The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / CKWR Rebrands and Reformats Again

**Posted by km93** January 3, 2025 1:08 pm

I noticed CKWR is now calling themselves Mix 98.5, and have dropped their Classic and Adult Alternative format to well I'm actually not sure what it is exactly-kind of a Soft Alternative (if that's such a thing).

**Posted by paterson1** January 3, 2025 2:12 pm

I have been listening to them off and on for about a month now and I thought the music was more or less the same, just dropping the CKWR calls for Mix 98.5 and slicker station breaks. They claim they are working on a new website but even that notice has been up for a while. Overall I like their music selection.
https://ckwr.com/schedule/shows/

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** January 3, 2025 8:06 pm

I hope they keep their newfie program.
It plays songs that I heard growing up from my Newfie family.

**Posted by darcyh** January 4, 2025 6:07 pm

CKWR appeared to have its most successful run when it picked up the old CFCA adult middle of the road format. They operated as a full service station through the day with news and sports casters along with Fred Merrit (sp) and other ex-CFCA personalities. They had limited commercials and sounded great. This was around 2004 and continued for a few years. I wonder why they abandoned this.

In the evening CKWR retained its 'community' format with block programming.

They had a good morning show. I tuned it in whenever I was in the Kitchener area.

**Posted by mace** January 5, 2025 8:03 am

The CKWR signal occasionally makes its way into the GTA under tropo conditions, causing some minor interference to Buffalo's [technically Niagara Falls] WKSE.

**Posted by Davester** January 6, 2025 1:58 pm

I am/was kinda a big fan of CKWR and its (former) Adult Alternative format. The new format is similar but with a few more newer tunes thrown in.
The new IDs are pretty slick and professional and that is why I'm slowly loosing interest in the station. If I wanted to listen to all the modern "Mix" of music, I could tune into half a dozen stations in Southern Ontario.
There was a charm to the "adult alternative" format and the community feel of the station that is now gone.
Pete Fowler is also now missing since the format change.

Kinda bummed but change is inevitable I guess.

Davester.

Last edited by Davester (January 6, 2025 5:13 pm)

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** January 6, 2025 3:57 pm

Glad that jigs and reals is still on