Earlier today, the Kitchener Rangers posted to social media a message of appreciation for 570 NewsRadio, stating that the station's commitment to the team and community has not gone unnoticed. The statement adds that they are looking for a new station to air the games.

brian451 wrote:

What actually was a shock was how long Rogers kept 95.7 a news station. I was convinced they were going to flip it to Kiss or a rock station to compete in the market. I would have guessed that by flipping it to Kiss they would have had no local shows but could have had a full day of programming similar to the other Kiss stations.

I believe 95.7 was specifically licenced to run information programming so flipping to a music format would probably require CRTC approval, not to mention other stations in the market would raise a stink if music was programmed on a licence intended for talk.

Although many years ago, rogers DID sell off the other 2 FM talk stations it launched out east. Those stations are now both running music formats under their new owners. I'm not sure the logistics on how that went down. But yeah, I'm a bit surprised at that too.

I'm also a bit surprised they didn't try applying to move 570 to FM. With the rules that changed last year, one owner could run 3 FM's in that market. There's an FM frequency in Kitchener (97.9) that Rogers would give itself clearance for (98.1 adjacent). Even if they moved to FM, then ran KISS or something else on it. You'd think that would at least be viable.

TheWiz wrote:

brian451 wrote:

What actually was a shock was how long Rogers kept 95.7 a news station. I was convinced they were going to flip it to Kiss or a rock station to compete in the market. I would have guessed that by flipping it to Kiss they would have had no local shows but could have had a full day of programming similar to the other Kiss stations.

I believe 95.7 was specifically licenced to run information programming so flipping to a music format would probably require CRTC approval, not to mention other stations in the market would raise a stink if music was programmed on a licence intended for talk.

Although many years ago, rogers DID sell off the other 2 FM talk stations it launched out east. Those stations are now both running music formats under their new owners. I'm not sure the logistics on how that went down. But yeah, I'm a bit surprised at that too.

I'm also a bit surprised they didn't try applying to move 570 to FM. With the rules that changed last year, one owner could run 3 FM's in that market. There's an FM frequency in Kitchener (97.9) that Rogers would give itself clearance for (98.1 adjacent). Even if they moved to FM, then ran KISS or something else on it. You'd think that would at least be viable.

If I were Rogers I would have gone to the CRTC with the 95.7 idea. Because if they ran it as Kiss, competed against Virgin, and ran all programming from out of market, Rogers could basically make more money then they were as 95.7 just by not paying local hosts, and hopefully making money on advertising, 
The bonus would be if they competed against Virgin and took away some of the audience and advertising dollars it would force Bell to do something at Virgin. Competition is always good. 

I was out in Oakville today. WSYR could be heard, but very weak signal. Interesting that 620 was much stronger despite splatter from CKTB.

RadioActive wrote:

The bottom line with Rogers is - as always - the bottom line.

As it should be, for any company. Business 101......

RadioActive wrote:

Take it on, and then discover that it's too expensive (according to the bean counters) and then just get rid of it when it becomes a burden. I get it. That's business.

I'm doubtful that you "get it." Let's take a step back, they bought the station when it was profitable, and now it is not, so they shut it down. The same way VCR manufacturers had to pivot, the same way blacksmiths had to find new work, and so forth.... Halifax was a tough sell with the spoken word requirements in a diary market, so they're giving back the license and can consider selling their equipment to whomever wins the 95.7 license (assuming the CRTC determines the market can support another commercial station, which isn't a guarantee).

RadioActive wrote:

They could have at the very least tried to sell these stations.

There's no market for AM radio stations anymore because the land is worth more than the stations themselves. This  already happened multiple times in this country, and will continue aggressively for the next few years until there are only a handful of commercial English AM stations left running. 
 

RadioActive wrote:

The bottom line with Rogers is - as always - the bottom line.

But as the people at City TV Toronto - too many of them no longer working there - found out, there's a price to pay for having Rogers as an owner. Sooner or later, they always seem to simply walk away from what was once a viable station before they got their hands on it. CityNews is a sad shadow of what it once was creatively. I can no longer watch it.

……when Rogers takes over an otherwise established station, promising a ton of improvements and investment and vowing no jobs are going to be lost, it starts to go downhill. And in some cases, like these, that rolling snowball reaches the bottom of that hill and stops forever. 

It's hard to argue a place has been improved by Big Red, when it's no longer on the air and everyone is out on the street.

 
CityNews May as well be community programming from the 1980s as it has fallen big time. I tried to watch it a few weeks ago and couldn’t believe how flat it was, plus they seemed to stretch the stories to fill time. Bland, boring broadcast. I blame cheapo Rogers for CityNews’ decline into irrelevance. Like a scratched record I’ll say it again, telecoms should have kept out of broadcasting, especially Rogers, pathetic. They’ve ended so many careers and are fairly callous about it.

Last edited by Shorty Wave (July 10, 2026 7:44 am)

TheWiz wrote:

RadioAaron wrote:

bmaudioworks wrote:

FM 98.5?

Yeah, that'd make sense. 

I speculated earlier that Rogers might keep them on for 106.7, but that wording certainly casts some doubt on that.

The Rangers statement said they are "actively exploring alternative options", so that could be anything really.

98.5 is an interesting idea but don't count on it. I doubt they have the infrastructure nor the budget to cover road games... let alone home games. And with community programs that air on evenings and weekends, it could get complicated. I guarantee some of the hosts will not like being constantly preempted by a hockey game.

I think the most likely scenario right now is Rogers will keep the broadcasts and air them on Country 106.7. I believe the Vancouver Canucks games are moving to Rogers owned Jack-FM.
 

If it's 98.5, it would have to be the arrangement where the team produces the broadcast and sells the sponsorships, and then buys the block of time on the station. 

My guess is 1050 will survive another few years while and 640 will shut down or sell within a year or so. 

Debt holders for Corus will dump it.  It’s not profitable.   Most investment comes from the weekend show sponsors I’m told.  One law firm seems to own the airwaves.  Can’t recall their name

Radiowiz wrote:

Media Nerd wrote:

My guess is 1050 will survive another few years while and 640 will shut down or sell within a year or so.

Debt holders for Corus will dump it. It’s not profitable. Most investment comes from the weekend show sponsors I’m told. One law firm seems to own the airwaves. Can’t recall their name

We're talking about Toronto here. 
1430 is a weak signal. I have no doubt that they'd love to have 640 or 1050.

 

They can't afford that
 

RadioAaron wrote:

TheWiz wrote:

RadioAaron wrote:

Yeah, that'd make sense. 

I speculated earlier that Rogers might keep them on for 106.7, but that wording certainly casts some doubt on that.

The Rangers statement said they are "actively exploring alternative options", so that could be anything really.

98.5 is an interesting idea but don't count on it. I doubt they have the infrastructure nor the budget to cover road games... let alone home games. And with community programs that air on evenings and weekends, it could get complicated. I guarantee some of the hosts will not like being constantly preempted by a hockey game.

I think the most likely scenario right now is Rogers will keep the broadcasts and air them on Country 106.7. I believe the Vancouver Canucks games are moving to Rogers owned Jack-FM.
 

If it's 98.5, it would have to be the arrangement where the team produces the broadcast and sells the sponsorships, and then buys the block of time on the station. 

I think that's the same relationship that the Buffalo Bisons have with WWKB/1520 in Buffalo.

ckg927 wrote:

(By the way, there ARE non-comm stations that air pro sports; WRHU-FM in Nassau County, NY has been the flagship station of the NHL's New York Islanders; students at the Hofstra station do virtually everything EXCEPT the play by play. (They also broadcast Long Island Ducks and Long Island Nets gaess. WKRB in Brooklyn, NY used to air Brooklyn Cyclines games. WWVU in Morgantown, WV airs home games of the MLB Draft League's West Virginia Black Bears.)
 

It's also happening here in Canada as well. The Peterborough Petes and Sudbury wolves games are both aired on University stations in those towns. And many years ago, the Mohawk College station aired Bulldogs games for a few seasons.
 

ckg927 wrote:

Another place where it COULD fit: CJIQ/89.3 at Conestoga College. They have a broadcast-radio degree program. 

I agree with you, ckg927; noting that CJIQ is 88.3). As could 98.5. Might take some team or corporate radio resources and assistance...

I have a radio with 19 presets for AM (and the same for FM.). 570 was on one of them. Over the weekend, I was trying to think of a station I could replace it with. 

I couldn't find one.

I've managed to fill 18 slots. But with CKGL gone, I've gone over every frequency you can get here during the day and there isn't one that is something I would listen to. ft's an odd dilemma and one that never would have happened even a few years ago. And I'm one of the few AM fans left. But there are fewer obvious choices and there's not much point to picking a station that only comes in at night. 
 
Sadly, it seems this is going to be an ongoing issue as the number of decent formats and choices shrink with each passing year. 

You are correct about the AMs you listed. I liked some of the talk shows on 570 and am sad they're gone. I keep Sauga 960 around just because I'm curious about what they're up to. But I rarely listen. And there's the Fan590 for Jays games, along with a few others. Oh, and 1220 from St. Catharines and CKOC from Hamilton. And I also keep 770 around solely for Cousin Brucie's show on Saturday night over WABC. Otherwise, their talk shows are of no interest to me. 

The FMs include CBC Radio 1, Boom 97.3, Q107, The Grand (which admittedly does not come in on a regular basis) and a few others which I rarely listen to. But they're there if I'm in the mood. 

I may fill the open slot with TSN1050, although I can't remember the last time I tuned it in. It's pretty slim pickings out there AM-wise. 

mace wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

You are correct about the AMs you listed. I liked some of the talk shows on 570 and am sad they're gone. I keep Sauga 960 around just because I'm curious about what they're up to. But I rarely listen. And there's the Fan590 for Jays games, along with a few others. Oh, and 1220 from St. Catharines and CKOC from Hamilton. And I also keep 770 around solely for Cousin Brucie's show on Saturday night over WABC. Otherwise, their talk shows are of no interest to me. 

The FMs include CBC Radio 1, Boom 97.3, Q107, The Grand (which admittedly does not come in on a regular basis) and a few others which I rarely listen to. But they're there if I'm in the mood. 

I may fill the open slot with TSN1050, although I can't remember the last time I tuned it in. It's pretty slim pickings out there AM-wise. 

I'm surprised you have 590. I always thought you didn't like sports. Possibly it's only football you detest because of the CBS Sunday night program delays.

I don't hate sports, just what it does to the TV schedule. But I've been a Jays fan for decades.

Despite Jeff Hoffman.