One less Virgin in Canada

[Dan Sys]

While rumours are circulating about EZ Rock in Edmonton flipping to Virgin Radio, looks like the branding didn't work in Ottawa as THE BEAR has returned:
http://www.thebear.fm/
That whole episode last week with DJ Gonzo getting canned for mentioning THE BEAR on the air was a only a stunt.

[Karen]

You mean there's hope that Vancouver might get Zed 95.3 back one day?

[Dan Sys]

Karen said:

You mean there's hope that Vancouver might get Zed 95.3 back one day?

Knowing Astral's track record they'll probably bring back "Crave".

[slowhand]

Astral really missed their chance for a great new branding in Ottawa. The Bear Virgin. Maybe they are saving that for Vancouver.

More seriously though, I can't think of any Astral Branding that is going to deliver better ratings for Astral on FM in Vancouver than they have now with Virgin.

[Destro]

Karen said:

You mean there's hope that Vancouver might get Zed 95.3 back one day?

Knowing Astral's track record they'll probably bring back "Crave".

bwhahahahaha

[CKNF]

At 8:30 a.m. Friday, 106.9 The Bear dropped the Virgin label it had held for two years, a decision made after managers at the station came to realize their viewers still did not recognize the new brand.

The first song for the re-rebranded station? Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle."

By the end of the workday on Friday, more than 1,000 people had joined the rebranded Bear Facebook page, a number that astounded managers at the 16-year-old station.

"It was a bad decision," said Bruce Gilbert, the brand manager representative in Ottawa for owner Astral Radio, of the switchover in 2009 that took place when Astral bought the station.

"I think the major flaw when we transitioned was we put away something that the city loved for something shining and brand new, and we totally underestimated how much the city loved the Bear."

http://www.obj.ca/Local/Sports-and-ente ... -no-more/1

"It was a bad decision," said Bruce Gilbert

Gee, ya think?