More changes in The Peg

[Dan Sys]

Corus received permission today to remove the specialty format status on CJGV (GROOVE 99.1) in Winnipeg. It is expected the current Smooth Jazz-R&B Classic mix will be dumped almost immediately and replaced by something Corus defines as a "Mix Adult Contemporary format which will feature a wide variety of today’s pop and rock hits, mixed with songs from the 80s and 90s".

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-739.htm

[jon]

It sounds like the JOE-FM format moves from CKNG-FM Edmonton to CJGV. To make way for a synchronized repeater in Edmonton of Park Royal's parking station. After all, they are the same frequency.

Truth be told, I'm quite interested in seeing the next ratings for JOE-FM Edmonton, as the new PD, Greg Johnson, was "brought in from the outside" (Rogers) and does have a good track record. There was some head scratching over bringing in someone from Fort McMurray radio, but that is also a very tough market, especially the last few years when the economy was in such trouble. It says something when you succeed in that kind of environment.

Back to the original topic: am I correct in assuming that Winnipeg has never had a Jack-FM formatted station?

[Aaron]

The first one in the country, actually: BOB.
I'd expect 99.1 to be more like London, Ontario's MORE.

[Anotherwpgguy]

My wife will be sorry to hear of that CRTC decision.

She listens to "Groove FM" for many hours per day, and while she notes a difference since they blew out the staff a few months ago and went full automation devoid of humans, she still likes the music library which still reflects the good work done by Russ Tyson in developing the Groove FM CRTC Reg compliant format.

So now it will be one more rock station with an indistinguishable library from anything else on the dial and in doing so will become one more hound in the pack chasing the same rabbit in the marketplace.

AnotherWinnipegGuy

[radiofan]

Corus bids goodbye to radio station's jazz format
By: Bartley Kives
Posted: 12/1/2011 1:00 AM

THE federal broadcast regulator has granted Corus Radio permission to sound the final note on the late Izzy Asper's dream of a Winnipeg jazz signal.

In a decision released Wednesday, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved a Corus request to remove licence stipulations that require Groove FM 99.1 to loosely follow a jazz and blues format.

The specialty station has been losing money since Corus purchased it from now-defunct media broadcaster Canwest in 2007, the CRTC noted in its decision.

Corus now plans to rename and reformat the station as a female-friendly pop signal before the end of February 2012, said Garth Buchko, general manager for Corus in Winnipeg.

"Thankfully, as of tomorrow, 99.1 FM can be anything and everything we want it to be," said Buchko, who also praised the efforts of staff who attempted to make the signal work as a specialty station. "There are people who put their heart and soul into that station and it just didn't work because there wasn't that large an audience."

Under the direction of Canwest founder Asper, a jazz aficionado, Canwest launched what was originally known as Cool FM 99.1 in 2003. The station was rebranded to Groove FM in 2007 and never fulfilled Asper's dream, as the playlist was dominated by smooth jazz initially and later soft rock.

"That was a brave endeavour Izzy pioneered. It was a shame it could not find a larger audience," said Mark Maheu, vice-president and general manager of rival chain Bell Media's Winnipeg operations.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 1, 2011 A2

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/ ... 13213.html