On the CRTC website, under decisions for Dec. 14, 2007, is the announcement of the approval for removal of California 103's specialty conditions of license.

So, does this mean they can drop the jazz programming?  The rumors of them going country might come true after all.  Or, will Rawlco beat them to it?

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Yes, they're now free from the smooth jazz format... and I'll bet that they'll be country very soon... ahead of Rawlco, who signs on early in the new year, with Beasley and Shawn Phoenix among others...

wow.  put no effort in a specialty license, lose a bunch of money, and get a full signal just for sucking.

i'd keep the restrictions in place until they at least give it a solid effort.

Aw, what the hell... they've taken a run at it and abused enough people in the process. Let 'em make a buck with an easy one.

Will they be required to hire a couple of experienced announcers - and pay them a decent wage?     (Just to qualify the questions: "experienced" refers to on-air radio experience; "pay" refers to sufficient cash to afford housing, food and transportation in Calgary)

Maybe they could start that December 26th, or is that too soon?

If they switch to C&W ,can they change their name to Wyoming FM?

Saskatchewan 103?

How about "Redneck 103" with "King Ralph Klein" in the morning!

A little magpie told me - you folks may be right on with them road apples-  "The Ranch 103"

Wonder if NewCap can mess up a country format in Calgary like they have in Edmonton with Earl...

The thing with country listeners is that they're incredibly loyal.  Country 105 has been a monster and they'll have to do something REALLY special to attract listeners away.

If that's the direction that NewCap is going to go, best of luck...it will be an uphill battle.  And they could really use a winner, heaven knows FUEL can't be making them any money right now...

Why does Calgary need more Country?  Other than 105 there is that new one on 99.?, and two more that can be heard in the city on AM.  The only thing that is really lacking IMO, is Oldies (not classic rock or Jack) or Adult Standards even though we've recently had both of those.  

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.

"One-Oh-Three-Gold" would be a very nice start.

Quoted from spiffiness

Oldies would be perfect if they could employ a similar style to 1050 CHUM.

Almost impossible to do with non-hit rules. You'd need to be almost 50% 80s to get around it. The format also is a tough-sell demo-wise and usually has a short shelf-life.

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?