TORONTO – Corus announced Monday the launch of an interactive youth radio station over broadband, an initiative which it calls a Canadian market first.
Carrying a mix of eclectic music, ranging from Top 40 and indie rock to hip hop and rap, with programming hosted by teens and young adults, BoomBoxBaby.ca features personalities and content from Corus Entertainment’s YTV, Kids Can Press and Corus Radio.
The station, targeted at younger teens aged 12–17, broadcasts exclusively on the web with user-generated on-air content. Programmed by 102.1 the Edge and AM640 Toronto Radio producers, the service also benefits from the guidance of Program Director and syndicated host Alan Cross.
On-air, BoomBoxBaby’s program lineup includes: Plugged In, an hour-long weekly program hosted by YTV’s Sugar and Carlos, movie reviews from YTV’s ZAPX host Simon, a regular author series and Kids Can Press Book Club, and character-driven features from Nelvana’s animated series 6teen.
“As youth audiences’ enthusiasm for accessing music and content on multiple platforms continues to grow, BoomBoxBaby.ca reflects our commitment to be everywhere our audiences are,” said Corus Radio President John Hayes.
BoomBoxBaby.ca is broadcast 24 hours a day in three looped eight-hour blocks. The after-school anchor block runs from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Plans are in the works to include BoomBoxBaby as a new channel on Corus’ digital music service, Max Trax.
