the station on behalf of Evanov until the sale is fully approved through the CRTC 

I sure hope it's a placeholder, because the imaging and overall flow of the station is amateur sounding at best.

It sounded terrible when I listened earlier. Not what I would expect from Torres. 

In Edmonton Now radio is king, That is the original conversation station, and the owner of it Pattison Media, expanded the conversation station to Calgary (known and Today Radio) and then launched in Winnipeg and later Vancouver. Also Stingray did the Today radio experiment in Toronto. Well this year we saw The Peak return to regular FM Radio after being moved to HD2, 2 years ago in Vancouver. Then Today radio Toronto became Country and at midnight October 30, going into the 31st Now radio Winnipeg flipped to Alt 94.3
It seems as though the only places the conversation station format is working is Alberta and more so Edmonton. Today Radio has decent ratings but the lineup shuffled a little bit this year that did lead to a decline in listeners and because of that they had to tweak the lineup again, but it seems like now the station is gaining again in terms of listeners. But if not maybe The Peak returns to Calgary and they bring their version of Alternative rock back. Although before the Peak was at 95.3 in Calgary not 101.5
 

That's right, Drex, formerly of the Jack Vancouver morning show among other shows in BC is now going to be heard on Indie 88. 
https://nwbroadcasters.com/2024/10/17/drex-has-a-new-home-on-air/

Since Corus launched 107.3 The Edge in Calgary as an Iconic Alternative format, and now Power 97 Winnipeg has launched the same format, could this format take over Edge Toronto? Well it seems possible. I keep looking to the recently played page on  https://edge.ca/music/and it seems to me that there are a lot more older songs in the mix than ever before. Could a full flip to Iconic Alternative happen? My gut instinct says that it will happen, sooner rather than later. But I feel if Toronto is going to do it, I think they will go big with the change. Meaning there will be some specialty programming on the station. More shows over the weekend possibly, including some form of a classic club show. 

I wrote about this last week on my website

https://nwbroadcasters.com/2024/09/04/rogers-launches-new-app-seekr/

Chrisphen wrote:

I had to take out the camera for this one. 



Why is the CP24 lady wearing a dirty housecoat?

The Loblaws company has already done a Box by No Frills concept that failed. It was the same idea as what they are planning now. But it didn't work then, so I don't know what makes them think it will work now. 

Also what is up with that outfit?
 

Alan Cross has a good post about this on his website
https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/calgary-gets-canada-its-first-ever-classic-alternative-radio-station/

I have heard that the format will not change, just be modified as it has been playing a little more classic alternative tracks lately. There will be changes to the on air lineup from what I have heard but the existing hosts were promised jobs by the new owners for a minimum of 18 months, but most likely longer. From my understanding is the new owners will hire a couple more hosts and possibly juggle the existing lineup to maximize how many people are on air throughout the day. 

The Facebook page for the station has changed. It appears the name of the station is 102.7 Wow FM

I have heard there are going to be announcements regarding the future of the business. Apparently they are going to announce the future plans of 107.3 in Calgary (which is going to become Edge). There will be a lot of other changes expected to be announced. As far as I know there will be no announcements of stations being sold (yet) unless a last minute deal is reached.

I have been thinking a lot of what may happen to Indie 88 in the future. 
They will be transitioning to new ownership once the approval process goes through. When the new ownership group takes over, I have heard rumours of new on air staff. Not to replace anyone but to add to the existing lineup. One person I know was telling me that the plan is going to be to have a full on air lineup, and they are going to add to the existing programming by adding new shows and features. Word is they are looking to build up Indie to be similar to the Edge and what they used to have. So there is a possibility of live to airs or at least shows of that style. Possibly a new music show, and possibly a countdown show that could be similar to the old Thursday 30. 
If I were the new owners, I would hire as many former Edge talents, allow them to have a lot more creative freedom. I would also have at least the club style shows a couple nights a week (Friday and Saturday), as well as a one hour new music show, a lot of retro alternative in the playlist. I would take the hyper focus of newer music and make the playlist more wide open. Music from the 80's through to now but with a larger focus on later 80's and through to the late 90's early 2000's. 

What other suggestions do you have for this? I am sure there are some more obvious answers but I can't think of anything else. 

The reason they do not advertise the station as a conversation station anymore is because once 7pm rolls around it is a best of the morning show for a couple hours and then the Katie and Ed show which is just a morning radio show from Calgary. So nothing live or local past 7pm. Even still during the day the afternoon show is weirdly setup as well. McGuire is based in Toronto but Vanessa is the midday host on Z95.3 in Vancouver and lives in the Vancouver area. So there have been a few instances I have noticed where McGuire will say something and then there is a very long pause before she starts talking. I have also heard it where he is on for a bit and then she comes on and does a different segment. As if it were two different shows mixed together. Example, they play a few songs, commercial break. He comes on, songs, she comes on, songs. So lots of weirdness that way. I think they are still trying to figure out the station but come on, it's been 2 years of this already.
I will admit the one thing that has surprised me is they are still running the same on air staff as when it launched with a couple exceptions. Drew left the weekend show (still with the company) and was replaced by Matt Hart (formerly at Indie 88) and Nikki who was a morning show co-host left and later ended up at Kiss 92.5
I still feel that this station will end up doing a format change sooner rather than later. The only problem is doing a format change that won't compete with Boom, but also doing one that would work in the market, and I don't think country is the answer as there are 3 stations that serve different parts of the GTA and at least two cover Toronto fairly well. So could the answer be, a rock based format similar to CFOX in Vancouver? Honestly that is my best guess. Because it could compete against Q107, Edge and Indie and to a smaller extent HTZ-FM as well. If marketed right it could actually compete with The Rock in Durham and maybe even Y108. 
Also with a format like I mentioned it w

JON POLE wrote:

I can give you some context.   

While we're waiting for CRTC approval for CFLY and CKLC we are experimenting a bit with 102.7. It's fun to hear some of these tracks on the radio.

We have one important upgrade at the tower that will be completed in the next few weeks.

At that point... all the stuff from the whiteboard will be put into action.

Can't wait!

If you want to play along...

What would your programming brain put on:

98.3
98.9
102.7

I think we've considered every possible combo on the planet - but maybe you can surprise us?

JP

I believe 98.3 was an alternative station so my vote is alternative. And then the Pole should for sure make a comeback. The format was awesome. Not sure about 98.9 but I am sure whatever you do it will be good