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EZ-Rock Ottawa now Boom 99.7
- Thread starter ELL383
- Start date
Yes, a year and 2 weeks ago...and they debuted to crappy ratings because they were not offering anything that wasn't done on other stations. Their sound is flat and the signal downtown is extremely po0r to non-existant. Anyone who wanted to play it in the office building would have had the signal drowned out by the Jewell, which had the audience that ez rock was going for. I'm hoping that they can fill a niche with the new format. I think they're now trying to go up against Bob FM.
ELL383 said:
That would make sense as their transmitter is south of town while the others are at Camp fortune, or downtown. Therefore it's the closest transmitter to you. They share the same tower as CHRI 99.1. You should also get that one. They do alright once you get out of the downtown core. I've checked it out a bit and it's an ok station. They're not afraid to rock either. They'll probably attract an audience and I hope it works out for them.
I couldn't figure out why the launched with an AC format when there as already enough AC stations in Ottawa. You have 98.5, 100.3, and 105.3 even though they are more CHR sounding.
The new format sounds like it will compete with 93.9 mostly and maybe 106.1 if they play some classic rock.
The new format sounds like it will compete with 93.9 mostly and maybe 106.1 if they play some classic rock.
??? Perhaps they just want their competition to think they don't know what they're doing? 
It won't be the first time 93.9 went under attack.
Shortly after CHR formatted Hot 89.9 came to be, 93.9 switched from CHR as Kool FM, to their current BoB FM format.
I think you'll still find some differences between BoB FM and Boom.
It won't be the first time 93.9 went under attack.
Shortly after CHR formatted Hot 89.9 came to be, 93.9 switched from CHR as Kool FM, to their current BoB FM format.
I think you'll still find some differences between BoB FM and Boom.
There's a huge difference between the 2. Boom skews older. More 70's tracks then Bob. Bob has retooled a bit of the programming, since Vinnie has gone from evenings to mornings. I know he's the best on the station but since I sleep mornings, I don't get to hear him anymore. I reallly liked how he did Studio 93. It was awesome to hear 80's alternative with a DJ who has an English accent.
I'm noticing a difference in music between the 2. Personally I prefer what's on Bob, but I"m not opposed to tuning in 99.7 to see what's going on.
I'm noticing a difference in music between the 2. Personally I prefer what's on Bob, but I"m not opposed to tuning in 99.7 to see what's going on.
I love the way stations change their formats, quicker than I do my undies, lol!
How is it possible that a broadcaster presents an agreeable format to the CRTC, in order to be awarded a license to operate, only to flip formats 14 months latter? In the mean time, stations offering truly different formats, such as CJRT (JAZZFM 91) or CFMZ (Classical 96.3), cannot set up shop in the Ottawa region, due to `lack of band space`. :-\
~BG
How is it possible that a broadcaster presents an agreeable format to the CRTC, in order to be awarded a license to operate, only to flip formats 14 months latter? In the mean time, stations offering truly different formats, such as CJRT (JAZZFM 91) or CFMZ (Classical 96.3), cannot set up shop in the Ottawa region, due to `lack of band space`. :-\
~BG
Tincap said:
It's a different story in the Ottawa area. Not sure about Jazz FM, but Classical music DID go to a french outlet, and Dawg FM DID get a broadcast license, so your point, as good as it is, isn't as sharp.
Yeziknoradio said:
Dawg FM had to fight like a pit-bull, to obtain their license, which was awarded at the same time as the EVE/EZ Rock/Boom venture got theirs. Even after Dawg was awarded by the CRTC, it was nearly revoked, because of the ongoing French/English political nature of things in the Ottawa market (a solution was found, so there's now also a new station catering to the Franco-Ontario, as opposed to the Franco-Quebecois, community). There was no question of EVE/EZ Rock/Boom being pulled for a francophone station, probably because it offered up a much more 'safe' format.
As for classical, you are correct, CHLX was classical, but Ottawa is a small and divided market, so the chances of a stand alone classical format station in the Ottawa region are risky. Which is why I approached the folks at the CFMZ/CFMX operation about relaying into the Ottawa area. I was told that, they'd love to expand 'The Nation's Classical Station' into Ottawa, but until someone has to pull a plug on the Ottawa dial, there's no more usable band space available.
~BG
True, there's no ro0m on FM. I doubt they'd settle for one of the many vacant AM frequencies in the city (540 630 910/920 970 1250) that once held stations. 97.1 FM was awarded a specialty jazz/classical license for a while. 3 or so years ago they flipped to soft French AC as Planette. I knew a lot of people who liked 97.1 when it had that format. All of them were anglos.
Evanov group also had no trouble getting Jewel FM up and running.
Why didn't Classical 96 apply back then?
There's even a CHIN FM Ottawa now!
I'm sure there's room somewhere for a low power FM to serve the downtown core, perhaps?
However, even then, the point is weak, since the signal would also be weak.
Too bad Classical radio couldn't surface in Ottawa around 92.3, since Jack isn't supposed to serve Ottawa area anyway, being a Smith Falls station. (again, low power for downtown Ottawa area, I guess...)
Why didn't Classical 96 apply back then?
There's even a CHIN FM Ottawa now!
I'm sure there's room somewhere for a low power FM to serve the downtown core, perhaps?
However, even then, the point is weak, since the signal would also be weak.
Too bad Classical radio couldn't surface in Ottawa around 92.3, since Jack isn't supposed to serve Ottawa area anyway, being a Smith Falls station. (again, low power for downtown Ottawa area, I guess...)
Yeziknoradio said:
I believe when Evanov applied, for their Jewel outlet, CHLX was still running their classical format on 97.1 (and mimo you are correct, I was one of them! 8)), so the competition for such a small, split market would've been daunting. As well, when Evanov applied for that Ottawa frequency, Classical 96 was not yet owned by Zniamer, so I don't know if the interest to expand was considered at the time.
As for CHIN, IMHO, it's one of the more interesting stations on the Ottawa dial. They certainly don't play the "same old, same old", or stuff with a six week shelf life. 8)
There must be some space left on the dial...maybe they can kick that Carlton University LP parking info station off of 100.9, LOL!
~BG
Tincap said:
What? And merge it with CHYW 1630?
I was wondering if anyone eles even knew that station at 100.9 was on the air. It's been on for quite a while now. I get it at the house on 2 of my many radios (the 2 go0d ones) and even at Carlton it doesn't do to0 much damage to 101.1, at least not on my little grundig g8 II. I would be surprised if Y101 filed a complaint, I guess they don't have many listeners in the area. Then again it's hard to have an audience when you have a scratchy signal. I haven't heard CHYW in a few days. It seems to go down from time to time for a few days...usually after a heatwave.
I like CHIN Ottawa's Spanish language programming. They even have an hour on Sunday afterno0ns for the kids! I wonder how they managed to get the Arabic hosts to agree to losing Sunday afterno0ns? Their time on air draws a HUGE audience, and not just Arabic speakers. I wish that they and CHIN AM Toronto would lose the CRI programming. There's 12 hours that could easily go to other groups, local groups. There's only one hour of local Chinese language programming in Ottawa now. Considering the large community we have there. And it's RIGHT in the shadow of CHIN Ottawa's transmitter.
Tincap, you're right, CHLX was still running the classical/jazz format and would run it for another 2 years after the Jewel came on. I heard there are 2 low powered FM's licensed to Ottawa and Gatineau at 92.3 I've even seen internet evidence to support this. They appear to be owned by churches, and I have never heard either one. CJET I've heard at 92.3 though. Even as far north as Chelsea Quebec. Maybe a low(er) powered station at 91.9 or 92.7 would be the last place you could squeeze something on the dial.
I like CHIN Ottawa's Spanish language programming. They even have an hour on Sunday afterno0ns for the kids! I wonder how they managed to get the Arabic hosts to agree to losing Sunday afterno0ns? Their time on air draws a HUGE audience, and not just Arabic speakers. I wish that they and CHIN AM Toronto would lose the CRI programming. There's 12 hours that could easily go to other groups, local groups. There's only one hour of local Chinese language programming in Ottawa now. Considering the large community we have there. And it's RIGHT in the shadow of CHIN Ottawa's transmitter.
Tincap, you're right, CHLX was still running the classical/jazz format and would run it for another 2 years after the Jewel came on. I heard there are 2 low powered FM's licensed to Ottawa and Gatineau at 92.3 I've even seen internet evidence to support this. They appear to be owned by churches, and I have never heard either one. CJET I've heard at 92.3 though. Even as far north as Chelsea Quebec. Maybe a low(er) powered station at 91.9 or 92.7 would be the last place you could squeeze something on the dial.
mimo said:
They can't file a complaint even if they want to because their broadcast license is for Smith Falls, not Ottawa. When they were XFM (when Rogers first bought the station and switched from quiet music to New rock) they tried to be an Ottawa station instead of serving Smith Falls. That led to complaints from other Ottawa area radio stations.
spunker88 said:
Astral doesn't always make the most sound format decisions, whether it be Ottawa or anywhere else. Remember Virgin 106.9? Rock radio for virgins. And they haven't managed EZ Rock London very well from what I can see.
mimo said:
Good points/observations there, mimo.
Given that the CRTC seems to be handing out frequencies, with little regard to format saturation or neighbouring stations (RE: spunker88's Kemptville thread), there's still lots of room on the dial, lol! But yes, 91.9 (where CBC plans to plant Brockville's CBOB signal) and 92.7 (Ogdensburg NY's WQTK doesn't make it much north of Bankfield/Brophy), seem to be the most likely available.
~BG
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