Who, exactly, is their audience? I still can't define 820's format. Reggae? Indian? East Asian? Is it English or not English? I'm familiar with radio and I have no idea. What would the rest of the potential audience who know a lot less about the medium think? That's what may doom them. If you don't define yourself, who will? 

South Asian AND Caribbean? Do they even share or like the same music?

It would be one thing if they did shows aimed at one community and then later a separate show aimed at the other. But both at the same time? Is there really a market for that?

I guess we'll see, but to me it would be like CHUM playing Top 40 in the 60s and every other record was classic country. I just don't see how that would satisfy anyone.  

Brad wrote:

I'm paraphrasing, but David Letterman once said Wikipedia is the encyclopedia by the people, so very little is accurate, but according to CHAM's updated Wikipedia page:

"In August 2024, 820 CHAM rebranded as BIG 820, with a format playing contemporary English-language music from South Asia and the Caribbean aimed at a multicultural audience."

Format - Multicultural (South Asian and Caribbean)

This is a good example of a feedback loop - I'm pretty sure Wikipedia got its information from this board. 
 

Big 820 doesn't even show up in their APPS section? Maybe they're working on it? 
The app section is where I was expecting to check out Big 820.  https://www.1150ckoc.com/ckoc-apps/

Got to say that the Big 820 is unique in their music.  They even play dance tracks albiet usually not in English, but any announcing I have heard is in English.  Not sure what their music format would be called, Contemporary World Music?  

Hansa wrote:

Why does one of their IDs say "from Kingston to London"? Can 820s signal be heard that far or are they planning on using another station as a repeater?

I was wondering the same thing! Did 820 CHAM have that much of a reach in it's Country music days? 

820 starts coming in west of London on the highway during the daytime. Kingston seems like a bit of a stretch, but I have not tried to hear 820 east of Toronto, so I'm not sure on that. 

I did that once on a plane coming back from Detroit. Nothing on AM, of course, but the FMs fading in and out at the speed we were going was simply incredible.

I found a web presence, sort of, for the station:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566505721256

andysradio wrote:

I found a web presence, sort of, for the station:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566505721256

Well spotted! I was wondering when they'd finally get around to having a web presence. 

There are two things about this that are interesting. The first, the site is almost entirely in English. If they're going after a Punjabi audience, wouldn't it make more sense to be in a different tongue (like all of the music?) 

Second, CHAM is still licenced to serve the Hamilton market. But you wouldn't know that by the pic posted on their Facebook page. Are they trying to palm themselves off as a Toronto radio station?

 

I wondered about that. Isn't he effectively competing against himself with two India-based stations in almost the same market?

andysradio wrote:

I found a web presence, sort of, for the station:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566505721256

The CINA app now has both 1150 and 820 included for phones. 

radiokid wrote:

I do have to wonder how/when the CRTC will ask questions here.

Last I checked they agreed to the license conditions being a standard English commercial station.    Since the ownership and format flip, the only English part of the station is the ID's.   I also question how/if they are hitting the 35% Cancon.   They could apply for a multicultural license, but I don't think this has happened.   I have to wonder how long before the CRTC calls a hearing?   Not all that long ago 1220 tried this... and ended up being pulled from the air.   

To be clear, I'm not against 820 being a multicultural format... but they should play by the rules the rest of the broadcasters have to.   IDS being in English, but the music being in other languages does not count as an "ENGLISH" radio station to my knowledge.     

820 appears to be operating 24/7 as a Punjabi radio station. 
CRTC will most likely call them out on this.
It will be interesting to see what happens...

Saul wrote:

Supposing (and I'm only supposing because I don't know) that the music aired on 820 is recorded, etc, in Canada, that would make it cancon regardless of its language...

Very possible, indeed, covering the 35-40% Can Con, but not covering their actual broadcast licence properly...unless they already secretly requested a multicultural broadcast licence and got one...(?)