95.3 format change coming?

Skip to: New Posts  Last Post
Page:  Next »
Posted by haydenmatthews14
November 16, 2025 7:24 pm
#151

dmcjeff wrote:

RadioAaron wrote:

The audience for rhythmic CHR does not use radio.

Well; unless it was gold-heavy like 'BLK which 'grew up with their audience who are now in that target demo.

I am in the U.S. a lot and noticed the 'classic hip hop & RnB genre often had two stations covering it in major cities.  

This CHR\Rth or Urban is under represented in Toronto considering the popularity of it on the radio.

Existing signals like Flow and Vibe are extremely low powered and try to cover a massive genre so wide that there's a sprinkling of everything in their playlists ranging from Soca Caribbean to Reggae Hip Hop R&B new and old that it's not truly a single Genre.

As for CING; perhaps if it really does change to some variety of A/C then may I suggest a new Boom but without the 90's
 

That would hurt Boom 97.3 and besides Boom is sucessful. If there was another Classic Hits on a station that has a superpower signal it would hurt Boom’s ratings.

 
Posted by RadioAaron
November 16, 2025 7:32 pm
#152

Dicky Doo wrote:

The audience you are describing, when it comes to country, is faithfully tuned to AM 650 Nashville (Grand Ole Country country), and has been for generations.     

Depending on cloud cover, it clicks in around 8:30 p.m. at this time of year

Missed your sense of humour around here, G.

 
Posted by dmcjeff
November 17, 2025 9:53 am
#153

Dicky Doo wrote:

The audience you are describing, when it comes to country, is faithfully tuned to AM 650 Nashville (Grand Ole Country country), and has been for generations.     

Depending on cloud cover, it clicks in around 8:30 p.m. at this time of year

Right, of-course. Am650

everyone knows about that


[img]https://1drv.ms/i/s!AuF8Sd9OzvCbg5oAXaSlHwJVUvLp-w?e=arHBuk[/img]
 
Posted by cash
November 25, 2025 8:30 pm
#154

So what happened with this?

 
Posted by torontostan
November 25, 2025 8:32 pm
#155

cash wrote:

So what happened with this?

Christmas music until Christmas...... duh.....

 
Posted by cash
November 25, 2025 11:56 pm
#156

torontostan wrote:

cash wrote:

So what happened with this?

Christmas music until Christmas...... duh.....

not  a station i would ever listen to. 

 
Posted by sbpointer
December 22, 2025 2:28 pm
#157

Well the big day is coming Friday..  What are we going to here on 95.3? 
Back to status quo?
Rebroadcast of 640? 
New Format? 

I don't even know what to speculate.  To me Corus bumbled the return of Energy and there's a good chance they will bumble whatever is next...

Someone earlier in this thread joked about Yacht Rock 95.3 but you know that might actually work. Like a softer side classic rock station..  There is plenty of regular classis rock around..

Last edited by sbpointer (December 22, 2025 2:31 pm)

 
Posted by haydenmatthews14
December 22, 2025 2:41 pm
#158

sbpointer wrote:

Well the big day is coming Friday..  What are we going to here on 95.3? 
Back to status quo?
Rebroadcast of 640? 
New Format? 

I don't even know what to speculate.  To me Corus bumbled the return of Energy and there's a good chance they will bumble whatever is next...

Someone earlier in this thread joked about Yacht Rock 95.3 but you know that might actually work. Like a softer side classic rock station..  There is plenty of regular classis rock around..

Rumors have been going around that 640 AM’s talk format could end up on 95.3 since their transmitter site was sold this past year. So most likely 95.3 could switch to a talk format or switch to a different format like Rhythmic CHR. But I doubt that will happen since you got CHR formats like Kiss 92.5 and 99.9 Virgin Radio that covers Hamilton just fine. But we will have to wait after Christmas to see what gift Corus might give us.

 
Posted by Radiowiz
December 22, 2025 3:04 pm
#159

haydenmatthews14 wrote:

sbpointer wrote:

Well the big day is coming Friday..  What are we going to here on 95.3? 
Back to status quo?
Rebroadcast of 640? 
New Format? 

I don't even know what to speculate.  To me Corus bumbled the return of Energy and there's a good chance they will bumble whatever is next...

Someone earlier in this thread joked about Yacht Rock 95.3 but you know that might actually work. Like a softer side classic rock station..  There is plenty of regular classis rock around..

Rumors have been going around that 640 AM’s talk format could end up on 95.3 since their transmitter site was sold this past year. So most likely 95.3 could switch to a talk format or switch to a different format like Rhythmic CHR. But I doubt that will happen since you got CHR formats like Kiss 92.5 and 99.9 Virgin Radio that covers Hamilton just fine. But we will have to wait after Christmas to see what gift Corus might give us.

How does this whole thing pan out during a mayoral election year?

As strictly a guess, talk on 95.3 will mean covering Hamilton heavily during the mayoral election. 
Talk on 102.1 would mean covering Toronto heavily during the mayoral election. (meaning Edge would move to 95.3 to make that possible)

 


CityNews 24/7: https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person. 
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.

 
 
Posted by RadioActive
December 22, 2025 3:15 pm
#160

Radiowiz wrote:

haydenmatthews14 wrote:

sbpointer wrote:

Well the big day is coming Friday..  What are we going to here on 95.3? 
Back to status quo?
Rebroadcast of 640? 
New Format? 

I don't even know what to speculate.  To me Corus bumbled the return of Energy and there's a good chance they will bumble whatever is next...

Someone earlier in this thread joked about Yacht Rock 95.3 but you know that might actually work. Like a softer side classic rock station..  There is plenty of regular classis rock around..

Rumors have been going around that 640 AM’s talk format could end up on 95.3 since their transmitter site was sold this past year. So most likely 95.3 could switch to a talk format or switch to a different format like Rhythmic CHR. But I doubt that will happen since you got CHR formats like Kiss 92.5 and 99.9 Virgin Radio that covers Hamilton just fine. But we will have to wait after Christmas to see what gift Corus might give us.

How does this whole thing pan out during a mayoral election year?

As strictly a guess, talk on 95.3 will mean covering Hamilton heavily during the mayoral election. 
Talk on 102.1 would mean covering Toronto heavily during the mayoral election. (meaning Edge would move to 95.3 to make that possible) 

On a related subject, 640's Alex Pierson spent her final on-air hour of the year interviewing Donna Skelly. She's now the Speaker of the Ont. Legislature but she was once an anchor/reporter for CHCH-TV. And it turns out, she gave Alex Pierson her start by letting her hang out in the Channel 11 newsroom. Now one's on the air and one sits in a chair at Queen's Park.   

 
Posted by sbpointer
December 22, 2025 4:43 pm
#161

Radiowiz wrote:

haydenmatthews14 wrote:

sbpointer wrote:

Well the big day is coming Friday..  What are we going to here on 95.3? 
Back to status quo?
Rebroadcast of 640? 
New Format? 

I don't even know what to speculate.  To me Corus bumbled the return of Energy and there's a good chance they will bumble whatever is next...

Someone earlier in this thread joked about Yacht Rock 95.3 but you know that might actually work. Like a softer side classic rock station..  There is plenty of regular classis rock around..

Rumors have been going around that 640 AM’s talk format could end up on 95.3 since their transmitter site was sold this past year. So most likely 95.3 could switch to a talk format or switch to a different format like Rhythmic CHR. But I doubt that will happen since you got CHR formats like Kiss 92.5 and 99.9 Virgin Radio that covers Hamilton just fine. But we will have to wait after Christmas to see what gift Corus might give us.

How does this whole thing pan out during a mayoral election year?

As strictly a guess, talk on 95.3 will mean covering Hamilton heavily during the mayoral election. 
Talk on 102.1 would mean covering Toronto heavily during the mayoral election. (meaning Edge would move to 95.3 to make that possible)

 

This would be an interesting outcome for sure.  Edge on 95.3 would probably cut into Y108s audience a bit though? 
 

 
Posted by RadioAaron
December 22, 2025 4:45 pm
#162

sbpointer wrote:

Radiowiz wrote:

haydenmatthews14 wrote:


Rumors have been going around that 640 AM’s talk format could end up on 95.3 since their transmitter site was sold this past year. So most likely 95.3 could switch to a talk format or switch to a different format like Rhythmic CHR. But I doubt that will happen since you got CHR formats like Kiss 92.5 and 99.9 Virgin Radio that covers Hamilton just fine. But we will have to wait after Christmas to see what gift Corus might give us.

How does this whole thing pan out during a mayoral election year?

As strictly a guess, talk on 95.3 will mean covering Hamilton heavily during the mayoral election. 
Talk on 102.1 would mean covering Toronto heavily during the mayoral election. (meaning Edge would move to 95.3 to make that possible)

 

This would be an interesting outcome for sure.  Edge on 95.3 would probably cut into Y108s audience a bit though? 
 

Edge already booms in. Doesn’t matter.

 
Posted by RadioActive
December 22, 2025 5:56 pm
#163

My prediction? Punk country. 

Actually that's a joke that Bill Gable used to tell when he was PD at CFTR. Someone asked him about a format he'd like to do that no one ever thought of and he came up with "Punk Country." 

Even though there's no such thing, with the state of radio today, it would not surprise me if someone actually tried it! 

 
Posted by RadioActive
December 22, 2025 5:58 pm
#164

If they were to switch the FM to all talk, how long would they have to reasonably leave the 640 signal on before shutting it off,  changing its format or simply selling it altogether?

 
Posted by torontostan
December 22, 2025 6:13 pm
#165

RadioActive wrote:

If they were to switch the FM to all talk, how long would they have to reasonably leave the 640 signal on before shutting it off,  changing its format or simply selling it altogether?

CRTC says you can do it for a year without asking, then you have to ask

 
Posted by torontostan
December 22, 2025 6:14 pm
#166

Radiowiz wrote:

How does this whole thing pan out during a mayoral election year?

As strictly a guess, talk on 95.3 will mean covering Hamilton heavily during the mayoral election. 
Talk on 102.1 would mean covering Toronto heavily during the mayoral election. (meaning Edge would move to 95.3 to make that possible)

 

Hamilton would not be the focus market. There's no more money to be made in Hamilton radio.
 

 
Posted by Jonathan W
December 22, 2025 6:35 pm
#167

RadioActive wrote:

My prediction? Punk country. 

Actually that's a joke that Bill Gable used to tell when he was PD at CFTR. Someone asked him about a format he'd like to do that no one ever thought of and he came up with "Punk Country." 

Even though there's no such thing

The late CKLN host Handsome Ned would disagree!

 
Posted by haydenmatthews14
December 22, 2025 6:44 pm
#168

torontostan wrote:

Radiowiz wrote:

How does this whole thing pan out during a mayoral election year?

As strictly a guess, talk on 95.3 will mean covering Hamilton heavily during the mayoral election. 
Talk on 102.1 would mean covering Toronto heavily during the mayoral election. (meaning Edge would move to 95.3 to make that possible)

 

Hamilton would not be the focus market. There's no more money to be made in Hamilton radio.
 

Hamilton’s radio stations are pretty much dead except for a few. The Corus cluster is not doing well. When 95.3 brought the Energy branding and Tucker and Maura it was not bad. But now since Tucker and Maura moved to Edge Mornings they decided to simulcast the 91.5 morning show from Kitchener. So the question is why not Corus sells one of the Hamilton stations like 95.3 or shut down 107.9? They shut down CHML back in August 2024 or they can sell 95.3/107.9 to a reliable brodcaster who cares about local and not have to air hosts from different locations like London or Kitchener etc.

 
Posted by RadioAaron
December 22, 2025 6:47 pm
#169

haydenmatthews14 wrote:

torontostan wrote:

Radiowiz wrote:

How does this whole thing pan out during a mayoral election year?

As strictly a guess, talk on 95.3 will mean covering Hamilton heavily during the mayoral election. 
Talk on 102.1 would mean covering Toronto heavily during the mayoral election. (meaning Edge would move to 95.3 to make that possible)

 

Hamilton would not be the focus market. There's no more money to be made in Hamilton radio.
 

Hamilton’s radio stations are pretty much dead except for a few. The Corus cluster is not doing well. When 95.3 brought the Energy branding and Tucker and Maura it was not bad. But now since Tucker and Maura moved to Edge Mornings they decided to simulcast the 91.5 morning show from Kitchener. So the question is why not Corus sells one of the Hamilton stations like 95.3 or shut down 107.9? They shut down CHML back in August 2024 or they can sell 95.3/107.9 to a reliable brodcaster who cares about local and not have to air hosts from different locations like London or Kitchener etc.

If they sell 95.3, they then have to compete against it in Toronto, so they won’t until the whole Toronto/Hamilton cluster is sold.

 
Posted by RadioAaron
December 22, 2025 7:30 pm
#170

Binson Echorec wrote:

Calling it now, this will be a nothing burger.

Seems like the most likely scenario

 
Posted by Fitz
December 22, 2025 11:46 pm
#171

RadioActive wrote:

My prediction? Punk country. 

Actually that's a joke that Bill Gable used to tell when he was PD at CFTR. Someone asked him about a format he'd like to do that no one ever thought of and he came up with "Punk Country." 

Even though there's no such thing, with the state of radio today, it would not surprise me if someone actually tried it! 

Actually there was such a thing it was called Cowpunk. Green on Red, Jason and The Scorchers, The Long Ryders and Rank and File were part of it in the 80's and The Jayhawks, Wilco and Son Volt continued in the vein later. Started almost as a splinter of the Paisley Underground.








 

Last edited by Fitz (December 22, 2025 11:55 pm)


Cool Airchecks and More:
http://www.lettheuniverseanswer.com/
 
Posted by mic'em
December 23, 2025 7:17 am
#172

It seems to me that 640 has a large listenership outside of the GTA based on locations of callers. 640 comes in up here in Sudbury fairly clear most days. They obviously would lose these listeners if a switch to FM was to occur. 

 
Posted by kevjo
December 23, 2025 9:05 am
#173

Radiowiz wrote:

PwrSurge wrote:

dmcjeff wrote:

Hot 95.3 Urban CHR

They should keep the Energy name but rebrand to "The NEW Energy 95.3" and switch to Rhythmic / Urban CHR and really bring back the energy and spirit they had in the 1990's which was spectacular.

Why not just be a wayback playback station? Target those who "lived those times" 
It worked with oldies formats for years... 

They had it as Vinyl 95.3. in my opinion it was the best of its kind at the time. The variety of tunes was wider than BOOM and they often had great weekend features that dug even deeper.
Could such a format be a contender to go against 102.9 in its current form?

 
Posted by RadioAaron
December 23, 2025 11:20 am
#174

mic'em wrote:

It seems to me that 640 has a large listenership outside of the GTA based on locations of callers. 640 comes in up here in Sudbury fairly clear most days. They obviously would lose these listeners if a switch to FM was to occur. 

Those listeners don't do them any good,

 
Posted by RadioAaron
December 23, 2025 11:22 am
#175

kevjo wrote:

Radiowiz wrote:

PwrSurge wrote:


They should keep the Energy name but rebrand to "The NEW Energy 95.3" and switch to Rhythmic / Urban CHR and really bring back the energy and spirit they had in the 1990's which was spectacular.

Why not just be a wayback playback station? Target those who "lived those times" 
It worked with oldies formats for years... 

They had it as Vinyl 95.3. in my opinion it was the best of its kind at the time. The variety of tunes was wider than BOOM and they often had great weekend features that dug even deeper.
Could such a format be a contender to go against 102.9 in its current form?

They're not going to do anything new. If anything happens, it's because they have to turn off 640 but they need to keep the format going. Don't expect anything else; the company is paralyzed. 
 

 
Posted by sbpointer
December 23, 2025 2:38 pm
#176

RadioAaron wrote:

mic'em wrote:

It seems to me that 640 has a large listenership outside of the GTA based on locations of callers. 640 comes in up here in Sudbury fairly clear most days. They obviously would lose these listeners if a switch to FM was to occur. 

Those listeners don't do them any good,

And are probably listening online..
I CAN get both 640 and 1010 in Woodstock but when I listen to either of them its online..

 
Posted by Saul
December 23, 2025 5:42 pm
#177

sbpointer wrote:

RadioAaron wrote:

mic'em wrote:

It seems to me that 640 has a large listenership outside of the GTA based on locations of callers. 640 comes in up here in Sudbury fairly clear most days. They obviously would lose these listeners if a switch to FM was to occur. 

Those listeners don't do them any good,

And are probably listening online..
I CAN get both 640 and 1010 in Woodstock but when I listen to either of them its online..

Has anyone seriously broached the notion of 640 going silent, or at least also changing formats/owners?

 
Posted by RadioActive
December 23, 2025 6:05 pm
#178

I asked in a previous post on this thread what might happen to the frequency if 640's talk format were moved to FM. No one knows of course, but you would hope someone would find a way to make a full powered AM station on a pretty good frequency with decent reach work in the biggest market in Canada, rather than just have it go silent. (Hello, CHML!)

What that new format might be is for smarter minds than yours truly to figure out. 

 
Posted by RadioAaron
December 23, 2025 6:15 pm
#179

RadioActive wrote:

I asked in a previous post on this thread what might happen to the frequency if 640's talk format were moved to FM. No one knows of course, but you would hope someone would find a way to make a full powered AM station on a pretty good frequency with decent reach work in the biggest market in Canada, rather than just have it go silent. (Hello, CHML!)

What that new format might be is for smarter minds than yours truly to figure out. 

I know. It stays as is until it’s turned off. That’s it.

 
Posted by torontostan
December 23, 2025 10:06 pm
#180

RadioActive wrote:

I asked in a previous post on this thread what might happen to the frequency if 640's talk format were moved to FM. No one knows of course, but you would hope someone would find a way to make a full powered AM station on a pretty good frequency with decent reach work in the biggest market in Canada, rather than just have it go silent. (Hello, CHML!)

What that new format might be is for smarter minds than yours truly to figure out. 

Nothing...... you missed the point about the land being sold. An AM frequency is worth nothing without it's land. Trying to re-create a "full-power" 640 signal from a different place would take 5 years, by which point the band will be dead. The commission also won't be approving new stations in the GTHA anytime soon given that revenues are down, and that's often how they determine if a city can handle another station. The BEST CASE scenario for 640 would be an incumbent foreign language station applying to move to 640, but there's at least a 40% chance it will go silent.

 


Page:  Next »

 
Main page
Login
Desktop format