For as long as I can remember 1460 CJOY has been oldies - "Oldies 1460" and have just tweaked things to "The Greatest Hits of All Time".  They've applied for a move to the FM band at 95.7.  If they get the CRTC OK, they'll likely re-launch as something else.

I think 104.9 FM will get a novelty bounce much like Jack did when it started, but the bounce this time will be smaller for Rogers.  Unless Rogers gets some great personalities to go with the new format, listeners will tire of hearing the same old songs  after a few months and tune out.   In the longer term 104.9 FM will probably hard pressed to do as well as Clear FM.

  

This seems to have been done very rushed to me.  Why do it mid-book?

I would have waited until the books came in re-evaluated and if they want to do a flip do it, but this seemed insanely rushed.

"This seems to have been done very rushed to me.  Why do it mid-book?"

could have something to do with the fact that there will be another 3 stations poping on the air soon. Although those stations are Triple A, it might be better to switch sooner than later and capture some listeners before more choices hit the air....

I can understand that but to me it just seems like a pretty weak flip..not Crave or 1410 weak but still fairly weak.

They could have done this flip before the books went out, or after the results came in, I just don't see why you would do it mid-book.  And I just don't see "oldies" being the format that is going to give the 104.9 frequency legs.

Great.. lets all sit around and pat each other on the back and praise to the stars yet ANOTHER radio station that does nothing but find a less-tired way of spoon-feeding us the same tired crap we have been spoon-fed for decades...

How about bringing something new to the table?.. sheesh!

I was checking the stations playlist on mediabase over the weekend.. They've got a solid format to work with, now they just need to talent to back it up.

The reality is, flipping Clear was a no-brainer after the CRTC licences were announced. I believe the wheels were in motion that morning - it just took time to do the research and find out what the best format would be. With two new stations (skewing adult female) poised to take a chunk out of Clear's massive 3.5 share   - it wasn't a matter of if, only when.

With the darkening of AM 600, theres some nostalgia fans there, and the CISL crowd may discover that music does sound better on FM.   I think the new format will do well for Rogers, but it is a shame that the talent is always cast aside, when really, CLEAR was a poorly concieved, poorly executed, and poorly marketed radio station.  

I've been hearing a "live" voice this afternoon on 104.9, who isn't giving his name. Any idea as to who he could be? He sounds familiar.

Bob Magee...afternoon driver at CHFI in Toronto.

Quoted from Andy

Bob Magee...afternoon driver at CHFI in Toronto.

If memory serves, Bob was at CFUN for a time in the mid '70s.

Quoted from Donovan

If memory serves, Bob was at CFUN for a time in the mid '70s.

that's right Donovan, here's the scoop from Gord Lansdell's VancouverBroadcasters.com

Bob Magee - CHUM Toronto early 1970s; morning drive CFUN Vancouver 1973-77; CHUM 1979-97 (morning host 1989-97); CHFI-FM Toronto morning co-host 1999-2003 and p.m. drive 2003-current

http://members.shaw.ca/vancouverbroadcasters3/M.htm

I understand long-time broadcaster Jim Fraser is no longer on the Sunshine Coast's CKAY, having been replaced by Mark Morris on the 6am to 12noon, with dad Bob doing noon to six pm      Jim's a solid broadcaster, wonder if he could/maybe show up on the 104.9 Greatest Hits?

"Jim's a solid broadcaster, wonder if he could/maybe show up on the 104.9 Greatest Hits'

yup, another veteran on a journey

he might even show up on that new triple A Shore FM (by Roy Hens).  word on the street is Shore is on a hiring binge and they've been targeting the unemployed (the desperate work for less....)

"Word on the street is Shore is on a hiring binge and they've been targeting the unemployed the desperate work for less...."

That may be true, but you get what you pay for.  And when you're battling established stations, and a rival AAA that launches months before you, AND you sacrifice music research for "rarities, B-sides, and 40% CANCON" then, those unemployed folks will be unemployed again when the 3. share station doesn't sell advertising.

Besides, the folks at Astral are already loading up the Armoured car to buy that station, and it hasn't even signed on yet!   So, one way or another...the folks who are hired for that station are doomed.