Ontario 2023 Predictions

[Marcus]

1. The AM to FM conversions I have talked about before will reach the planning stages. It might take until 2024 to get them built, however.
2. London, Ontario will have a fulltime Ethnic station either built or almost ready to go.
3. One of the smaller Toronto stations will be purchased by one of the 3 Canadian Giants. Stingray's 93.5 FM is not doing well so Corus will likely buy that one. If Bell unloads 1050 AM, they might try to get their hands on Boom 97.3
4. I'm going to say there is about a 50/50 chance of AM 740 continuing with its current format.
5. The Rogers cable systems in Ontario and Shaw cable in the West will become one company as a result of a merger.
6. 97.7 CHTZ-HD in St. Catharines will start carrying NewsTalk 610 CKTB on the HD-2 and Bloomberg Business on the HD-3.

[n8fnr]

Will CKLW be converting to FM?

[Marcus]

In Windsor-Essex Bell Media could shut down the 580 signal and purchase a Blackburn Property if Blackburn is willing to sell. For example if they bought 96.7 CHYR and made it Move 96.7 with a minor adjustment to the playlist, most of those listeners could be retained. Getting the Oldies onto FM wouldn't be too difficult if they want to do that. The CRTC might not allow them to take the AM 800 Talk format over to FM, however. I'm not saying it would be impossible. It would just be doubtful.

[edj]

CFRB has more budget cuts
Hamilton AMs other than CHML continue to draw next to nothing ratings wise. Funny 820 stays.
Someone somehow tries to get yet another rimshot FM into a part of Toronto, drawing virtually no audience like 106.5 Elmnt FM.
CJBK London stays the year, but there are plans to move to FM in ‘24.

[WC8KCY]

4. I'm going to say there is about a 50/50 chance of AM 740 continuing with its current format.

I'm in full agreement with you on that one. They've been tweaking their current format over the last 18 months; the biggest head-scratcher was a conspiracy theory show running late evenings. Now there's old-time radio shows running in that time slot. There is also talk programming on Sunday mornings. Seems to me they're easing their way away from music and into talk radio.

[edj]

Richard Syrett? He’s now doing drivetime on Sauga 960. I heard him passing through the GTA a few months ago.

[MWmetalhead]

Zero chance of Blackburn selling a Windsor station to Bell. Why would Blackburn want to weaken its own cluster in such a fashion?

[ChrisWL1980]

4. I'm going to say there is about a 50/50 chance of AM 740 continuing with its current format.

I'm in full agreement with you on that one. They've been tweaking their current format over the last 18 months; the biggest head-scratcher was a conspiracy theory show running late evenings. Now there's old-time radio shows running in that time slot. There is also talk programming on Sunday mornings. Seems to me they're easing their way away from music and into talk radio.

The talk shows have been there for a while, and the old time radio programming has been there even longer. The biggest change over the past few years has been the evolution of the music from traditional nostalgia/standards into basically an oldies format with a touch of soft AC (not unlike the former CFCO Classic Gold). '50s music is rarely heard anymore and pre-'50s music is virtually gone except for a few weekend shows. I would guess the talk (and maybe some of the music) shows are probably brokered. I could see the old-time radio shows disappearing or relegated to weekends only since they're not really a fit with the music the station plays now.

[rugratsonline]

3. One of the smaller Toronto stations will be purchased by one of the 3 Canadian Giants... If Bell unloads 1050 AM, they might try to get their hands on Boom 97.3

Would be a natural, as Bell already owns the Boom branding, though Bell only owns two Boom stations themselves. Most Boom stations are owned by other parties.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_FM

[WC8KCY]

...The biggest change over the past few years has been the evolution of the music from traditional nostalgia/standards into basically an oldies format with a touch of soft AC (not unlike the former CFCO Classic Gold). '50s music is rarely heard anymore and pre-'50s music is virtually gone except for a few weekend shows. I would guess the talk (and maybe some of the music) shows are probably brokered. I could see the old-time radio shows disappearing or relegated to weekends only since they're not really a fit with the music the station plays now.

Now that you mention it, the 740 playlist does resemble that of the former CFCO Classic Gold. And you're right, they've been tweaking things for longer than 18 months; it's just that I've been disappointed with some of their more recent programming changes.

According to the CFZM website, listeners are clamouring for more of the old radio shows. Sorry, guys, I tune into 740 for music and go elsewhere when that stuff comes on.

[Marcus]

To answer an earlier question, it sounds like the AM 800 Talk format could be simulcast on 88.7 FM now that both Ottawa and Calgary are doing this. Of the Windsor / Essex County radio stations there are seven commerical broadcasts serving that market on the Canadian side. I have a feeling that CIMX is not bringing very much extra money for Bell in its current state. Bringing back 89x right now would be a crazy business decision.

I could also see Corus doing the same thing with 103.9 FM to make up for the nighttime interference on CFPL 980 in the London area. Bell's 1290 CJBK is not a ratings winner, so expect an AM to FM conversion in the future.

[Scooter]

Will CKLW be converting to FM?

Well, they might as well. Their modulation index is so low, we can barely hear them over the carrier in Ypsilanti. Back in their heyday, you could hear them loud and clear.
Perhaps hire someone to fix the transmitter?

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[audiophile]

When I think of Modulation Index, I think of FM, LOL.

I agree 800's modulation is very low.

Moving a talk format to FM on such a dominate AM signal would be a complete waste.

[Scooter]

When I think of Modulation Index, I think of FM, LOL.

I agree 800's modulation is very low.

Moving a talk format to FM on such a dominate AM signal would be a complete waste.

A little info on AM modulation index:

https://siglentna.com/application-note/ ... 0amplitude.

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