The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / CHFI HD-2

**Posted by tvguy** May 27, 2025 9:50 pm

Tonight I noticed a new HD subcarrier on CHFI HD-2. The channel bils itself as “The Rocket”. With liners “Canada’s Rock and Role Flamethrower”. (That cycles through on RDS) I’m not familiar with the format — alternative? Artists include Rob Zombie (Living Dead Girl), Papa Roach (last resort)

I did not hear announcers or station IDs so I don’t know whether it is rebroadcasting another Rogers station from another market.

I would have thought that Rogers would have put money makers like CFTR on 98.1 with its superior coverage.

What’s the back story on the Rocket?

**Posted by RadioActive** May 27, 2025 10:14 pm

I've heard them advertise it on 680. It is (or was now that it's on HD) an Internet-only station designed to help pump up Rogers' listen live app called "Seekr."

Here's the station's home page.

**Posted by mjf** May 27, 2025 10:54 pm

It's been there for a few weeks now. They play alternative rock, metal and some classic rock. Quite a bit like CHTZ without the local bands. They ID as "The Rocket, Canada's Rock and Roll Flamethrower" so it's not relaying any other station. No jocks heard.

**Posted by RadioAaron** May 28, 2025 6:36 am

It's there so they don't have to pay music royalties for its stream on the app.

**Posted by tvguy** May 28, 2025 7:33 am

Yes, I understand the royalty issue, but the streaming channel isn’t financially viable…really??? They could put it on 92.5 very easily, and swap 680’s feed to 98.1. I suspect 680 will have far more listeners on HD than the “Rocket” will ever accumulate. But then, it’s Rogers.

**Posted by RadioAaron** May 28, 2025 7:40 am

tvguy wrote:
Yes, I understand the royalty issue, but the streaming channel isn’t financially viable…really???

I'm not sure what you're saying here. The HD has zero revenue to the stream pays zero royalty. If it were streaming-only, they'd pay by the listener.

Totally agree it would make more sense do swap 680 and The Rocket's HD positions, but I don't think they care. HD is dead in the water.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** May 28, 2025 8:21 am

Its like bell and there pure country brand.
Pure country is a stream on iheart and a subchannel on 99.9 hd4 and its not called pure country toronto.

**Posted by RadioAaron** May 28, 2025 8:47 am

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:
Its like bell and there pure country brand.
Pure country is a stream on iheart and a subchannel on 99.9 hd4 and its not called pure country toronto.

Exactly.

iHeart in the US has made extensive use of this loophole.