Corus Entertainment has pulled the plug on the programming at two of its AMs in Canada.
All-Traffic “AM 730” CKGO Vancouver has begun simulcasting News/Talk 980 CKNW. CKGO has featured a Traffic format since 2006 outside of some Sports play-by-play including the CFL’s BC Lions, who had moved to CKNW for the start of this season, and Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps.
News “Global News Radio 880” CHQT Edmonton has given way to a simulcast of News/Talk 630 CHED.
The cuts come as part of an ongoing efficiency review across the company. The elimination of the formats included staff cuts in both markets.
Corus released the following statement regarding the moves:
As part of our efficiency review across Corus, we have made the difficult decision to reduce our AM radio programming in Vancouver and Edmonton.
As a result, certain roles have been impacted.
Effective immediately, AM 730 CKGO in Vancouver will cease to operate as an all-traffic station, and 880 CHQT-AM Edmonton will cease to operate as an all-news station.
To minimize disruption to our audiences and advertisers, for a temporary, interim period, our powerhouse news-talk station 980 CKNW Vancouver will share programming content with its sister station CKGO, and our heritage news-talk station 630 CHED in Edmonton will share programming content with its sister station CHQT.
Following that interim period, Corus will only operate one AM news-talk station in each of Vancouver and Edmonton.
