Oshawa runs an oldies-Am (CKDO) and... they simulcast on one of their FMs. So much for the hit-restrictions. (All things are possible - maybe - with the CRTC.)

Hey, good on them for exploiting a loophole.

The recent decision re: CJCH Halifax effectively opens the floodgates for Oldies on FM in Canada.

As for NewCap, I wouldn't be surprised if they attempt an Adult Standards in the market.  In their comments to the commission, they said they would attempt to keep a profile on music from the Smooth Jazz genre - but with more flexibility to create an economically feasable format.  I believe that the days of NewCap trying to implement wide country (Earl) as a format are over.  The experiment simply isn't working in Edmonton.  Plus - 105 is to Country what CJAY tends to be to Rock -- big, wide, and able to shapeshift to meet the challenges the marketplace throws at it.

If NewCap was looking to develop a ratings for their properties in the Calgary market, they'd figure out a way to make Fuel appealing to the mainstream (without damaging the music), and bank on finding a way to make 103 a viable contender to steal Lite audience share.

Quoted from canuckkid

The recent decision re: CJCH Halifax effectively opens the floodgates for Oldies on FM in Canada.

Nope. They'll have the same non-hit as everyone else once they move up.

Quoted from spiffiness

Agreed, four stations playing country in one city is too much.  But that probably won't stop Newcap from trying it.  But they're using the same logic that a person would employ watching all four Jaws movies in one night; you think it will get better when really it doesn't.  Newcap is better off doing a format lacking in the city and giving a good go at it.  Oldies would be perfect if they could employ a similar style to 1050 CHUM.

Probably the best insight (in a long time) on what Newcap WILL do and the best assessment on what WILL be "new" soon in CGY(that is, FM oldies).

Tell me exactly how you'd pull off an Oldies with 50% non-hit.

There's a reason (OK, there are 3) nobody's doing it.

The greatest issues that work against the success of an Oldies format is in the historically sophomoric presentation, promotion and marketing of such a format.

The audience is comprised of experienced grownups, many of whom will notice when they are being patronised.

Meanwhile, every Hit had an album attached and those cuts could make up huge chunks of the non-hit provisions. Plus, there were all kinds of tunes getting airplay that weren't even bonafide Hits.

Although, as mentioned in an earlier post, there are exceptions to the non-hit rule already in play in the Canadian Radio scene.

Quoted from pave

Although, as mentioned in an earlier post, there are exceptions to the non-hit rule already in play in the Canadian Radio scene.

There's only one I know of, and it's CKDO, and the way they're getting around it doesn't apply to 103.1.

While I agree with you about the presentation, Oldies is by nature a hit oriented format. Stray from that half the time, and you won't have an audience. Guaranteed. Would love if someone tried, but it won't be Newcap.

If anything, they might plug in Howard Kroeger's pop-alternative foramt, but my guess is the soft AC/SJ hybrid someone else mentioned.

If they go with oldies, they should only go back as far as the British invation and only go up to the early 80's (maybe a 50's show on Sundays). There are way too many stations playing 80's music as it is. I know a lot of people in Calgary listen to The Eagle and I've even heard it in some businesses. They have a huge library of songs from the 60's to the late 80's which I think is part of the reason for their sucess. There are way too many stations playing less than 500 songs. Consultants seem to think that people would rather hear the same songs over and over again than a wide variety. I just hope they  stay away from Country.

Has anyone heard anything?