1 of 1- Davester
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Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
CKWR has been teasing a major event to occur Monday Morning at 8:15.
Sure enough, they have flipped formats again... from Mix 985 to Classic Rock.
This is the 2nd format flip in about a year.
I used to love the station when they were Adult Retro Alternative up until 2024. They were like classic CFNY with a lot of great Canadian Alternative content, but in 2024 they flipped to a more adult contemporary format (and sounded like any other station out of Toronto). They cited that they couldn't sustain the retro alternative format for financial reasons.
CKWR is a community not-for-profit radio station that has been on the air for more than 40 years.
Now this morning, they are classic rock.
I don't mind the classic rock format and will listen for a while before going back to Spotify.
I really miss the Adult Retro Alternative Format... it was a really unique format that you didn't really hear anywhere else.
I hope it works out for them.
I'll step off my soap box now.
Davester.
Last edited by Davester (September 23, 2025 8:54 am)
- Easily Amused
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
Kitchener needs more Trooper! (Apparently. 🤔)
- paterson1
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
The Mix format didn't even last a year. I agree with Davester the adult retro format was excellent. Just enough hit gold to make the music familiar and lots of songs that you remember maybe from the Muchmusic era but never played any longer. Songs like Groovy Train by The Farm or good old cancon like Julian by Alta Moda. Since their playlist was large, you didn't tire of hearing the same songs.
We now have two new classic rock stations in the area with CKWR and CKOT in Tillsonburg which recently moved to the Giant FM format. CKOT comes in fine in the K/W area, in addition to similar stations from the Hamilton Niagara area and London. Lots of classic rock.
- Saul
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
Anyone close enough to note what wording comes in on the RDS? And if they use a slogan on-air?
- km93
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
Saul wrote:
Anyone close enough to note what wording comes in on the RDS? And if they use a slogan on-air?
Just heard a couple of stingers and announcer break identify it as simply FM 98.5 "Waterloo Region's Classic Rock"
- DX
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
Well I lost the pool then, I was sure it was going to be them picking up Vassy Kapelos
- zed
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
The new GIANT FM 101.3 is making classic rock sound great and they have an awesome social media presence on Facebook at least. From their liners it sounds like they may be getting closer to adding 'shows' which I assume means people. They'll be rocking classically 24/7 while CKWR plays all their ethnic programming at night and on weekends... good luck to both broadcasters.
- Storm
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
Scratch CKWR for me. I loved the Alternative Oldies format. Heard stuff I never hear anymore. Even the new Mix 98-5 wasn't bad because they still played a lot of the classic alternative music. Don't need anymore classic rock. Even the mainstream rock stations are mostly classic rock music and The Edge plays very little new alternative music, featuring mostly older stuff without the diversity of CKWR. Radio in any music format has become really shitty - and they wonder why listeners are disappearing.
- mic'em
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
If the classic rock format mirrors Q92 in Sudbury, it will be the same 100 songs on re-roll. Boring !!!!
- RadioActive
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
The Milkman site has a lot of radio news, but this time, his news is about The Milkman himself.
John Mielke has revealed he'll be the new morning host at CKWR, starting Monday.
He has a busy syndication schedule, with shows to follow on a Florida radio station and three more Ontario outlets throughout the afternoon.
Milkman Mornings On 98.5 Waterloo
- km93
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
The Milkman site has a lot of radio news, but this time, his news is about The Milkman himself.
John Mielke has revealed he'll be the new morning host at CKWR, starting Monday.
He has a busy syndication schedule, with shows to follow on a Florida radio station and three more Ontario outlets throughout the afternoon.
Milkman Mornings On 98.5 Waterloo
This is plain wrong! A syndicated commercial morning show on a community radio station, further on "Canada's first community radio station." Sad news.
- RadioAaron
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
CKWR's pretty unique in being both commercial and community. They aim for ratings in radio prime-time, which then hopefully gives them the ability to do the community stuff around it. So if they think this will sound good and make that model work - more power to them.
- km93
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
It won't work. Community radio is NOT commercial radio. Why didn't they just bring someone back from Dave's mornings show? That would have actually worked if they're playing the ratings game and yet still staying "community focused." Ah I guess it's cheaper in the short run-when those who run community radio think like those who run commercial radio-Sad, sad day.
Last edited by km93 (September 29, 2025 5:15 pm)
- RadioAaron
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
It won't work. Community radio is NOT commercial radio. Why didn't they just bring someone back from Dave's mornings show? That would have actually worked if they're playing the ratings game and yet still staying "community focused." Ah I guess it's cheaper in the short run-when those who run community radio think like those who run commercial radio-Sad, sad day.
Would have made perfect sense to bring in someone let go from Dave, but I bet that’s financially impossible.
The commercial/community model is probably broken; but I’m not sure there are any viable alternatives. They’re in a tough spot
- darcyh
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
Given CKOT's conversion to classic rock and how well their signal gets into K-W, I think CKWR could have chosen a format other than classic rock. The answer is so obvious and I have mentioned it before.
They could have gone to middle of the road standards or something similar. I don't believe this format is available in the K-W area. Sure the audience will skew older but they also have money and listen to the radio. Car dealerships, dentists, furniture / appliance stores, home renovations, travel services, retirement homes, financial services, real estate agents, HVAC shops, funeral homes, grocery stores, mom & pop shops, ethnic shops and many more could be potential advertisers.
I believe they had some success with this in the early 2000's by recreating the format of CFCA FM when it was worth listening to. Just an idea that won't be implemented.
Last edited by darcyh (October 2, 2025 4:16 pm)
- paterson1
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Re: Another Format Change at CKWR - Kitchener
I think you are right, if CKWR went to a more easy listening format they would have a less complicated time finding their audience. Something lighter than Brantford's 92.1. Nobody else is doing it and the station has a decent coverage area, the audience is there. Waterloo Region has plenty of access to local and regional rock/classic rock radio.