And let's not forget we still don't know what's going to happen with CKOC and CHAM in Hamilton once new owner Neeti Ray gets his hands on them. This has to be the single most tumultuous period of change at one time ever in Canadian radio history and all because of an incompetent giant company who had no idea how to run a radio empire. 

And I might add, given its track record, should never have been allowed to in the first place. 

Should make for interesting times here on SOWNY as the changes take place. 

What ads produce the most revenue for a station. Local or national?

turkeytop wrote:

What ads produce the most revenue for a station. Local or national?

Scales by market size. Large market - National, Small market - Local.
 

turkeytop wrote:

What ads produce the most revenue for a station. Local or national?

Local in most small and medium markets by a long shot.

The folks who work (or do for the moment) at the White House of Talk in St. Catharines aren't saying much about what becomes of CKTB, CHRE and CHTZ once the new owners take over. 

As noted here, that newcomer is Whiteoaks Communications, whose two current stations (CJYE and CJMR) are all-religious and all-ethnic. Which is why there's worry about the current formats of all the outlets once the incoming boss takes over. 

Still, while those who at the stations are understandably reluctant to say much, one former long time employee hopes for the best. 

"On-air host Joe Cahill, who was let go by HTZ-FM in 2013, worries the classic rock station is “doomed” under its new owners: “God and Mötley Crüe don’t mix.”

But he said the sale could have a silver lining for the other two stations.

“Hopefully, new owners inject local back in the mix. I can see them keeping (the) CKTB and EZ/Move formats.”

Bell Media selling its three Niagara radio stations

brian451 wrote:

I am concerned for the St Catherines and Hamilton station being sold to WhiteOaks because they generally are Christian stations and the current formats do not fit what they generally broadcast. 

In thinking about this, I'm not so sure the worst is yet to come for the Niagara area stations. Whiteoaks already has CJYE, which I think comes in pretty well in St. Catharines if anyone cares to listen. Being where they are geographically, they also face fund raising competition from Christian stations K-Love 102.5 and WDCX in Buffalo. Why would they want to convert (you should pardon the expression) CKTB or the FMs to a format that's already there in abundance and effectively compete against themselves?

As for turning them ethnic, I suppose that's possible, although I can't see a scenario where they do that for all of them. There are already a ton of foreign language stations in the GTHA and I'm sure some of their signals easily reach St. Kitts. 

Consider: CHLO, CIRV-FM, the multiple CHINs, CJSA, CHIM, CJRK, CFMS (which offers ethnic programming on HD2 & 3, as well as in some late hours,) CJMR, CIRF, CHKT, CHHA, CINA and CHTO. Not to mention 770 WTOR from Youngstown, N.Y., which is aimed squarely north of the border. 

I admit St. Catharines is not in Toronto and going ethnic is often the quickest way to make a buck, but with all of those in the area, I can't see why they'd want yet another one competing for ears in Southern Ontario. 

Whiteoaks may be a small owner with just two local stations, but I'm guessing they're not stupid. I suppose we'll have to wait and see what they do.

RadioActive wrote:

The folks who work (or do for the moment) at the White House of Talk in St. Catharines aren't saying much about what becomes of CKTB, CHRE and CHTZ once the new owners take over. 

As noted here, that newcomer is Whiteoaks Communications, whose two current stations (CJYE and CJMR) are all-religious and all-ethnic. Which is why there's worry about the current formats of all the outlets once the incoming boss takes over. 

Still, while those who at the stations are understandably reluctant to say much, one former long time employee hopes for the best. 

"On-air host Joe Cahill, who was let go by HTZ-FM in 2013, worries the classic rock station is “doomed” under its new owners: “God and Mötley Crüe don’t mix.”

But he said the sale could have a silver lining for the other two stations.

“Hopefully, new owners inject local back in the mix. I can see them keeping (the) CKTB and EZ/Move formats.”

Bell Media selling its three Niagara radio stations

Whiteoaks hasn't always been only a Christian radio company. They founded CHWO and owned it until its sale to Moses Znaimer who made it Zoomer radio. Oakville family marks 60 years in radio broadcasting 
 

Sorry, a typo on my part, because I also looked it up on Wikipedia. It pre-dated 60 Minutes by two years. How they could just essentially discard it after all these years, along with a respected reputation it took decades to build, is beyond me. (Not to mention once using Supertramp's "Fool's Overture" as its long time theme!)

Judging by some of the reaction on social media, I'm not alone. 

"An incalculable loss": Canadians unhappy after CTV News scraps "W5" in its 58th season

Uncertainty Abounds At CTV Barrie After Bell Cuts

Hansa wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

The folks who work (or do for the moment) at the White House of Talk in St. Catharines aren't saying much about what becomes of CKTB, CHRE and CHTZ once the new owners take over. 

As noted here, that newcomer is Whiteoaks Communications, whose two current stations (CJYE and CJMR) are all-religious and all-ethnic. Which is why there's worry about the current formats of all the outlets once the incoming boss takes over. 

Still, while those who at the stations are understandably reluctant to say much, one former long time employee hopes for the best. 

"On-air host Joe Cahill, who was let go by HTZ-FM in 2013, worries the classic rock station is “doomed” under its new owners: “God and Mötley Crüe don’t mix.”

But he said the sale could have a silver lining for the other two stations.

“Hopefully, new owners inject local back in the mix. I can see them keeping (the) CKTB and EZ/Move formats.”

Bell Media selling its three Niagara radio stations

Whiteoaks hasn't always been only a Christian radio company. They founded CHWO and owned it until its sale to Moses Znaimer who made it Zoomer radio. Oakville family marks 60 years in radio broadcasting 
 

Growing up in Oakville, the best way to describe CHWO, it was a small town CFRB. Competent news, weather and sports plus the same dreadful music [to a teen] that 1010 played. My only reason to listen was for possible school closings [usually none] after a major snowstorm.

RadioActive wrote:

Not to mention once using Supertramp's "Fool's Overture" as its long time theme!)

I’d forgotten that! What a great song.

I think June 14th 2023 was much more of a big deal in broadcasting than what happened yesterday.  Bell closed 6 big heritage 50,000 watt radio stations, and layed off about 950 people. It took quite some time to sell 3 other stations that were for sale.   Yesterday was nothing like that. 

What has many people worked up is the incorrect reporting from far too many media outlets that gave the impression that BELL MEDIA was laying off 4,800 people.  Totally incorrect.   In fact it could be less than 400 including unionized employees. 

Other divisions of BCE are really doing the major cutting of staff, but getting no news coverage  .That is not very good news reporting, and this should be the real story from yesterday.  Bell is also pulling big money from their expansion of the fibre network, because of CRTC regs. and having to share their technology with start ups.     

Yesterday's story for broadcasting had some good in it beyond the loss of employment which is always bad.  The fact that ALL of the 45 stations that Bell wants to sell have buyers.  That actually is fantastic since some if not many of the employees that Bell is planning to let go could be rehired by the new owners.  This happens all the time.  It happend to me twice in my career where the new owners rehired everyone. This won't happen today but some will be rehired.  

I love the way one of the suits at Bell said that radio is no longer viable but somehow the company sold 45 stations to various smaller broadcasters.  No longer viable because Bell doesn't understand how to run smaller radio outlets, or just can't be bothered.  Remember this is the company that was still buying up smaller stations not many years ago. 

The bad news yesterday was the cancelling of weekend news (which is messed up part of the year by NFL football) and noon hour news.  Look for CBC at some point to add more local/regional TV news, even on CBC radio.

If enough people complain about W5 it may not be lost completely as it's own program.  W5 was already providing reports and inserts on CTV National News and CTV News Channel.  Some weeks W5 is better than 60 Minutes and it is a shame that this still excellent show will no longer be around as a program. 

Finally Bell Media is far from bankrupt.  It makes good coin, but not as much as it use to.  Bell is also trying to spank the CRTC, which is not really a bad thing.  But Bell can't call all of the shots like they want to.
The upcoming battle could be interesting. 

 

paterson1 wrote:

 The fact that ALL of the 45 stations that Bell wants to sell have buyers. 
 

45 is the number of stations they found buyers for, not the number they wanted to sell.
 

paterson1 wrote:

I think June 14th 2023 was much more of a big deal in broadcasting than what happened yesterday.  Bell closed 6 big heritage 50,000 watt radio stations, and layed off about 950 people. It took quite some time to sell 3 other stations that were for sale.   Yesterday was nothing like that. 

What has many people worked up is the incorrect reporting from far too many media outlets that gave the impression that BELL MEDIA was laying off 4,800 people.  Totally incorrect.   In fact it could be less than 400 including unionized employees. 

Other divisions of BCE are really doing the major cutting of staff, but getting no news coverage  .That is not very good news reporting, and this should be the real story from yesterday.  Bell is also pulling big money from their expansion of the fibre network, because of CRTC regs. and having to share their technology with start ups.     

Yesterday's story for broadcasting had some good in it beyond the loss of employment which is always bad.  The fact that ALL of the 45 stations that Bell wants to sell have buyers.  That actually is fantastic since some if not many of the employees that Bell is planning to let go could be rehired by the new owners.  This happens all the time.  It happend to me twice in my career where the new owners rehired everyone. This won't happen today but some will be rehired.  

I love the way one of the suits at Bell said that radio is no longer viable but somehow the company sold 45 stations to various smaller broadcasters.  No longer viable because Bell doesn't understand how to run smaller radio outlets, or just can't be bothered.  Remember this is the company that was still buying up smaller stations not many years ago. 

The bad news yesterday was the cancelling of weekend news (which is messed up part of the year by NFL football) and noon hour news.  Look for CBC at some point to add more local/regional TV news, even on CBC radio.

If enough people complain about W5 it may not be lost completely as it's own program.  W5 was already providing reports and inserts on CTV National News and CTV News Channel.  Some weeks W5 is better than 60 Minutes and it is a shame that this still excellent show will no longer be around as a program. 

Finally Bell Media is far from bankrupt.  It makes good coin, but not as much as it use to.  Bell is also trying to spank the CRTC, which is not really a bad thing.  But Bell can't call all of the shots like they want to.
The upcoming battle could be interesting. 

 

I don't know if CBC will be expanding regional TV news. Regional TV is low on the CBC's priority list when it comes to creating new content (it's digital, radio then, TV). They might do radio on the TV like they do in the mornings and what MJVancouver described with BC Today. 

I doubt Global would expand into the noon hour on their stations where they don't have noon newscasts. I'm still hoping maybe one day the Ontario/Quebec is split up. 

Last edited by ED1 (February 9, 2024 1:04 pm)

RadioAaron wrote:

paterson1 wrote:

Why all the concern from some about Whiteoaks Communications and the stations they want to buy. 

It's the unknown.

It's reasonably easy to predict what a MYfm, VISTA, or Durham will do. Not these guys.
 

Whiteoaks ran CHWO as a mainstream station for 50 years before selling it to Moses Znaimer.