Competition is fierce for the vacant spot on the FM radio dial in Chilliwack.

A "street team" for Vista Radio--one of the five applicants (not three as reported in the Jan. 8 Times) for the 89.5 FM spot--was out on Saturday garnering support for their rock music format station in the city.

But they aren't the only group hoping to rock Chilliwack, says Ken Singer, vice president of broadcast operations for Radio CJVR based in Saskatchewan. They have also applied for the licence and also plan on a "diversified rock format."

Diversified" refers to a mix of classic rock with about one third of their music being new--within the last four years.

"We had a research firm do a study," Singer told the Times. "We spoke to 400 people and tested a number of music formats. Four of the five applicants have determined that rock is the opening in the market."

Singer said their group will focus on locally relevant, community-focused programming and will spend $2 million employing 16 full-time and two part-time people.

As well as 14.5 hours of weekly local spoken word programming, five hours of news and related surveillance including weather, sports and traffic, CJVR's application recognizes the First Nations community and will hire a full-time journalist of aboriginal descent as Rock 89.5 FM's aboriginal news and community reporter.

Other than CJVR and Vista, the other applicants include Newcap Inc., Golden West Broadcasting Ltd., and Frank Torres (on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated).

The public hearing to consider the applications will be held in Vancouver on Feb. 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the Empire Landmark, 1400 Robson St.

Chilliwack Times

Sample:

AC/DC,   Sam Roberts, Bruce Springsteen,  Finger Eleven, Rolling Stones,  Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac,  Chilliwack.

Eric Clapton,  Bryan Adams, 54-40,  Genesis, Kiss,  Led Zeppelin, Theory of a Dead Man,  Tom Cochrane, Van Halen and  Nickelback.

Are we ready to rock?

Radio station hopeful hits streets to test our rock 'n' roll temperature
Paul J. Henderson, The Times
Published: Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Does Chilliwack rock?

A half-dozen or so members of Vista Radio's "street team" will be hitting city streets on Saturday to gauge the local appetite for a rock music station in the city.

Vista Radio is one of three companies vying for a new spot on the FM radio dial at Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) hearings in Vancouver on Feb. 26.

Vista's application was announced back in February, 2007 around the same time as Elmer Hildebrand of Golden West Broadcasting came to Chilliwack to announce his application for the same frequency. Hildebrand's application came with the endorsement of the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO) who hosted a wine and cheese welcoming Hildebrand to town.

In addition to Vista and Golden West, Toronto-based DAWG FM and their blues format more recently applied for the 89.1 FM frequency currently up for grabs.

Vista are now taking the next proactive step to support their application by coming to town, and seeking letters of support from businesses and individuals for the proposed rock station. They have even set up a website at http://www.ChilliwackRocks.com.

"We are looking forward to creating a radio renaissance in Chilliwack by restoring the values of local radio as well as bring much needed musical diversity," said Jason Mann, vice-president of Vista via e-mail.

By garnering letters of support, due in the hands of the CRTC by Jan. 23, Vista hopes to bolster their application.

"If you have one or two letters of support that's one thing," said Vista Radio president Terry Coles. "But if you have 1,000 that's a much larger indication the community embraces your application. Obviously we are looking to get as much support as we can."

All three companies applying for the FM spot have vowed to focus on local, community broadcasting including news and, particularly, coverage of the Chilliwack Bruins.


"Vista's vice-president Jason Mann wanted to submit their application at the same time as the renewal hearing into the Rogers station in Chilliwack, Star FM, because the CRTC had received complaints over a lack of local coverage"

I'm not able to listen to a sample on the Vista Chilliwakrocks website. Vista CRTC DOC link invalid.  

The applications.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/Broadcast/eng/NOTICES/2007/07_92app.htm

Hey CRS, what do you think about this.  Ironic that CJVR and Ken Singer are making application don't you think?

i dunno Tommy D.  Diversified rock?  Trying to create a CFMI in the valley maybe. How 'bout having Brother Tom in the morning.  Or, borrowing the popular song title, "Major Tom"???  Oh yeah, you couldn't afford the cut in pay   OHHH there I go again, being all negative and such.  Might be too impressionable on the up and comers looking to make a "career" out of broadcasting...

Quoted from CRS

i dunno Tommy D.  Diversified rock?  Trying to create a CFMI in the valley maybe. How 'bout having Brother Tom in the morning.  Or, borrowing the popular song title, "Major Tom"???  Oh yeah, you couldn't afford the cut in pay   OHHH there I go again, being all negative and such.  Might be too impressionable on the up and comers looking to make a "career" out of broadcasting...

I worked with Major Tom at SRN.  

Didn't Singer work for the company back in the day?  

..and no they couldn't afford me.

the name sounds familiar

I'm one of those impressionable young 'uns.  Only 18 years in radio, I'll try to not become too disillusioned.  What the heck is Ken Sebastian Singer (wasn't his nickname the Electric Banana?) up to?  Last worked with him at the the mighty 620.

I thought he was in Sales at CFVR at one time??

Ken Singer VP CJVR, has used this one before in his other application, pitching the aboriginal newsie employee. I think it's creative, don't agree that "ethnicity" should be put in front of the CRTC.

I assume CJVR uses this card to somehow make them look good with extra bonus points in front of the CRTC. I may add that it did get them a freq back east.

I truly believe ROCK is the format for Chilliwak. One could have a lot of fun with the new C-FUN.  

I still find it ironic that in the farming capital(?) of BC we're playing R&R and yet Abbotsford is playing Country.  Go figure.

actually we're all playing our MP3 players, in the absence of any quality radio!  LOL

You can say that people are turning to their MP3 players but lets face it the Star morning show is doing insane ratings numbers, I think Scott did something like a 47 share with women 25-54 in the last book...not too shabby

Fudged numbers. Potential audience numbers close to 300 000 and the book returns were what? 1766? Even if they were all females, terrestrial radio's dead. The fact we still think about this flawed and ancient ratings system is proof positive. The rest of the proof is in the number of professionals who try to be professional, hard working members of a community and then get laughed out of a bank when they're applying for a mortgage.
How many women 25-54 would even consider marriage to a 10-15 year veteran of a profession who's bringin' home 26 grand a year this close to 2010? How many of those women would work for that kind of money when it's less than many (most) management jobs in the city/town?  Those jobs don't have a manager 'telling' them they have to offer their time for free (it's part of your job? 7 Days a week to volunteer? B.S.) Time is money, even in radio. Ask the sales staff. It usually comes in 30 second or 1 minute increments on that side of things.
Radio's ratings and the experience are both great for students who haven't had to default on their loans yet. For an experienced, pro? Time is telling the story.

Oh Wink & Equal Opp, I won't even bother hopping in on this one other than to say that $26-grand a year or $126-grand a year, Scott's already married!