OTTAWA – While not saying explicitly that it’s the anti-Jack or -Bob, LiVE 88.5 went to air officially on Boxing Day saying it will play what its listeners want.
It “will not try to mould itself into a station based on false perceptions,” says the press release. “Good radio – the kind that makes your pulse quicken and gives you tingles of fulfillment – is radio that is about the listener. It has always been about the listener.”
"This radio station would not exist if not for the sheer determination of the people of Ottawa,” says Scott Broderick, general manager for Newcap Radio Ottawa. “There were more letters of support – more than 6,000 positive interventions – for this application, than for any other license application in the history of radio in Canada. The people of Ottawa know what they want. Live 88.5 is merely a conduit.”
The station has been testing music on-line for the past six weeks with over 8,000 volunteers. “Each and every song has been chosen in consultation with those people,” says Kneale Mann, program director.
It stands in stark comparison to the “playing what we want” mantra of the Jack/Bob formats.
As for the talent, Katfish Morgan (of Mix 96 in Montreal) and Darryl Kornicky (Dave FM in Cambridge) comprise the Live 88.5 morning show. Katfish and Kornicky have worked separately in major market morning shows in Toronto, Montreal, Kitchener, Calgary and London. “This is their first time working together as a morning duo.
Joining them from the newsroom is Shirley Roy (from A-Channel Ottawa) – a veteran Ottawa news anchor. “Shirley will provide the credible information that people demand from an intelligent radio station,” says Mann. “This will be an interesting, intelligent and extremely relevant radio station."
John Moran (Q107, K-Rock Kingston) joins the team at wearing multiple hats – the midday storyteller and music director. Mike Edgerton (Hot 89-9 Ottawa and The Beat Kitchener) and Jen Traplin (CFRA Ottawa) partner up for drive time, Chelsea Miller takes on weeknights and Lauren Stone (Majic 100 Ottawa) will take over the airwaves during overnights and weekends.
The station is one of three Newcap Boxing Day format flips as Winnipeg’s and Calgary’s The Breeze becomes Café 100.7 and California 103 FM, respectively.
www.livelifelive.fm
www.california103.com
www.thebreezefm.com
