Update 11/12 12:00pm: CKKL has debuted its new identity as “New Country 94“.
Launching with Florida Georgia Line’s Cruise, CKKL is starting with the usual 10,000 songs in a row commercial free. The station is also promoting it will give away $10,000 every Monday.
Ian March remains in place as Program Director of CKKL and sister AC “Majic 100” CJMJ. Dayna Bourgoin returns to Ottawa radio as Assistant Program Director. Most recently working in Artist Management at Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger’s 604 Records, Bourgoin served as Music Director at Ottawa’s previous Country station “Y105.3” from 1999 until 2003 and then at CMT Canada until 2009.
Listen to the launch of New Country 94 at FormatChange.com.
Update 11/12 12:00am: When CKKL debuts its new format later today it will do so as “New Country 94“.
OttawaStart.com was first to report the new name for the station, and we can confirm that NewCountry94.com is live on the servers of Bell Media’s webhost. A Twitter account is also live with the new logo.
Original Report 11/10: Bell Media has dropped the Variety Hits format on “93.9 Bob-FM” CKKL-FM Ottawa.
The station is currently airing music with no imaging as it prepares to debut its new format. Sweepers indicating “A new radio station is coming soon” air in and out of stopsets. The entire on-air staff on 93.9 Bob-FM was let go today including morning hosts Cub Carson and Melanie Adams, Codi Jeffreys, Milky, and Darryl Kornicky.
CKKL’s website currently includes the current statement directing listeners to sister “103.7 Bob-FM” CJPT-FM Brockville, ON:
Thank-you!
The last eleven years have been a blast, and we hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have. Market conditions have changed, and it’s time for us to pursue a new opportunity. You can still listen to the best of the 80s, 90s, and Whatever here.
In the Spring 2014 Numeris Ratings (formerly BBM), CKKL was tied for tenth in the Ottawa market with a 2.6 share. The station was one of the early adopters of the Variety Hits format; flipping from CHR “93.9 Kool-FM” in May 2003.
Any ideas into what format they’ll be changing to?
I haven’t been able to listen, but the station is supposedly announcing a new format tomorrow (Wednesday) morning; Ottawa Start reported today that the new format “will target women 18-34”.
Beyond that, I didn’t realize originally that “Milky” is John Mielke–who runs the MilkmanUnLimited site.
No way!!! Milky, if you’re seeing this, I love your site!!!!
As for when tomorrow, I’m hearing Noon.
A brand-new Citizen story says that the new format will be Country–and will indeed start tomorrow.
OK, it will fill a format hole, but we’ll see if Country can do any better in Ottawa than the 2.6 share Bob was pulling.
Format hole? With CKBY doing country on 101.1, this will be the second Ottawa country station, which should liven things up a bit.