CKDK (103.9) in Woodstock has adjusted its music mix to be the "greatest hits of all time" rather than "the greatest rock 'n' roll of all time", emphasizing classic rock less. It is likely no coincidence that co-owned FM96 in London has added some classic rock to its lineup. Just now I heard two Rolling Stones songs in a row, from the 1960s.
I'm not sure Corus is going about things the right way. A few years ago CKDK (The Hawk) was strictly classic rock and sounded a lot like Q107, and FM96 was strictly new rock with some 90s songs mixed in, like The Edge. The Hawk added more "variety" a couple years ago and ratings dropped to the point they're near the bottom in London. Honestly they used to be my favourite station around here but I can barely stand it anymore - and now they're dropping more classic rock? It's bad enough they have Maureen Halloway with her generic celebrity gossip that you can get anywhere. And I can't see FM96 fans being too happy. I personally like classic rock but I know some listeners prefer only new rock.
Corus has not been managing its radio brands very well as of late. They've messed with the Hawk brand way too much, they cut the heritage CFPL calls out of AM980, and now they've renamed CHAY in Barrie to FM93, less than five years after it switched from Energy. In fact a little-known fact about CHAY is that it was named after the Huron word for "hello", so in a way it's a slap in the face to Native Canadians to try and cover up that name which the station has used all these years (save for the Energy era). The next question is what happens to CKRU (980) in Peterborough when it moves to FM? It sure won't be oldies, it'll probably be another generic lite rock station like CFFX in Kingston, which also converted from AM to FM last year.
I'm not sure Corus is going about things the right way. A few years ago CKDK (The Hawk) was strictly classic rock and sounded a lot like Q107, and FM96 was strictly new rock with some 90s songs mixed in, like The Edge. The Hawk added more "variety" a couple years ago and ratings dropped to the point they're near the bottom in London. Honestly they used to be my favourite station around here but I can barely stand it anymore - and now they're dropping more classic rock? It's bad enough they have Maureen Halloway with her generic celebrity gossip that you can get anywhere. And I can't see FM96 fans being too happy. I personally like classic rock but I know some listeners prefer only new rock.
Corus has not been managing its radio brands very well as of late. They've messed with the Hawk brand way too much, they cut the heritage CFPL calls out of AM980, and now they've renamed CHAY in Barrie to FM93, less than five years after it switched from Energy. In fact a little-known fact about CHAY is that it was named after the Huron word for "hello", so in a way it's a slap in the face to Native Canadians to try and cover up that name which the station has used all these years (save for the Energy era). The next question is what happens to CKRU (980) in Peterborough when it moves to FM? It sure won't be oldies, it'll probably be another generic lite rock station like CFFX in Kingston, which also converted from AM to FM last year.