By Stephen Weir
In a big growth for the Canadian radio panorama, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Fee (CRTC) has introduced a pending software by Neeti P. Ray’s CINA Radio Group to amass three AM stations from Bell Media. The stations in query are CHAM and CKOC in Hamilton and CKWW in Windsor, for the cut price basement whole value of $445,000.
The CRTC disclosed the applying on November 16, 2023, stating that CINA Radio Group, led by Neeti P. Ray, goals to proceed working the stations underneath the identical phrases and situations as the prevailing licenses. CINA Radio Group already owns a number of stations throughout central Canada, together with FLOW in Toronto.
The applying is scheduled for last consideration on February 8th. Bell Media had beforehand expressed its intention to promote the three AM stations in Hamilton and Windsor again in June, as a part of a broader companywide restructuring effort. The trio of stations on the block are Comedy station “Humorous 820” CHAM, Enterprise station “BNN Bloomberg 1150” CKOC in Hamilton, and Oldies station “AM 580” CKWW in Windsor. He already owns a multi-language station within the metropolis.
Neeti Ray isn’t any stranger to radio acquisitions. Two years in the past, Ray made waves within the Caribbean Canadian group when he bought CKFG 98.7FM, also referred to as G-98, following the passing of the station’s founder, Fitzroy Gordon. Underneath Ray's possession, CKFG underwent a big transformation, rebranding itself as FLOW and shifting its focus from Soca and Calypso to city Black music.
Shortly after assuming management of G-98, Ray struck a cope with Stream 93.5FM,
Canada’s first Black radio station, based by Jamaican Canadian businessman Denham Jolly, to swap codecs. CKFG is now referred to as FLOW and proudly declares itself “The place Black Music Lives”.
The rebranded station has scaled again on its group information and speak exhibits, however because the motto implies, it now performs wall-to-wall city Black music. They’ve made a number of personnel modifications in the previous few months. Because the Caribbean Digicam introduced final week, Dr. Jay is again on air with a stay Sunday evening Soca present. Moreover, the longtime morning present hosts Crimson and Ritz have been proven the door and changed by standard podcasters (Additional Gravy Podcast), Marlon Palmer and Alicia ‘Ace’ West. Their present known as “Ace and Marlon In The Morning.”
Based on Shifter Journal, Randy Reid strikes over from the College of York radio station (Vibe) to be the Operations Supervisor. Vanessa James, who has lent her voice to exhibits like “The Burbs” and “The Masked Singer”, has joined FLOW as the brand new imaging voice, changing Ace and Marlon In The Morning. Additionally, SPEXDABOSS, the Reggae Ambassador, is again each weeknight, Monday via Thursday. In the meantime, radio station CFXJ, which used to go by the identify FLOW, is now 93.5 At present Radio. They’ve dropped hip-hop and rap music from their playlist and have just one Black DJ—Philys Ogbemudia, also referred to as Philys Og—on Saturdays. The potential acquisition of Bell Media’s AM stations by CINA Radio Group has
sparked anticipation throughout the broadcast trade. Insiders recommend that the CRTC is more likely to approve the sale, signalling a brand new chapter for the stations in Hamilton and Windsor. As listeners await the regulatory resolution, questions linger in regards to the potential affect of CINA Radio Group’s profitable FLOW manoeuvres on the longer term programming of CHAM, CKOC, and CKWW.
