TORONTO – Corus Radio announced a major expansion of its airborne traffic services on Wednesday in seven of Canada’s top 10 markets.
Debuting in Calgary this week and rolling out across the country through February, Corus’ new fleet takes the company’s stations airborne in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto and Montréal.
Corus’ fleet, consisting of helicopters in six of these major markets and fixed-wing service in Hamilton, will be in the air during every weekday morning and afternoon drive timeslot, delivering up-to-the-minute traffic reports to Canada’s largest urban centres.
With the exception of the Calgary, Corus operates the only helicopter traffic service in major markets across Canada. The service will be anchored by Corus’ leading AM news-talk network, and the reports will be shared with Corus’ other stations in these communities. Recognizing Montréal’s diverse audience, the “Corus News Traffic Copter/Hélicoptère Corus Nouvelles” will report in both French and English.
“Across the country, Canadians want timely and accurate traffic news,” said Doug Rutherford, vice-president, news-talk, Corus Radio and general manager, Corus Radio Edmonton, in the press release. “With more Canadians tuning to a Corus radio station every week than any other private broadcaster, we have a responsibility to get them the information they need.”
In emergencies, Corus Radio will make its helicopters available to the municipal governments in each of its communities, as well as to the police and EMS services and fire department.
First off the ground, AM 770 CHQR’s “CHQR Traffic One” (Calgary) launches with a preview event this Thursday, December 15. Calgary’s mayor, community and business leaders, the Stampeders, as well as airport officials and major advertisers will join CHQR at a special unveiling breakfast at La Caille Restaurant at 7:30 a.m. MT. Once in the air, traffic reports from CHQR Traffic One will be heard in morning and afternoon drive slots across the Corus Calgary cluster, including Q107 and Country 105.
Details for the remaining markets are as follows:
TORONTO
News-Talk Station: AM640 TORONTO RADIO
Chopper Name: Chopper 640 (AM640 Chopper Traffic)
Launch Date: January 9, 2006
Also Heard On: Q107 and 102.1 the Edge
HAMILTON
News-Talk Station: CHML AM900
Service Name: Skyview 900 Traffic
Launch Date: January 9, 2006
Also Heard On: The New Country 95.3 and Y108
MONTRÉAL
News-Talk Station: Corus Nouvelles news syndicate
Chopper Name: Corus News Traffic Copter / Hélicoptère Corus Nouvelles
Launch Date: January 16, 2006
Heard On: CKOI, CHMP 98,5, Q92 FM Montréal’s 92.5, Info690, 940Montreal and CKAC
VANCOUVER
News-Talk Station: CKNW 980
Chopper Name: Traffic-Copter 980
Launch Date: January 25, 2006
Also Heard On: MOJO Sports Radio 730, Classic Rock 101 and 99.3 The FOX
EDMONTON
News-Talk Station: 630 CHED
Chopper Name: CHED Chopper Traffic
Launch Date: February 6, 2006
Also Heard On: CISN Country, 92.5 JOE FM and Cool 880
WINNIPEG
News-Talk Station: CJOB 680
Chopper Name: Air 68 Traffic
Launch Date: February 9, 2006
Also Heard On: Power 97
