VANCOUVER – Corus Entertainment has finally lost all of its Mojo.
The radio company shuttered the Mojo concept in Vancouver today, turning the 730 AM frequency over to continuous traffic and "best-of talk" from heritage talk station CKNW.
The restructuring and new format will result in the loss of 14 jobs. By replaying ‘NW programming and calling on traffic resources from that Corus station as well as from the company’s Rock 101 and 99.3 The Fox, one wonders how many staffers 730 AM has left.
This round of job cuts follows the elimination of 12 jobs in the Corus Vancouver radio cluster earlier this year. However, said Corus Radio Vancouver cluster general manager JJ Johnston in a memo to staff, this is the last of the cuts. "Today is the second and the last phase of our restructuring that includes a format change at 730. It is unfortunate that we could not make MOJO work…this is a very good sounding radio station," reads the memo. "We all tried as hard as we could to develop workable plans to keep this going, but in the end could not find ourselves in a position where we were anywhere close to the breakeven point.
"This is the extent of the restructuring. I am absolutely hell bent that we will never have another day like this on my watch," added Johnston.
"In a completely unique and innovative format, AM730 continuous drive time traffic and the best of talk delivers continuous traffic reports during the critical morning and afternoon drive periods," says the press release. The new station also features the Vancouver Whitecaps and Giants and the Seattle Seahawks play-by-play games as well as the “best of talk,” offering original programming and time-shifted CKNW signature programming.
Mojo Vancouver had been primarily a sports station and was suffering in the ratings and was last in the market in the most recent ratings period among commercial radio stations, logging a 0.9 share among A12+.
Mojo in Toronto was a sports and "talk radio for guys" station but that low-rated format was dropped in 2005 in favor of news station 640 Toronto.
“Appealing to a targeted and highly mobile audience, this new and groundbreaking continuous traffic format fills a void in the Vancouver market. Imagine never having to wait for a traffic report during the prime drive times,” said Johnston, in the press release. “AM730 continuous drive time traffic and the best of talk is a unique format based on public service. The station has its own brand personality, incorporating original programming, including play-by-play sports, and CKNW signature programming in alternative timeslots for busy listeners.
"AM730 continuous drive time traffic and the best of talk is an integral part of the Corus Radio Vancouver cluster," the release added.
