No changes planned for radio stations: owner
Whiteoaks Communications says formats will remain and the hiring of more staff possible
The new owner of Niagara’s three former Bell Media radio stations has no plans to change their formats or eliminate jobs.
In fact, it may be hiring soon. That’s the message from Oakvillebased Whiteoaks Communications Group Ltd. for its newly acquired stations CKTB 610 AM, CHRE 105.7 FM and CHTZ 97.7 FM.
“There are certainly no changes anticipated in the short term, or the long term for us,” said Whiteoaks president Matt Caine.
“We don’t plan to change any of the formats or staffing. Everyone would be offered the same (or) at least equal employment with us. We’re really excited to expand our business that way.”
Along with the three Niagara stations, Whiteoaks has purchased Hamilton pop/rock station CKLH 102.9 FM from Bell Media. The four stations will be under the newly formed Golden Horseshoe Broadcasting Ltd.
Two weeks ago, Bell Media announced it would be selling 45 of its radio stations and slashing 4,800 jobs. The sales are pending approval from Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission (CRTC), which Caine said could take between eight and 12 months.
Caine, a third-generation owner of Whiteoaks, said he has been a longtime listener of the Niagara stations and was looking for opportunities to expand his company’s “radio reach.”
“They all suited not only the growth we’ve been planning, but each station — and each format — is kind of, for me personally, a passion and a format I really like.”
The three Niagara stations all operate out of the same building at 12 Yates St. in St. Catharines. CKTB has a news/talk format while CHRE is mainly light rock.
HTZ-FM, meanwhile, is a hard rock station that regularly plays the likes of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne and Mötley Crüe. Considering Whiteoaks Communications’ Christian programming with its other properties, including the podcast site Faith Strong Today, several listeners feared the iconic Niagara station’s days were numbered.
But Caine assured that’s not the case.
“In the absence of knowing more information, I can see how someone would look at that and make that conclusion,” he said. “But no concerns for us at all. It’s about serving communities and being passionate about radio.”
Along with the Christian-based CJYE 1250 AM, Whiteoaks operates the multicultural CJMR 1320 AM.
“We’re one of the pioneers in the country for introducing ethnic programming,” he said.
The family-owned business was founded in 1956 by Howard and Jean Caine with their AM station CHWO 1250.
The family still strongly believes in radio, said Caine, and disagrees with Bell Media chief legal and regulatory officer Robert Malcolmson, who said the stations being sold were “not a viable business anymore” in an interview with The Canadian Press.
“For them, it’s not viable. It doesn’t mean that radio is not viable,” said Caine.