Well...the two stations were broadcasting in HD briefly. The IBOC was turned off CHUM-FM yesterday and off CKFM today. Anyone have any updates as to what is going on?

As of yesterday, CHUM FM again broadcasting in HD1, HD2 and HD3. Still no CKFM HD.

Effective today, Bell Media once again has CKFM 99.9 broadcasting in HD with CFRB Newstalk 1010 on HD2 and TSN 1050 on HD3. Apparently they had turned off the IBOC several months ago as some listeners with older radios were complaining about the sound quality on CHUM FM. No word from Bell as to when CHUM FM will again go HD.

Perhaps the retrofitting they did at the CN Tower last year for HD on these two stations did not go as well as planned or maybe these listeners are having problems listening to other HD stations such as CKIS...

Given the ratings failure of TSN 1050,  I wonder if this investment signals an upcoming format change?

I wouldn't read a TSN 1050 format change into the re-start of IBOC.  Bell has been upgrading stations across Canada in major markets, to simulcast their AM stations on HD2's and HD3's.   Since 20% of cars (approx) have HD radio penetration, and nearly 50% of new cars sold have HD, it makes long-term business sense to upgrade.  HD is probably not going to reverse fortunes of some AM stations, but a listener is a listener, regardless of whether the station is on AM or HD2/3.  The decision by Bell to build out HD at the CN Tower was made a long time ago, probably 2 fiscal years ago.   The application(s) were probably filed with ISED more than 1-1/2 years ago.  It's not an "instant" process to get ISED approval.  The fact that these applications - or their approvals are not readily searchable on Gov't websites is no surprise.  ISED (formerly Industry Canada) and its websites have been malfunctioning for years with no-one in the department prepared to fix problems which are widely known and frequently reported to senior managers.   The CRTC considers HD Iboc to be "experimental" and does not publish on its site the Form 400's that are merely an advisory by radio licensees of an intention to broadcast experimentally.  In fact the actual electronic version of the form was taken down from the CRTC website about a year ago, and many staff at the mis-managed CRTC become very confused when advised that the form is not available.   

Once up and running stations are required - according to the Form 400 to file annual reports regarding their experimental IBOC operation.  Never seen one published - let alone filed.



 

CIRV-FM - 88.9 "Testing" 4-HD channels Friday Sept 21st.
CFMZ 96.3  now running CFMZ Classical on HD-1, CFZM (740/96.7) on HD-2, and testing HD-3 (CFZM).

That means CFZM is now receivable in stereo, over a fairly large footprint.   Good reception without multi-path in many areas where the station was hard-to-receive on 96.7.