radio - edmonton radio news archives - 2006
around the local radio dial
An archive of selected recent events in Edmonton and area radio history.
2005 | dec
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December 2005
Fall 2005 Ratings >permalink<
On December 5th, the 2005 bible of Edmonton radio ratings arrived. Of note is CFCW's best urban rating in recent memory, newcomer Sonic FM's solid sophomore performance and the erosion of audience share among Edmonton's more senior pop/rock stations.
A station in deep trouble is CKRA - 96X. Falling from fifth place in Fall 2004 to 12th, the station has lost half its audience to the newcomers.
For all the juicy numbers visit the Last Link Edmonton radio ratings Fall 2005 report.
There's Magic In The Air >permalink<
At 2 p.m. on December 8, 2005 Edmonton's newest FM station officially signed on. CHMC - Magic 99 - hit the airwaves on the 99.3 mhz frequency promising a blend of jazz, blues and soft rock from overlooked artists. They're using the tag line "Because life's too short for ordinary music" which suggests they've been listening to CBC's Promo Girl.
Behind the microphones are familiar Edmonton voices. Back on local airwaves is Rob Christie, who ruled the morning show market for 18 years during CHED's and Power 92's Top 40 days. Christie spent the last decade in Toronto, Vancouver, then back in Toronto when in October this year his last station turned into "Jack FM" and went "personality-free." It was then that Christie decided to return to Edmonton to help launch CHMC.
The Rawlco Communications-owned station will be run by Susan Reade, better known as "Janet from another planet" from her CHED days. Rounding out the on-air staff are fellow Edmonton veterans Mike Sobel, Seanna Collins, Duncan Patterson, Kurt Leavins, Allison Bailer and Dave Shannon, along with new-to-Edmonton Jerry Steen, a Calgary radio veteran.
The station is programmed by Doug Pringle who helped bring rock to Edmonton's FM band when he launched K-97 (now K-Rock) in 1979. Pringle was also behind CHOM Montreal and CISS Toronto. Rawlco now owns and operates 12 stations in Saskatchewan and one in Alberta.
Magic 99's official sign-on brings an end to one of the most peculiar transmitter tests in recent memory. For three months beginning August 16th, people dialing in heard "Burning Bridge" by George Strait, "All I Need" by Matchbox 20 and a Vivaldi piece repeated over and over and over again.
Magic 99 was one of four new licenses granted in 2004. CHBN - The Bounce signed on February 17, 2005 and CHDI - Sonic-FM signed on in April, 2005. Still testing their frequency on a sporadic basis while awaiting funding is CFIE - Aboriginal Voices Radio re-broadcasting out of Toronto.
96X Goes Country >permalink<
In a move no doubt precipitated by their poor showing in the last few rating periods, CKRA 96X has switched format and has rebranded itself as "Big Earl 96 dot 3 – He Plays Everything Country." The switch took place at 9:00 a.m. December 12th, 2005.
96X slid from their fifth-place ranking in the fall of 2004 to 12th in the most recent book. Perhaps inspired by sister Newcap station CFCW's strong showing in the Fall 2005 rating period, "Big Earl 96 dot 3" has borrowed the sound of CFCW-FM, which started out as "Big Earl" when it was launched on September 30th, 2005. CFCW-FM now plays classic rock hits as "CAM FM."
CFCW-FM was originally licensed as a classic rock station but debuted with a country format. In retrospect, it seems the station's brief run as "Big Earl" might have been a tryout for CKRA's "sudden" switch. CKRA's move away from its former Top 40 format leaves CHBN - The Bounce and CHDI - Sonic-FM virtually unchallenged in the demographic. As further evidence the change was long in the wind, The Bounce began running new fully-produced station IDs heralding themselves as "Edmonton's Only Hit Music Station" within an hour of CKRA's switch.
"CAM FM" now appears to be in competition with fellow Newcap station 97.3 CIRK K-Rock in the classic rock market. K-Rock has tumbled from 3rd to 6th place over the two last ratings periods, and despite a transmitter location near Camrose, the 100,000 watt "CAM-FM" signal easily reaches into Edmonton. The Spring 2006 ratings book will also tell if "Big Earl 96 dot 3" has any impact on country-giant CISN's traditional top-two rating supremacy.
Soon after the format switch, "Big Earl" bought prominent Edmonton road-side billboards proclaiming "Why settle for a Kiss when you can go all the way?" The ads were a direct poke in the ear of "Kissin' Country" CISN 104's long-established image.
CKRA's tailspin might have been due to an ever-shifting identity problem. Since 2002, the station has been known as "Mix 96," "96.3 The Mix," "96X The Hit Music Alternative," "96X - Edmonton's #1 Hit Music Station" and lastly as "The 90's and Now - 96X." Given Newcap's affinity for format flips and name changes, "Big Earl" and "CAM FM" may only survive a ratings book or two.
CHED Takes To The Air >permalink<
Edmonton will soon have airborne traffic reports for the first time in over a decade.
On February 6, 2006 CHED will launch "CHED Chopper Traffic," a modified Robinson R44 four-seat helicopter [photo link], to cover the morning and afternoon rush hours and as well as breaking-news events. CHED will anchor the coverage, sharing reports with its sister-stations CISN Country, 92.5 JOE FM and Cool 880.
CHED's chopper is one of six helicopters that Corus Entertainment has added or will be adding to the Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal markets (Hamilton will be getting a fixed-wing aircraft). With the exception of Calgary, Corus operates the only helicopter traffic service in those markets. Calgary's AM 770 CHQR already launched their craft, “CHQR Traffic 1” (also an R44) [photo link], on December 15th, joining Rogers-owned 66 CFR/96.9 Jack-FM who also operate a traffic chopper.
Doug Rutherford (Corus Vice-President, News-Talk, Corus Radio and General Manager, Corus Radio Edmonton) said, "With more Canadians tuning to a Corus radio station every week than any other private broadcaster, we have a responsibility to get them the information they need." Rutherford also said there are now more news choppers in Canada than police choppers, and that CHED won't hesitate to take some police officers up into the air to back up efforts with their Air-1 craft.
Edmonton Police Service Staff Sgt. Rick Milne, head of flight operations, said cops will talk to CHED to set some flightpath rules. Mayor Stephen Mandel said it will be up to the police and aviation authorities to make sure Air-1 and the CHED chopper can work safely together.
Edmonton last had air traffic reports in the early 1990s when CHQT newsman Murray Blakely flew over the city in a fixed-wing aircraft. Blakely had earlier flown while at CJCA when the craft was known as "The Flying Tiger."
Back then, the plane and pilot were supplied by the Edmonton Flying Club (with pilots logging extra hours towards their licenses). Blakely flew with an Edmonton police officer who had his own two way radio connected to the police communications network to report on traffic conditions.
CJCA and police got the service for the price of gas. The plane flew during morning and afternoon drive shows, and Sunday or holiday Monday evenings year round.
Tony Dillon Davis signs off >permalink<
A local radio fixture for nearly four decades, Tony Dillon Davis has spun his last disc. Dillon Davis signed off on December 22nd, 2005 with his last shift behind the microphone being for his "Night Music" program on CKUA.
Born in England, Dillon Davis first started at CKSA Lloydminster. In 1967, with no formal broadcast training behind the young announcer, CKUA program director Tony Cashman hired the part-time actor who soon hosted Edmonton's seminal 'underground' music show. From 10 til 2 every Saturday night on the "Mod Shop," Edmonton rock music aficionados were exposed to a wonderful selection of then bizarre but now critically relevant music that Dillon Davis culled from CKUA's extensive library. The Last Link once questioned Dillon Davis about his music selection for the show, and the always modest radio host said he simply looked for the longest cut on the albums with the most interesting covers. His career credits indicate that his criteria reflected a more serious interest in music.
During his early days at CKUA, Dillon Davis was contacted by a tall and somewhat geeky Radio and TV Arts student by the name of Holger Petersen. It was Dillon Davis who gave Petersen his first taste of radio – playing some of Petersen's interviews with artists passing through the Edmonton area. Holger Petersen is now an established blues authority with programs on both CBC and CKUA, and the owner of Stony Plain Records.
After leaving the Saturday night program that preceded Edmonton commercial FM rock by over a decade, Dillon Davis hosted and produced such popular CKUA shows as "Flashback," "Play It Again," "Analog Eclectica," "Night Music" and numerous spoken word programs.
Dillon Davis will continue to produce "Play it Again," the eclectic weekend show that features popular music from the 1920’s to the 1950’s, on a part-time basis.
Bounce bounces morning crew >permalink<
"Edmonton's Only Hit Music Station" hit their morning show hard December 28th with pink slips. As a sign their assault on Edmonton's Top 40 market is as serious as a heart attack, the CHUM-owned station gutted their 12th place wake-up crew sending Brad Kelly & Company packing. Co-host Cerea K remains but will be given a new role at the station.
CHBN was originally licensed as an urban dance/rap format station, but with CKRA's switch to its Big Earl Country sound, the Bounce has pounced on the opportunity to establish itself as the pre-eminent current music station. Their playlist has featured more mainstream rock songs since Big Earl arrived.
Within a few days of the announcement, the Bounce revealed their re-tooled lineup. Beginning January 9th, The Pepper-Dylan Morning show will be heard weekdays from 5:30 to 9, followed by Natalee Taylor mid-days, Jonny Staub in the PM drive slot (but with a 2 p.m. start), Kwame from 6 to 10 p.m. with Zak Yerxa hosting a new 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift.
Pepper (Alberta-raised Rob Patrick) was recently let go at Vancouver's XFM-104.9 (and before that from Toronto's Jack FM) when those stations switched formats. Pepper once worked at Red Deer's Zed99 FM, a station owned by Newcap. Newcap are the same folks who brought the Big Earl sound to Edmonton, proving once again that what goes around comes around the radio dial. Pepper was reportedly offered the morning slot when the Bounce debuted February 17, 2005 but the position went to Jonny Staub and then Brad Kelly.
Pepper is teamed with former off-air "Image Director" Dylan Wowchuk who will share programming duties with former morning host Ceara K who now works weekend afternoons and as the station's music director.
January 2006
CBC's The Voice unmasked ... sort of >permalink<
Since the fall of 2003, a deep and mysterious voice
has been heard introducing the CBC Radio One program The Current.
The secret of the identity behind "The Voice" has been tougher to crack than that of the CBC's once-enigmatic Promo Girl.
Find out what the Last Link has learned on the cbc's the voice page.
Ch-ch-changes >permalink<
Don Marcotte, former A-Channel Big Breakfast Show producer, now handles day-to-day operation duties at CKUA.
CISN morning personality Tracie Gray is on maternity leave. Global News at Elelven anchor J'Lyn Nye will be filling in.
CKER's Wade and Terry morning show is now just the Wade Sorochan show. Terry Hughes is hanging up his microphone and will now serve as the station's production manager.
On October 24th, math teacher Kory Read won an "open mike" audition as voted by listeners of Sonic 102.9 FM. What Read won was the position of news reader on Sonic's morning show. The 27-year-old has no broadcast experience but seemed to have the best "Sonic vibe." Read won from a pool of ten finalists selected from hundreds of hopefuls who entered a cattle call audition on September 24th.
Newcap signs on Lac La Biche >permalink<
Newfoundland-based broadcaster Newcap received CRTC approval January 18th, 2006 to operate an FM station in Lac La Biche. Operating at 103.5 mhz with 1900 watts power, the FM outlet will be Lac La Biche's first commercial license.
Newcap proposed to operate the station playing a country music format – which led to the application's sole intervention. Liz Phillips suggested that there is no need for an additional country music radio station in northern Alberta. Newcap did not respond to the intervention.
Newcap already operates CFCW, CFCW-FM, CKRA and CIRK out of Edmonton. Lac La Biche is 220 km northeast of Edmonton.
Edmonton's crowded dial >permalink<
A recent CRTC technical decision has helped clear some of the interference clutter on Edmonton's FM airwaves.
One of the problems began when CHDI's Sonic 102.9 was launched on April 5th, 2005. The signal resonated CKER's 101.9 signal, causing CISN 103.9's transmission to be cancelled out in areas such as St. Albert, Spruce Grove and Stony Plain.
The problem occurs when the difference between two station's frequencies is added to one of the frequencies and lands on an existing channel. In CISN's case, Sonic's 102.9 minus CKER's 101.9 equals 1 – which when added to Sonic's frequency is the same as CISN's 103.9.
A temporary solution was tested beginning in May of 2005 with CKER broadcasting at 101.7 – confusing listeners who saw the station's web site still indicating it was on the air at 101.9. The station "officially" re-branded itself as World FM at the new frequency in November, 2005 when CKER celebrated 25 years of broadcasting. Ironically it was CKER's own sister station CHDI that created the problem; both stations are owned by the OK Radio Group. The CRTC confirmed the new allocation on January 18th, 2006.
Despite advance technical research, broadcast signals and their frequencies sometimes suffer the whims of geography and nature. Many Edmontonians encounter FM interference on top of the North Saskatchewan River's southern bank across from downtown.
A similar problem still exists between signals from 92.5 Joe FM and CHBN's The Bounce at 91.7. Subtracting CBC Radio Two's 90.9 from the Bounce's 91.7 yields 0.8, which when added to the Bounce's frequency becomes 92.5. Listeners in Mill Woods and Sherwood Park have reported problems picking up Joe FM's signal.
Talks between Corus' Joe FM and CHUM's The Bounce have not yielded a solution. Bounce program director James Stuart figures the problem exists only for users of analog radios, and that digital FM tuners are capable of receiving stations more accurately.
Edmonton's transmission quirks could potentially have been eliminated with use of a single broadcast tower. In 2002, the OK Radio Group had proposed erecting a 425-metre tower in Strathcona County for use by all Edmonton radio and TV outlets. Industry Canada and the county rejected the proposal, and OK Radio located its tower in Spruce Grove. CISN's tower is located east of Edmonton.
The CRTC also approved an application by CIRK-FM to relocate their transmitter and increase antenna height.
Edmonton gets more Radio Active >permalink<
Local CBC 740 drive-home radio fans now have an extra hour to enjoy the always entertaining world of host Peter Brown.
Beginning February 6th, 2006 CBC's Radio Active starts running from 3 to 6 p.m. The earlier start time trims an hour off the less-than-well received national Freestyle program.
Brown honed his personable broadcast skills producing two seasons of the sketch comedy program The Irrelevant Show and has been associated with several comedy troupes such as Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie and the Atomic Improv. Brown also hosts The Circuit, covering Canada's best summer music festivals.
The expanded Radio Active program goes up against CHED sports veteran Bryan Hall as well as Syd Smith and Eileen Bell's CHED Afternoon News show. Fans of serious news radio should be delighted.
Cheap and loony >permalink<
Capitalising on the buzz surrounding the recent release of Alberta's Resource Rebate cheques, Sonic morning man Garner Andrews is also sharing the province's wealth – all $400 of his entitlement. It surely must rank as Edmonton's cheapest radio promotion prize.
Andrews is inviting listeners to come on down to the station's parking lot on February 2nd to collect their share of his cheque – precisely 0.25% or a dollar a head each. The only thing certain when heads pop on Groundhog Day is another six weeks of low-budget Sonic promotion. Ratings period anyone?
The envelope please >permalink<
Edmonton radio stations and performance venues figured prominently in the Industry Awards section of Canadian Music Week. The 9th Annual Canadian Radio Music Awards take place on March 4th, 2006 in – where else – Toronto.
Hosted by Corner Gas star Brent Butt, the awards show will also induct Canadian broadcasting icon Duff Roman, famed music producer Bob Ezrin and music industry giant Denise Donlon into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame.
Of interest to Edmonton media fans are the following nominations:
PROMOTION OF THE YEAR - Teddy Bear Express - CKRA-FM The New Big Earl 96.3
STATION OF THE YEAR, MAINSTREAM AC - CFMG-FM EZ Rock
STATION OF THE YEAR, COUNTRY - CFCW AM, CISN Country 103.9
STATION OF THE YEAR, NEWS/ TALK/ SPORTS - 630 CHED
STATION OF THE YEAR CLASSIC/GOLD - CKNG-FM 92.5 Joe-FM
STATION OF THE YEAR, ROCK - CIRK-FM 97.3 K-Rock
STATION OF THE YEAR, MULTICULTURAL - CKER 101.7 World FM
For the MASSEY HALL PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE OF THE YEAR award, two Edmonton venues are on the ballot: the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium and the Winspear Centre for Music. The Jube's selection seems a bit odd considering it was dark for most of 2005.
February 2006
This and that >permalink<
February 6th, 2006 was to have marked the return of Edmonton airborne traffic reports for the first time in over a decade. What happened?
Regular 630 CHED listeners have had to rely on the usual phoned-in reports while battling the recent closure of the northbound lanes of the Low Level bridge – a newsworthy traffic story if there ever was one.
Keen-eyed skywatchers on the southside have reported seeing and hearing a helicopter buzzing over the Whitemud Freeway during the PM drive slot during the first two weeks of February. Reports from Calgary suggest that Corus sister-station QR77's chopper is having problems with air-to-ground transmissions, and CHED might be holding back until the problems are resolved.
Update: Seems contrary to Corus' earlier announcement, February 6th was the delivery date for the aircraft.
According to CHED PD Syd Smith, the helicopter has been logoed and they are in the process of assigning reporters and completing the technical fit-out required to deliver reports. No start date has been set.
Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel must have wondered what all the fuss was about.
What was supposed to be just another Wednesday at work turned wild with hundreds of people calling the mayor to have their picture taken with him.
It turns out Sonic FM's four-week scavenger photo hunt had put a picture with Mandel on the hit list, swamping his office with photo-op requests. Several dozen people waited outside a city hall meeting room with cameras in hand waiting for Mandel to emerge while others loitered outside his office for most of the day.
The usually photo-friendly Mandel obliged his new-found fans and posed with between 40 and 50 folks helping them to earn points towards a $10,000 grand prize.
A weary Mandel said, "I don't want to disappoint the young people in Edmonton who are part of this thing, but it's a bit unfair - not very professional, I think." Mandel was referring to the lack of advance notice from the radio station.
Nature abhors a vacuum and so does a morning radio show. After the recent departure of his crew-mate, CKER's Wade Sorochan is now joined by Gord Craig reading from the news booth.
Craig most recently held the position of news director at CJCA-AM The Light.
Gambling on gambling during the first ratings period of 2006, 97.3 K-Rock launched a contest asking listeners to identify four of the six un-named players in the NHL gambling ring allegations. Grand prize? A trip for two to Las Vegas. Listeners are also asked to sign an online petition to show their support for the Gretzky family at the station's web site. [editor's note: isn't there a sense of irony or hipocrasy here?]
Meanwhile, this month K-Rock jock Terry Evans celebrates 20 years of waking up Edmontonians (including his stint at the Bear). Evans now joins fellow radio iron-men members Gord Whitehead (CHED), Bruce Bowie (CISN), Chuck Chandler (Cool 880) and prodigal son Rob Christie (Magic FM) in the local career-longevity club.
Warren Henderson, 1955-2006 >permalink<
A familiar voice on the Edmonton area radio news scene was silenced when Warren Henderson passed away on February 28th, 2006.
Henderson was the assistant news director for Edmonton's Corus family of radio stations that includes 630 CHED, Cool 880 - CHQT, 92.5 CKNG's Joe FM and 103.9 - CISN Country.
Prior to serving with Corus, the Dauphin, Manitoba native worked at CKRC in Winnipeg before moving to Edmonton in 1978. Henderson's father was general manager at the Dauphin station CKDM where his mom was a radio celebrity.1
Henderson served on the national editorial committee of Broadcast News from 1992 to 1997 and as Prairie Radio Director for the Radio-Television News Directors Association in the mid-1990s.
Doug Rutherford, vice-president of news-talk radio for Corus Entertainment (and brother of CHED/CHQR talk show host Dave), said Henderson "personified class, professionalism, hard work and dedication."
Henderson's co-workers described him as "one of a kind - a mix of professionalism and humanity."
The 30-year radio veteran faced a battle with health problems in recent years and lost a leg to diabetes. He was on the waiting lists for both heart and kidney transplants.
Henderson enjoyed life to the fullest, combining a love for wheels (Corvettes and Harley Davidsons) with a love for music (the Beach Boys in particular).
He was also a fan of cinema. It was in that setting that Warren passed away, suffering heart failure while watching the Samuel L. Jackson movie "Freedomland" in an Edmonton theatre.
On the morning after Henderson died, legendary CHED newsman C.R. Nichols posted an on-air tribute to his fellow broadcaster. The tremor in C.R.'s voice revealed the bond he shared with his co-worker, a bond also shared with Henderson and his listeners.
Warren Henderson was 50 years old.
March 2006
CBC AM goes FM >permalink<
AM radio is facing challenge from urban growth – in the form of concrete and steel, overhead wires, and electrical appliances. Listeners in major centres have found it increasingly difficult to get clear AM reception.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation recently applied to the CRTC to deliver Radio One (usually on the AM band) on FM in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. The FM signal is usually not subject to electrical interference.
On March 16th, 2006 the CRTC approved the CBC's plan to beam their AM signals on modest power FM frequencies into the four urban cores. CBC's current AM broadcast practises would be unaffected.
CBX Radio One will re-broadcast on 93.9 MHz at 3,931 watts, while CHFA Radio-Canada will re-broadcast on 101.1 MHz with 3,931 watts.
The unusual CRTC decision (which can be read here if insomnia is a problem) is only the second in Canadian radio history to allow AM coverage supplemented by "nested" FM transmitters. In 1999, CBK Regina received approval to re-broadcast on FM on 102.5 MHz at 820 watts.
The CRTC decision outlines the technical and cost reasons for CBC's application as well as the broadcaster's desire to bring Radio One programming into the more lucrative FM marketplace.
Interventions came from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and O.K. Radio Group Ltd.
The CAB wanted the Commission to formulate a policy on the use of nested FM transmitters of AM stations.
The CBC responded by stating "technical difficulties are specific to the circumstances of the market served, thereby necessitating a case-by-case approach in dealing with such applications."
O.K. Radio is the licensee of CKER-FM Edmonton who recently moved their frequency from 101.9 to 101.7 to resolve interference issues with CHDI Sonic 102.9. With CHFA broadcasting on 101.1, CKER was concerned their problems would be renewed (see Edmonton's crowded dial).
The CBC assured CKER that it would adjust the near-field antenna pattern of its transmitter in Edmonton to reduce any possible interference to CKER-FM.
Most likely it is CHFA's French language programming that is CKER's greatest concern. The CRTC's decision places both of Edmonton's non-English broadcasters just a quarter-knob turn apart.
No dates were given as to when the CBC's FM transmissions would start.
April 2006
Spring 2006 ratings >permalink<
On April 10th, the Spring book measuring Edmonton radio audiences from January 9th to March 5th arrived.
The big news is the erosion of share by multiple-station owners Corus and Newcap, and the resurgence of Standard Radio's CFBR "The Bear."
All told, Corus (CHED, CISN, CKNG "92.5 Joe FM" and CHQT "Cool 880") slipped from a combined Fall 2005 total of 36.3 to 32.4.
Worse was the fall of Newcap (CFCW, CIRK "K-Rock" and CKRA) despite the overhaul of CKRA as "Big Earl 96.3" and the addition of 98.1 "CAM FM." Newcap fell from 21.7 to 17.2.
The individual station hardest hit in this period was CFMG "EZ Rock" dropping from 9.5 to 7.0 – a loss of a quarter of its audience. Best recovery was CFBR's "The Bear," posting its best showing since 2002.
For all the juicy numbers visit the Last Link Edmonton radio ratings Spring 2006 report.
CHED takes off >permalink<
As first reported here and here, Edmonton now has airborne traffic reports for the first time in over a decade.
April 12th, 2006 marked the launch date for "CHED Chopper Traffic," a modified Robinson R44 four-seat helicopter [photo link], to cover the morning and afternoon rush hours and as well as breaking-news events.
On board are "veteran" broadcaster Kris Burkholder and retired Edmonton Police Sergeant Chris Hayden – the Kris and Chris team – bringing traffic reports "on the fours, every 10 minutes." Hayden was the original flight officer on Air 1, the police department's patrol helicopter, and will handle the drive home show while Burkholder does the mornings.
Daintre Christenson will be reporting for Corus sister-stations CISN Country, 92.5 JOE FM and Cool 880.
At the flight controls is 23-year-old Jesse Spreeman, who moved to Edmonton from Olds, Alberta just a week before the launch. Spreeman is busy studying city maps.
The Chopper Traffic web page at the 630 CHED site states the craft is "equipped with an array of cameras and on-board audio/video editing suites."
630 CHED did not respond to this site's request for an explanation of the potential use of the onboard video equipment, but the radio station has a longstanding relationship with the local Global station going back to its days as ITV.
CHED's chopper was one of six helicopters that Corus Entertainment has added to the Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal markets (Hamilton got a fixed-wing aircraft). With the exception of Calgary, Corus operates the only helicopter traffic service in those markets.
Calgary's AM 770 CHQR launched their craft, “CHQR Traffic 1” (also an R44), on December 15th, 2005.
Update: The Global Traffic Network, supplier of the Corus chopper and crew, began to provide traffic service for Touch Canada Broadcasting's CJCA "The Light"/CJRY "Shine-FM" in May 2006.
By summer, The Light's/Shine's Sharney Peters began reporting from a GTN fixed-wing craft.
Edmonton last had air traffic reports in the early 1990s when CHQT newsman Murray Blakely flew over the city in a fixed-wing aircraft. Blakely had earlier flown while at CJCA when the craft was known as "The Flying Tiger." The CJCA reports were also handled by long-gone radio legend George Payne.
It's OK, Rogers comes to town >permalink<
After years of having applications turned down, Rogers Communications seems set to gain a toe-hold in Edmonton with the acquisition of the Alberta holdings of the OK Radio Group.
The media giant already owns stations in Calgary, Lethbridge, Banff and Canmore.
OK Radio operates CHDI Sonic 102.9 and CKER 101.7 World FM in Edmonton, as well as CKYX 98 FM and 96.3 CJOK FM in Fort McMurray and CFGP 97.7 SUN FM in Grande Prairie.
Prior to the sale (unconfirmed and subject to CRTC approval) Roger Charest was the majority shareholder (67.13%) of OK Radio. Stuart Morton and Wind Mountain Holdings Ltd. held 30.07% while François and Linda Charest held the remaining 2.9%
The sale to Rogers would not include OK's Victoria, British Columbia operations – CJZN 'The Zone' FM and CKKQ 'The Q' FM.
Rogers already operates CHTT (Jack 103.1 FM) and CIOC (The Ocean 98.5 FM) in the B.C. capital. CRTC ownership rules prohibits the ownership of more than two FM stations within the same market.
Sources suggest OK's Victoria operations will also soon be sold as Charest (68) and Morton (61) contemplate retirement.
In question is the status of the OK Radio Group's bid for a second FM licence in Grande Prairie. Hearings for ten applications for the northern Alberta town take place in Edmonton on June 19th, 2006.
OK Radio launched its first station, CJOK Fort McMurray, in 1973. The following year CFOK Westlock, CIOK St. Paul/Bonneville and CKER AM Edmonton went on the air under the OK banner. In 1987 the company expanded into Victoria and in 1994 it added Grande Prairie to its markets.
In 2005, OK Radio launched Sonic 102.9 in Edmonton. The fledgling station showed a 7th-place ranking in the Spring, 2006 BBM survey with a 6.1 audience share in a 26 station market.
No sales details were announced and operational changes are yet to be determined.
The OK Radio sale leaves 99.3 CHMC "Magic 99" as the lone commercial station in Edmonton not owned by a cross-media enterprise. CHMC is owned by Rawlco Communications, a Saskatchewan firm that operates stations in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.
June 2006
Big round-up in country radio >permalink<
Some major changes at CFCW and 96.3 Big Earl have inside radio folks scratching their heads while drilling for the reasoning behind the moves.
It seems Newcap, who owns the stations (along with 97.3 CIRK K-Rock and 98.1 CAM FM) are trying to level the ratings see-saw between the two as part of their assault against Edmonton's country radio leader 103.9 - CISN.
It's a risky move – CFCW's ratings over the last couple of books has placed the station in the top four in Edmonton (in Fall 2005 they had their best ratings ever).
On the other side of the dial, CKRA's format switch to 96.3 Big Earl resulted in that frequency's poorest showing in the last decade.
Newcap has moved Jackie Rae from CFCW's morning shift to Big Earl's afternoon drive show alongside Greg Shannon. She will also manage operations at both stations.
The change directly positions Rae against CISN's Chris Scheetz, the timeslot and demographic champ.
Also gone from the morning spot is Graham Neil, who will now contribute a twice-a-day entertainment feature at 7:50 a.m. & 4:15 p.m. The re-assignment will leave Neil with more time for his work at CTV Edmonton.
Neil joined CFCW after the death of Edmonton radio legend Wes Montgomery.
The CFCW morning slot has a prestigous lineage. Prior to Montgomery, Bev Munro was a fixture for over 30 years.
Now rising with the rooster at will be country musician, standup comic, auctioneer, Big Valley Jamboree host, Big Iron Drilling pitchman, ex-real estate agent and ex-saloon keeper Danny Hooper.
The show will be Hooper's first foray into radio apart from occasional fill-ins.
Joining Hooper will be Sharon Mallon from CFCW's drive-home show (Warren Berg takes over her old shift).
At Big Earl, the displaced Tim Reiss moves from afternoons to weekends. B.J. Wilson, Shannon Tyler and Danger Man Dallas will continue to wake listeners at Earl.
Voices inside the business wonder why Big Earl's weak point (the morning show) remained untouched. Against the Hooper/Mallon team at CFCW and Bruce Bowie and Sean Burke at CISN, Wilson and Tyler still seem like strangers from the city that country fans have never warmed to.
The changes come at the tail end of the current ratings period. Results of Newcap's efforts will be reflected in the fall and may herald further tweaking.
Newcap also announced their Edmonton-based programming manager, Rob Mise, will now handle those duties for the chain's 70-plus Canada-wide outlets.
July 2006
Terry Evans quits >permalink<
When it comes to careers in broadcasting, it's not if but when ...
The news of veteran broadcaster Terry Evans' sudden departure from the Edmonton radio scene came unexpectedly and from an unexpected source.
It was management, in the form of K-Rock (CIRK)/Newcap General Manager Randy Lemay, who announced that after a 26-year career, including stints at the Bear and previously at K-97 (also CIRK), Evans had decided to retire from the business.
In addition to morning host, Evans was also K-Rock's program director.
The Edmonton Sun quoted Evans as saying, "It's been 20 years non-stop. Fun, but a helluva grind. Awhile back, I took on being program director as well. It's just been too much."
Lemay was quoted as saying Evans was not pushed. "We're sorry to lose him. We'd love for him to stay. But this is about his health and family. What's more important?"
"A family is the most important thing a man has," Evans said of his wife and two kids. "I've spent too much time on career. It's time to reacquaint myself with my family."
Replacing Evans will be "Jungle" Jim Jerome, part of the morning show at CHUM Ottawa's Team 1200.
Jerome at one time lived in Ottawa but returned to Edmonton two years ago and co-anchored the show from his home studio. At K-Rock he will at least be part of a morning show in his own time zone.
Jerome is set to start after the Labour Day weekend in September – just in time for the Fall ratings period.
"Jungle" Jim Jerome is not to be confused with "Jungle" Jay Hamilton who used to be at CHED during its Top 40 days. Hamilton has recently been heard on CHQT Cool 880 as vacation relief and is said to be running a broadcasting school in Edmonton.
Word of Evans' departure from the scene has radio insiders questioning the downsizing of station operations, with on-air talent being asked to take on additional duties such as program directing. Two weeks after Evans' departure, Lochlin Cross from Winnipeg's Power 97 was installed as PD.
Others suggest the recent appointment of Newcap Director of Programming Rob Mise may be at the heart of Evans' seemingly sudden departure.
Or perhaps the rumours are true that Terry is joining his old CIRK and CKRA programming pal Steve Jones in the Grand Cayman Islands. Jones helped launch 96-5 CAYROCK, which claims to be the first rock station south of Miami, on July 5th, 2006.
Terry Evans, aka Terry Chernoff began his radio career after graduating from high school in Creston, British Columbia. In late 1979 he walked into a local radio station and got his first shift on January 23rd, 1980.
Evans joined K-97, K-Rock's predecessor, in 1986 before jumping to the Bear when it launched in 1992. Five years later he was fired and then re-hired at K-Rock.
Late spring/early summer 2006 ratings >permalink<
The Bureau of Broadcast Measurement has added a fourth book to the year (in past surveys were done winter/spring, summer and fall). The "Late Spring/Early Summer" book measured Edmonton radio audiences from April 17th to June 11th, 2006.
Overall the survey paints a status quo scenario with the usual suspects occupying the top three spots.
For all the juicy numbers visit the Last Link Edmonton radio ratings late spring/early summer 2006 report.
August 2006
Ch-ch-changes >permalink<
With the dog days of the current ratings period fading to a close, Big Earl 96.3 has decided not to wait for the results and gave Big Early show hosts B.J. Wilson and Shannon Tyler the hook.
Recent financial reports suggest that Big Earl owner Newcap is doing well in Alberta except for their FMs in Edmonton (they also own K-Rock – see item above).
The B.J./Shannon team survived several format changes during their four years together, but it was perhaps their poor late spring numbers that finally did them in.
B.J. was offered a position in Calgary with Cafe 90.3 FM while Shannon was shown the door. Staying with mornings, B.J. starts in mid-September.
Now joining Danger Man Dallas will be Jackie Rae's former afternoon co-host (and former Country Music Television host) Greg Shannon and Tera Lee Flaman, fresh from Country 100 Moose Jaw.
Meanwhile ....
At Newcap sister station K-Rock, the microphones have fallen silent under the moniker of "The Dog Days of Summer."
If you believe what is or isn't officially said a) everybody booked holidays at the same time or b) new program director Lochlin Cross (from Winnipeg's Power 97) wants to re-tool the station under-wraps or c) both of the above.
It wouldn't come as a surprise to industry insiders that when on-air staff return to the airwaves some major changes will be in effect. The station's two most recent rating outings mark a low point for the station over the last decade.
Update: while the jocks returned, the Dog Days promotion continued with a "if you say it we'll play it" format, leading some to believe All Request Radio was just around the corner.
Since the Labour Day break, no announcements were made but early outtings indicated the morning show has yet to gel with newcomer Jim Jerome.
Ch-ch-CHED-changes >permalink<
Official reasons have not been announced, but it seems 630 CHED evening sports talk show host Al Stafford and his Corus employer have "parted ways."
Word has it he was called in ... and let go, suddenly shifting from "versatile and talented" to "no longer employed."
Stafford's style of late was described by some as "grating and canterous," and his departure may reflect CHED's other recent moves to skew to a younger sports audience.
Or it could have been Stafford's complaints to CHED General Manager Doug Rutherford about the frequent re-runs of Michelle Boden's The Inside Story cutting into his time slot (Boden is married to Rutherford).
In the meantime, previously seldom heard board operator Dan Tencer is filling in.
On the subject of "grating and canterous," CHED's Bryan Hall lost his long-time Edmonton Eskimos booth-mate when John Farlinger was replaced by Dave Campbell at the start of the football season.
Farley's contract was not renewed, prompting the That's Aroma part-owner to explain that a decision was made to begin grooming a successor “because one day I’ll be gone, who knows when.”
Bryan's not saying, he's just saying.
September 2006
Ch-ch-changes - and updates >permalink<
Dan Tencer's tenure as replacement for suddenly-departed CHED sports talk show host Al Stafford might be shortlived.
Corus Entertainment placed ads in trade journals and online stating they were looking for someone to "work on NHL broadcasts, sports talk shows and other duties as assigned."
Cited as a qualification in the help wanted missive was a "Positive, friendly manner and customer service approach that enables the successful candidate to deal with challenging situations with empathy and sincerity," which sounds like damage control now that the horse has been thrown out of the barn.
Update: Seems like Dan is the man for the Inside Sports show.
Answering the 'help wanted' ad was Dean "Boomer" Molberg from CH TV Red Deer where he served as sports director.
Molberg will handle CHED's Oilers pre-game Faceoff Show, intermissions and the post-game Overtime Openline.
The Roblin, Manitoba native previously worked at Big 105 CHUB-FM in Red Deer and CKX in Brandon.
Molberg replaces Brian Munz, who heard the call of the Manitoba Moose ... now handling the Vancouver Canucks affiliate's broadcasts for fellow Corus station CJOB in Winnipeg.
Over at Newcap, general manager Al Anderson is hanging up the microphone after 26 years at CFCW.
The former CHED Good Guy (from back in the station's early 1960's powerhouse Top 40 days) has 47 years in the business to his credit. Anderson retires in October.
Newcap's 98.1 CAM-FM has brought in Nick Addams from the chain's CAFE-FM in Winnipeg to serve as program director and afternoon drive host. Addams replaces Kelsey Cross in the pm slot. Cross reportedly headed down to Red Deer and has left the business.
Also now on board at CAM-FM is David Gilmore as station and sales manager. Gilmore comes from Roger's Squamish/Whistler Mountain FM operation on the left coast. No word if he checked out local skiing conditions prior to his move.
Old rockers keep on truckin' ... and that's exactly what former K-Rock iron-morning man Terry Evans is now doing, running his own trucking company.
One wonders if his new audience will be drivers listening to him from behind the dispatcher's microphone.
Lastly, CJCA Shine FM's Charley West celebrated his second anniversary at the also two-year-old station – without his morning-mate Tara Lopez.
Lopez landed a TV gig in Prince George, British Columbia.
At Shine's AM flipside 930 CJCA, Jon Ramer takes over the morning show.
Bill Matheson: 1926-2006 >permalink<
In today's age of computer-generated weather graphics delivered by those with perfect hair, Bill Matheson would be called a dinosaur.
But in a previous age, Matty was the dean of Edmonton weathermen, once honoured as the world’s best weather presenter at an International Weather Forecaster's Festival in Paris.
And for 23 years as Edmonton's CITV senior weatherman, he entertained, elucidated, emancipated, enlightened and gave mental emolument to the hoi polloi. He also was one half of CJCA's "The Bill and Bill Show."
Bill Matheson died September 19th, 2006 at age 80 [full tribute & permanent link].
October 2006
Late summer 2006 ratings >permalink<
The "Late Summer 2006" book measured Edmonton radio audiences from July 3rd to 16th and July 31st to August 27th. The report came quickly on the heels of the new "Late Spring/Early Summer" measurement which ended June 11th.
Summer ratings are not taken as seriously as the Fall books as daily habits are disrupted by seasonal change. In the current report, that could be good news for some ... and excuses for others.
The "Late Summer 2006" book was all over the map but at the same time almost predictable. The results show a big gain for CISN, a big loss for CHED, Classic Rock growing stale and a couple of stations (CKRA Big Earl and Magic 99) going nowhere.
For all the juicy numbers visit the Last Link Edmonton radio ratings - Late Summer 2006 report.
December 2006
Fall 2006 ratings >permalink<
The "Fall 2006" book measured Edmonton radio audiences from September 4th to October 29th, 2006.
Unlike the two previous books (Late Summer and Late Spring/Early Summer), program directors, station managers – and especially advertisers – take this one pretty seriously.
The Fall numbers show the overall size of the radio audience is up significantly over the previous two books. However, the big news this time around is the disappearance of the country music audience – both CISN and CFCW listeners seemed to have left the ratings building.
For all the juicy numbers visit the Last Link Edmonton radio ratings - Fall 2006 report.
edmonton radio news 2006 archives
links go to entries on this page
fall 2005 ratings | there's Magic in the air | 96X goes country | CHED takes to the air | Tony Dillon Davis signs off | Bounce bounces morning crew
CBC's The Voice unmasked ... sort of | ch-ch-changes | Newcap signs on Lac La Biche | Edmonton's crowded dial | Edmonton gets more radio active | cheap and loony | the envelope please
this and that | Warren Henderson, 1955-2006
spring 2006 ratings | CHED takes off | it's OK, Rogers comes to town
terry evans quits | late spring/early summer 2006 ratings
ch-ch-changes | ch-ch-CHED-changes
ch-ch-changes – and updates | Bill Matheson: 1926-2006
edmonton radio ratings - late summer 2006
edmonton radio ratings - fall 2006
Related Pages
- edmonton radio ratings
The latest ratings book is in -- good news for some, bad news for others. - television in edmonton
The Last Link look at the local dial. - final credits - wes montgomery
Legendary Edmonton radio morning man. - final credits - radio
Reflecting lives that have contributed to the world of radio.
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17:43 2007-02-19.