OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC today approved four new FM radio stations for the national capital region today.
The winners are:
* Newfoundland Capital Corporation, for an English-language alternative rock station at 88.5 FM, with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 5,200 watts, (to go with its existing pop station Hot 89-9).
* Newcomer CKMW Radio Ltd. (Evanov), for an English easy-listening station at 98.5 FM, with an effective radiated power of 2,961 watts.
* Radio Nord Communications, for a French-language pop/rock/urban station at 96.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 1,750 watts.
* 3077457 Nova Scotia Limited, for a low-power English-language tourist information service. Since it applied for the 96.5 FM slot, it must re-submit an application for another frequency.
"This is a significant accomplishment for our company,” said Rob Steele, president and CEO of Newcap. "It was a highly competitive hearing with many credible applicants. It is recognition of Newcap Radio’s commitment to innovation and serving local communities. This second licence perfectly complements our existing station and will enhance our presence in Ontario."
The new station is expected to be on-air this fall offering the popular alternative rock format.
The Evanov station will be called The Jewel, however no launch date has yet been set.
“The station (CKMW) will provide the Ottawa Market with a much needed range of musical styles including crooners, standards, ballads, love songs and contemporary hits drawn from current and past musical eras. It will be targeted to the 35-plus audience,” says an Evanov press release.
“We are honored to serve the 35+ radio listeners in the Ottawa CMA, a group that is underserved in that market and provide them with a wide array of music genres. There is a significant demand among older adults in the Ottawa area for a radio station that meets their needs. In a survey we commissioned, 61% of respondents stated they would ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ listen to a station such as ‘The Jewel’. Our company is committed to the success of this exciting new venture”, said Bill Evanov, president and CEO of Evanov Radio Group Inc., in the statement.
The Jewel will be the fifth addition to the Evanov Radio Group which owns and operates Toronto area sister stations: CIDC-FM (Z103.5); CKDX-FM (Foxy 88.5); and CIAO (AM530); and their newest station CKHZ-FM (Z103.5 ) in Halifax which is expected to go on-air in the Fall of 2005.
The applications which were denied belonged to: Levinson and Associates; Christian Hit Radio Inc.; Radio Ville-Marie; Radio Rideau Inc.; Astral Media Radio inc.; Global Communications Limited; John Wright & Douglas Kirk; Jean-Jacques Brunelle; Corus Entertainment Inc.; Radio 1540 Limited; another application from CKMW Radio Ltd; Genex Communications inc.
The public hearing took place in December, 2004.
