Bell Media seems to have identified a purchaser for three of the AM radio stations it previously expressed a desire to sell off as part of its restructuring efforts in June. This restructuring also involved the closure of six other AM stations and a six percent reduction in its workforce.
Neeti P. Ray, the founder and CEO of CINA Radio Group, is seeking approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to acquire CHAM and CKOC Hamilton, as well as CKWW Windsor. The proposed deal, valued at $445,000, is scheduled for review at a CRTC hearing on February 8th in Gatineau.
Currently, CHAM-AM Hamilton is known as “Funny 820,” CKOC-AM Hamilton operates as “BNN Bloomberg Radio 1150,” and CKWW-AM Windsor is an oldies station called “Motor City Favourites.” Neeti P. Ray plans to maintain the existing terms and conditions of operation for these stations to ensure continuity. Ray already oversees several radio stations, including CINA 1650 AM Mississauga, FLOW 98.7 (CKFG-FM) Toronto, and multi-ethnic stations CINA-FM Windsor and CKIN-FM Montreal.
According to Ray’s application, this acquisition represents an opportunity to expand his company’s radio presence in Windsor and establish a presence in Hamilton. The primary benefit for listeners is that if the application is approved, these stations will continue to operate without disruption.
Additionally, during the same CRTC hearing, Harvest Ministries Sudbury will seek approval to acquire the assets of the English-language low-power commercial specialty FM radio station 102.1 CFCJ-FM Cochrane from Cochrane Christian Radio. Another application will be presented by Comité Radio Huronne-Wyandot, requesting a broadcasting license to operate an Indigenous FM radio station in Wendake, Quebec, at 100.3 MHz (channel 262A) with an average effective radiated power of 239 watts. This station would broadcast in French and various Indigenous languages, including Wendat, Innu, and Atikamekw.
