How Social Media Savvy are Edmonton Radio Stations?

Alberta’s capital city informs, entertains and connects with its citizens by the minute on its 26 different radio stations. Radio broadcasters are able to keep the day’s conversations current even after their shows are over with the use of the internet. Mediamag turns the dial on Edmonton’s FM and AM stations to find out how well their websites allow listeners to interact with the station and with each other.

CKUA (580 AM and 94.9 FM), like its Calgary counterpart, is a community-driven public broadcasting service owned by the CKUA Radio Network. Information about the network can be found at www.ckua.org. CKUA’s music programming includes a variety of genres, from classical to spoken word. Its website publishes community news and newsletters to let donors and listeners know what’s new at the station. It also has arts and culture event listings. CKUA welcomes volunteers and music submissions. The network does not have a Facebook page or Twitter account linked to its website.

630 CHED (AM) is a news and talk radio station owned by Corus Entertainment. According to BBM Canada (a company that measures radio statistics) 630 CHED held 10.5 per cent of Edmonton’s radio market share from September to December 2010 – also the top spot. The station’s website (www.630ched.com) has live audio streaming and audio archives, a programming schedule, blogs, podcasts, a daily poll and smartphone apps. The site also has an event calendar, a members’ club and contests. Listeners can submit ideas for on-air topics and can connect with 630 CHED hosts through their Twitter accounts and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/630CHED).

Première Chaîne Alberta (680 CHFA-AM and 101.1 CHFA-FM-10) is a French talk radio station that is part of the Première Chaîne network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Information about the network can be found at www.radio-canada.ca/radio. Its website has audio and video streaming, a programming schedule, news stories available for comment, podcasts, an RSS feed, contests and a poll. Listeners can write letters to the network online. Première Chaîne has Facebook pages and Twitter accounts for its radio shows.

CBC Radio One (740 CBX-AM and 93.9 CBXF-FM-2) and CBC Radio Two (90.9 CBX-FM) are both owned by the CBC. Information about the stations can be found at www.cbc.ca/edmonton/programs. Interviews for all Radio One news programs are available online for comment. A Twitter feed is displayed in a sidebar and listeners can subscribe to each show’s RSS feed or join its Facebook group, for those that have them. The station has an event and entertainment calendar, a traffic report (complete with an interactive map) and a ski report. Radio Two’s music programming schedule also can be found online.

iNews880 (CHQT-AM) is a news radio station owned by Corus Entertainment. Its website (www.inews880.com) has live audio streaming, a programming schedule, blogs, a daily poll, a traffic camera and smartphone apps. News available for comment ranges from local to international and from business to sports. The site has an event calendar, a members’ club and contests. Listeners can submit photos and videos with iSUBMIT and can connect with iNews880 on Twitter (www.twitter.com/iNews880).

AM 930 The Light (CJCA) is a Christian radio station owned by Touch Canada Broadcasting. Its website (www.am930thelight.com) has an attractive design with live audio streaming, a programming schedule, blogs, contests, polls and community and entertainment event listings. The Light has a directory of current mission trips and listeners can submit their trips online. The Light does not have a Facebook page or a Twitter account linked to its website.

The Team 1260 (CFRN-AM) is a sports radio station owned by Astral Media. Its website (www.theteam1260.com) has live audio streaming, video archives, podcasts, an event calendar, contests, a poll and a Twitter feed in a sidebar on the home page. The site has a sports page with news about Edmonton teams, as well as their schedules. Listeners can join a members’ club called The Teammates for exclusive offers. They can connect with the Team 1260 on Twitter (www.twitter.com/theteam1260) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheTeam1260).

CJSR 88.5 FM is the University of Alberta’s volunteer-driven campus and community radio station. Its website (www.cjsrfm88.blogspot.com) has live audio streaming, a programming schedule, blogs and podcasts. There is also a news section with a large archive. The station encourages artists to submit their music and it welcomes volunteers and donations. CJSR does not have a Facebook page or Twitter account linked to its website.

89.3 FM (CKAV-4), like its Calgary counterpart, is a First Nations station owned by the Aboriginal Voices Radio network. Information about the network can be found at www.aboriginalvoices.com. Programming is also available for download online. 89.3 FM welcomes music submissions from Canadian and international artists with Aboriginal backgrounds. Aboriginal Voices Radio does not have a Facebook page or Twitter account linked to its website.

90.1 FM (CBCX-1) is a French music station that is part of the Espace Musique radio network owned by the CBC. Espace is the French equivalent to CBC Radio Two. Information about the network can be found at www.radio-canada.ca/espace_musique. The website has audio streaming, a programming schedule, blogs, contests and event listings. Listeners can subscribe to Espace Musique’s RSS feed and submit letters to the network online. Espace Musique does not have a Facebook page or Twitter account linked to its website.

91.7 The BOUNCE (CHBN) is “Edmonton’s #1 hit music station”. It is owned by CTVglobemedia and Milestone Radio. Its website (www.thebounce.ca) has an attractive design with live audio streaming, a programming schedule and a page where listeners can vote for the top 10 songs. There are concert listings for artists such as Shawn Desman and contests such as The Bachelor/Bachelorette. Listeners can join a members’ club called the BOUNCE Nation for exclusive offers or register online as a BOUNCE music director to help decide what songs get on the air. They can connect with The BOUNCE on Facebook (www.facebook.com/97.1TheBounce).

92.5 JOE FM (CKNG) is an adult hits radio station owned by Corus Entertainment. Its website (www.joefm.ca) has live audio streaming, a programming schedule, a poll and a Facebook comment feed on the home page. The site features news from fellow Corus station iNews880 AM. There are concert listings for artists such as Sarah McLachlan and contests such as a weekend in Jasper with The JOE Show. Listeners can join a members’ club called JOE’s Club for exclusive offers. They can connect with JOE on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/925-JOE-FM/210511191535).

Lite 95.7  (CKEA-FM) is an adult contemporary format radio station owned by Harvard Broadcasting. Its website (www.lite957.ca) has an attractive design with live audio streaming, concert listings, smartphone apps and a Twitter feed, a Facebook comment feed and a blog feed on the home page. There are community event listings (called Community Scoop) and contests for prizes such as concert tickets. Listeners can join a members’ club called Club Lite  for exclusive offers. They can connect with The Light 95.7 on Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/lite957), on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Lite957) and on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/lite957).

96.3 Capital FM (CKRA) is an oldies and classic hits radio station owned by Newcap Broadcasting. Capital FM held 7.4 per cent of Edmonton’s radio market share from September to December 2010, which put it in fourth place. The station’s website (www.963capitalfm.com) has live audio streaming, concert listings for artists such as Jackson Browne, contests and giveaways, a Twitter feed and a traffic camera on the home page. Listeners can submit their events online and join the station’s rewards club. They can connect with Capital FM on Twitter (www.twitter.com/capitalfm).

K-97 (97.3 CIRK-FM) is a classic rock radio station owned by Newcap Broadcasting. Its website (www.k97.fm) has live audio streaming, Youtube content, blogs, sports news, event listings, a traffic camera and a Facebook comment feed on the home page. There are concert listings for artists such as Heart and contests such as a $20,000 kitchen prize package. Listeners can connect with K-97 on Twitter (www.twitter.com/k97) and Facebook at (www.facebook.com/K97Edmonton).

CFWE The Native Perspective (98.5 FM) is a First Nations community radio station owned by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta. Its website (www.cfweradio.ca) has live audio streaming, video content, news, event listings, bingo listings and a sidebar with listeners’ feedback on the home page. There is a programming schedule, audio archives and news archives. Listeners can submit their events online and subscribe to Windspeaker, Canada’s national Aboriginal news source. CFWE does not have a Facebook page or Twitter account linked to its website.

up! 99.3 (CIUP-FM) is “Edmonton’s feel good station.” It is an adult contemporary station owned by Rawlco Radio. up! 99.3 has a simplistic website (www.up993.com) with live audio streaming, a programming schedule and event and concert listings for artists such as the Goo Goo Dolls. The up! Cares pages showcases how the station is involved in the community. Listeners can connect with up! 99.3 on Twitter (www.twitter.com/up993) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/up993).

The Bear (100.3 CFBR-FM) is home to “Edmonton’s best rock.” The radio station is owned by Astral Media. Its website (www.thebearrocks.com) has a bold design with live audio streaming, a programming schedule, video content, blogs and music news. There are event and concert listings for artists such as Buckcherry, as well as a poll and a Facebook comment feed on the home page. Listeners can join a members’ club called the Greedy Ba$tards for exclusive offers. They can connect with The Bear on Twitter (www.twitter.com/1003TheBear) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheBearRocks).

101.7 World FM (CKER) is a multilingual radio station owned by Rogers Communications. It delivers South Asian, Chinese, Italian, German, Latin and Canadian programming. The station has a simplistic website (www.worldfm.ca) with live audio streaming, a programming schedule, community cultural event listings and an iPhone app. World FM does not have a Facebook page or Twitter account linked to its website.

102.3 NOW! Radio (CKNO-FM) is a hot adult contemporary station owned by Rawlco Radio. It held 8.5 per cent of Edmonton’s radio market share from September to December 2010, which put it in third place. The station’s website (www.1023nowradio.com) has live audio and video streaming (NOW! tv), blogs, a listener shoutbox in a sidebar and a Facebook comment feed on the home page. Listeners can connect with NOW! on Twitter (www.twitter.com/1023nowradio) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/NOWradio).

SONiC 102.9 (CHDI-FM) is a modern rock radio station owned by Rogers Communications. It recently relaunched their website giving the station the ability to publish real time content that can be easily shared across their listeners’ social networks. The websites are based on the popular blog style format and are designed to get listeners quickly and easily to the content that matters the most to them. Content highlights include the ability to “Listen Live”, check out the station’s recent play lists, buy songs, and share what you’re listening to with friends and followers. The websites also feature robust multimedia galleries, Twitter and Facebook posts, a proprietary loyalty club and contest sections. Its website (www.sonic1029.com) has live audio streaming, a programming schedule, video content, podcasts, blogs, an RSS feed and a Facebook comment feed on the home page. There are event and concert listings for artists such as White Lighting. There are also contests with prizes such as home renovation aids. Listeners can connect with SONiC 102.9 on Twitter (www.twitter.com/sonic1029) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/sonic1029).

CISN Country (103.9 CISN-FM) is Edmonton’s only country music radio station and is owned by Corus Entertainment. It held 10.3 per cent of Edmonton’s radio market share from September to December 2010, which put it in second place. The station’s website (www.cisnfm.com) has live audio streaming, blogs, community event listings and concert listings for artists such as Alan Jackson and a Facebook comment feed. There are also contests such as an Edmonton Oilers autograph session. The site features news from fellow Corus station iNews880 AM. Listeners can connect with CISN Country on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CISNCountry).

Virgin Radio 104.9 (CFMG-FM) is a contemporary hit radio station branded a “Virgin Radio Station” owned by Astral Media. In February 2011, it flipped its format from soft adult contemporary as EZ Rock to the more edgy contemporary hit radio format broadcast by other Virgin Stations. Up until the flip, it held 7.2 per cent of Edmonton’s radio market share from September to December 2010, which put it in fifth place. The station’s website (http://edmonton.virginradio.ca/) has an attractive design similar to the other Virgin Radio stations in Canada with live audio streaming, a programming schedule, video content, blogs, a poll, a Facebook comment feed and a Twitter feed with celebrity tweets on the home page.  Listeners can connect with Virgin 104.9 FM on Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/1049virgin) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/1049VirginRadio).

105.9 ShineFM (CJRY) is a Christian radio station owned by Touch Canada Broadcasting. ShineFM’s website (www.cjry.ca) has an attractive design with live audio streaming, a programming schedule, blogs, contests, polls and community and entertainment event listings. ShineFM encourages listeners to submit prayer requests online and tell their inspiring stories, which are displayed in a sidebar on the home page. Prayer and counseling support is also available 24/7. Listeners can connect with ShineFM online through Facebook (www.facebook.com/1059ShineFM), Twitter (www.twitter.com/1059shinefm) and Circle of Friends (ShineFM’s mailing list), as well as ShineTV, where videos are posted online.

Hot 107 FM (107.1 CJNW-FM) is a rhythmic top 40 radio station owned by John Charles Yerxa. Its website (www.hot107.ca) has a bold design with live audio streaming, music news, Youtube content, an iPhone app and Facebook and Twitter feeds on the home page. There are event listings and a members’ club called Friends With Benefits. Hot 107 encourages artists to submit their music to the station. Listeners can connect with Hot 107 on Twitter (www.twitter.com/hot107ca) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/hot107).

Advertisement:

If you’d like to pitch your story to the reporters instead of spending your time updating your media list, check out a subscription to Alberta Media Directory at www.mediainalberta.ca, the largest, most comprehensive and up-to-date media directory in Alberta. You’ll have 24/7 anywhere access to the phone, fax and email addresses of 850 + reporters, editors, show hosts and news producers in Alberta at your fingertips. Subscriptions range from $100 for a day’s access to the searchable media directory to $1500 if you also want us to write and distribute up to six media releases to the media in Alberta over the next year. You can use the online media directory to follow up with the reporters. If you’re interested in enhancing your media relations and social media communications skills, you might want to check out our media relations and social media communications workshop schedule at www.mediamag.ca. If you’re more interested in learning how to create, maintain and promote your own website or blog or set up an enewsletter program or publishing ebooks, you might want to check out our epublishing options at www.rivercityproductions.ca. Interested? Questions? Call 780-695-5675.

Subscribe Now!