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Now THIS Is How You Celebrate 100 Years On Air
I'm guessing most of us here have never listened to CKRM in Regina. The station turned 100 years old this year, and they're doing it right. Their website not only features interviews with past announcers, but also numerous articles about the times gone by and how the station played a part in that history.
There's even a timeline from each decade.
I wish more stations would remember their past as they head into an uncertain future. CFRB hits its centenary next year. Will they do anything to mark the date? It's Bell, and it might cost more than $4.72, so I'm doubtful. But good for CKRM for making the effort and doing it so well.
CKRM Celebrates 100 Years
- Shorty Wave
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Re: Now THIS Is How You Celebrate 100 Years On Air
In the early 80s I lived in Regina and CKRM was huge! They’re a country music station and that genre is popular out west, no doubt, but they used to broadcast the Roughriders games and I remember being in our backyard and the neighbours either side listening to the game on their radios, so I didn’t need to tune in! I was chummy for a while with one of their jocks, Ed Bain, I think he ended up in BC.
Congratulations on 100 years CKRM!
- paterson1
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Good for CKRM and celebrating their 100th anniversary properly. Interesting that the station is full service with a country music format and AM at 620. Looks like they have a strong connection with their listeners in Regina. A true heritage radio station.
I think it was a local situation with CFRB and their lack of attention to their anniversaries. Other Bell stations, both radio and TV have done a good job with memorable celebrations for stations such as CJAD/CHOM Montreal, CFRA Ottawa, CFPL TV in London, CKCO TV in Kitchener. Even CKKW in Kitchener chatted up on air for a few days when they celebrated 15 years moving to FM a few years back. A minor anniversary true, but still recognized and talked about on air.
Hopefully when CFRB celebrates their 100th in 2027, the management of the station will do a proper appreciation and respect of the history of this legendary station.
- kevjo
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Re: Now THIS Is How You Celebrate 100 Years On Air
paterson1 wrote:
Hopefully when CFRB celebrates their 100th in 2027, the management of the station will do a proper appreciation and respect of the history of this legendary station.
In CFRB's case, for the last decade plus, management ahs been trying to downplay those calls and the long history of the station. The initial logic was that no one under 65 would give them a try because CFRB was ingrained in the public psyche as the station for old people hence the rebranding to Newstalk 1010. so the thinking might be that acknowledging their age further instills that perception.
Why are they that different from some of the other stations mentioned in this thread? One of the best examples of the contrary is their Montreal counterpart, CJAD which still proudly proclaims their calls. CFRA is another similar case. Both continue to be success stories.
- RadioActive
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Re: Now THIS Is How You Celebrate 100 Years On Air
How many under 65s do they actually have now? It could be the "Year of Newstalk 1010." Maybe special programming proclaiming their milestone would actually attract listeners if they do it properly. I'm beginning to think we'll never get the chance to find out.
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Thread Starter- RadioAaron
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Re: Now THIS Is How You Celebrate 100 Years On Air
How many under 65s do they actually have now?.
Virtually none.
So if sales is getting push-back about the age of the audience (which they are) promoting yourself as 100 years old is counter-productive to that.
They’re not going to bring in anyone new based on that, as only existing listeners will hear that messaging.
If that sounds like an impossible conundrum, it’s because it is.
It’s over.
- kevjo
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How many under 65s do they actually have now?.
Virtually none.
So if sales is getting push-back about the age of the audience (which they are) promoting yourself as 100 years old is counter-productive to that.
They’re not going to bring in anyone new based on that, as only existing listeners will hear that messaging.
If that sounds like an impossible conundrum, it’s because it is.
It’s over.
This must be somewhat unique to 1010. As mentioned above, stations such as CFRA and CJAD not only continue to brand with their heritage calls but have also publicly marked recent milestone anniversaries. They also boast better numbers in their respective markets.
- RadioAaron
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Re: Now THIS Is How You Celebrate 100 Years On Air
How many under 65s do they actually have now?.
Virtually none.
So if sales is getting push-back about the age of the audience (which they are) promoting yourself as 100 years old is counter-productive to that.
They’re not going to bring in anyone new based on that, as only existing listeners will hear that messaging.
If that sounds like an impossible conundrum, it’s because it is.
It’s over.This must be somewhat unique to 1010. As mentioned above, stations such as CFRA and CJAD not only continue to brand with their heritage calls but have also publicly marked recent milestone anniversaries. They also boast better numbers in their respective markets.
They're part of a few continent-wide exceptions where the 25-54 numbers are still good (though CFRA can be inconsistent) CKNW is another. I'm not sure there's a single one in the US -- maybe KGO.
- RadioActive
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Re: Now THIS Is How You Celebrate 100 Years On Air
Here's another example of a station paying tribute to its own longevity. WBBM in Chicago is celebrating 58 years doing all-news, a format they first started on May 6, 1968. They've put up the very first hour of that debut on their site, along with a series of commercials that ran that day.
A nice way to note a milestone for a 50K clear channel radio station - which has since added an FM translator and watched its ratings increase as a result of it. I wish more places would at least ackowledge their special occasions, if only online.
WBBM Newsradio celebrates 58 years of all-news broadcasts
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Thread Starter- Radiowiz
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Re: Now THIS Is How You Celebrate 100 Years On Air
Heh, it seems like only yesterday when 1050 CHUM made such a big deal about only 40 years back in 1997.
TSN 1050 (under current owner Bell) will most likely not even care about history or current use.
Let alone anything bigger over at CFRB 1010...