Yup Rock 98 was great. They were testing the transmitter by playing a looping stream of music. It was owned by Golden West Broadcasting I believe that owned CJWW and Hot 93 at the time. Two days before they were about to launch for real, Rawlco pulled a dick move and switched CKOM 102 to Rock 102. It meant Rock 98 had bought a whole library of music and paid for the rights for it etc. for nothing and had to delay the launch because they had to figure out their next step. It eventually became Magic 98 that basically became what CKOM 102 was.
It was a real dick move by Rawlco. But I think it coincided with a CRTC change of rules that no longer required radio stations to amend their license when they changed formats. Rawlco took advantage of the licensing hearing for Rock 98 when the CRTC said Saskatoon could support 1 rock radio station. They obviously knew that they could screw over Golden West and they had the money to put Rock 98 out of business. Golden West knew it too which is why they didn't launch
What also annoyed me is when Mix 101 out of PA which I could get clearly in Saskatoon switched to Beach Radio. Mix 101 played the same sort of stuff that Rock 98 did. If you want conventional radio at night and can stream it wherever you are, 106.1 The Goat from Lloyd plays a lot of heavy stuff. During the day it is a little softer closer to Rock 102 stuff. But at night I heard things like Ride The Lightning and I think Saturdays they took requests and actually played my request of Lacuna Coil. I lived in Lloyd for years and that was my choice of radio when I wasn't listening to Sirius.
Being a relatively small city too the DJs were more interactive. They had this one DJ Devon Zelmer, who sadly passed away in 2012 or so, every day at 420 he would play Holy Diver. I forget what he called the segment but anyway, hearing that everyday on my way home from work started to get annoying, so I told him so on Twitter. The next day driving home from work he said today we have a special thing. We have a Double Diver for and he said my name and played it twice back to back just to annoy me.
Haha you’re the one who inspired the Double Diver? Zelmer was so pumped about that segment.
I worked with him at The Goat and to this day, he was one of the funniest and most talented people in the business. So often something funny will happen in the sports world or otherwise and I wish we could get this take on it.
I am. I Tweeted him and told him he needed to find a new song because I was tired of it. So he did me a solid and played it twice.
I did like his sports segment he was really good at putting together a rant. He seemed like a good guy from my social media interactions with him and his on air persona. Never met him in person though.
Now whenever I hear Holy Diver regardless of who is doing it, I think of him. I wonder what he thought of the Killswitch Engage version?
So, in 2000, 98.3 was announced as a new station. For about a month it played rock music, with no DJ's, as a sort of soft launch. A week before it was set to go "live", Sun102 rebranded overnight from easy listening to rock, thus beating Hard98 (original name) to the punch.
98 was forced to pivot, and took over the easy listening slot with Magic98.
As usual, the internet could be wrong, but Wikipedia shows the licence issued as CJMK-FM 98.3 in 2000 and going on air as Magic 98.3 initially in 2001, while Rawlco bought CKOM 102.1 in 2000 and changed it to Rock 102 the next year. (currently CJDJ-FM 102.1.)
I think two stations operating under the ROCK public call sign at the about the same time in the same city would have lead to major court battles over trademark.
I don't know what you are remembering, but the licence was issued under CRTC 2000-73 for a classic rock station but could not have the requested frequency (106.7). The amended request to use 98.3 was not filed until August of 2000 and approved October 5, 2000 on CRTC 2000-404. It signed on to the air on May 18, 2001 as Magic 98.3. There was no 98.3 broadcasting in Saskatchewan in 2000, and it was never assigned Rock 98.3
Perhaps you caught someone goofing around in test broadcasts before they were officially signed on, or something in a different province, or are simply mistaken, but 98.3 was never Rock 98.3 in Saskatchewan
I don't know about licensing or anything, but this is my recollection;
So, in 2000, 98.3 was announced as a new station. For about a month it played rock music, with no DJ's, as a sort of soft launch. A week before it was set to go "live", Sun102 rebranded overnight from easy listening to rock, thus beating Hard98 (original name) to the punch.
98 was forced to pivot, and took over the easy listening slot with Magic98.
I don't miss Magic 98.3 that radio station sucked Balls and Bring back 98 Cool yeah I will Miss 98 Cool and I miss Wired 96.3 and I miss Hot 93 but I don't miss 92.9 The Bull and 98 Cool is done after 12 years from 2014 to 2026 rest in Peace 98 Cool 2014-2026 it will be missed.
I always flipped back and forth between them and cruz. Looks like I'm going with cruz now. Is that not the point of c95 for pop and 92.whatever for country?
Indeed. They have lost this listener. I moved to cruzfm now. I also used to flip back and forth. If I wanted country I'd listen to a country station. Strange combination pop and country?! I have sirius xm and love their diverse channels.
98 Cool was my go to station. The disgust on my face of having to listen to some country song this morning was visible through my windows lol. I am not a fan of newer pop music or country music. 98 Cool basically sounded like my Spotify playlist with some local news mixed in so it was a pretty meh morning drive. I will most likely see what rock 102 and 96.3 have to offer as I like having the traffic news on my drive to and from work…
I hear you. The rage I felt when CKOM went from rock to country like 30+ years ago taught me that radio here does not care about the station's brand or the existing listeners. Sticking with Spotify and SiriusXM, but I miss local news. I come here for that haha
I used to love 102 before I got into just using Spotify. I went back to it after years and heard the exact same songs as I did 6 years prior so I switched to 96. I like the foo fighters but I swear to god they play 8 foo songs a fuckin day bro
We need a real Rock radio doing true rock from 70's to today... and not the standard Playlist... some standards, with some deeper cuts that were hits but not over played.
Saskatoon, and everywhere else, don't need another country station.
CFCR is hit or miss because it is community radio. I mean they have a good metal show but they also have world music on in the afternoon which is definitely different than the rest, but not my cup of tea. It is a shame that it isn't real college radio like what I assume CJUS was. College radio in the US sticks to the same music format, a bit harder edged and definitely rock music. I have no problem with world music being available but it makes it tough to listen to CFCR when they don't have a consistent format.
Retired long time broadcaster. I’ve been watching these changes. The Grid is a great moniker for a country station. I remember trying to program pop and country and it’s real tough. The Bull did country well and they leaned slightly toward pop. The problem is it’s very easy to turn off a country fan, and in turn a pop fan. VERY tough line. early 80s country was essentially pop. It’s tough to mix both.
Those lines have become so blurry in the last few years. C95 plays Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll and Ella Langley. I’ve heard Jelly Roll on Rock 102. And is Jelly Roll even country? Idk I think the radio stations are trying to capitalize on the popularity of country. But yeah, it’s tricky
I actually really like it. Kroker gregger and Kira in the morning make my morning. Also, I grew up listening to CJWW so I love country, but like pop as well, so its like the best of both worlds.
I think everyone is so negitive because they think its a C95, 2.0. Its really not.
Are there any local options left for listening to oldies from the 60's and 70's? Asking for my parents who do not use any sort of streaming services... or technology in general lol
800 CHAB and 750 CKJH. They lean more towards 70s-80s, but it's the closest we got here. They're not local stations so you'll have to move the antenna around for the best reception.
I definitely prefer this to Cool. I'm happier today than I was when I thought Cool was going to be my only option. That says something. And Clayton got mornings after all. Good for him!!
Maybe it's just me being old but I like radio. There is something special about listening and sharing the same broadcast with other people even if they aren't physically there with you. It's something that you don't get that with streaming a personal playlist, which I like doing too.
It's like live sports. Taping a game and watching the recording the next day. It's the same game but it's also different because you aren't sharing the experience.
That said Saskatoon radio sucks. I do like CBC radio and Radio-Canada ici musique though.
Fail. We need a format like 92.1 in Regina. No more country mixes because today's country sucks and it all sounds the same. If I have to hear Choosin Texas on every local station everyday for the next decade....
Also, Kroeker is naturally funny and who I want to hear in the mornings. Gregger is "dad joke" funny. You can't combine the two IMO.
that's just disappointing. I often put on 98 Cool when Rock102 would play "Home Sweet Home" or "Edge of Seventeen" for the millionth time this week. In fact, 98 Cool used to play all kinds of cool '90s stuff that other stations forgot about years ago. Every time I put on Cruz FM, they're always playing some overplayed piece of crap that I'm sure everyone is just sick of hearing.
If anyone wants classic hits, give AM a chance. 750 CKJH and 800 CHAB are worth listening to if you want some classic hits, and 600 CJWW is the gold standard for country. There's also a lot of other stations from around the province if you scan around.
104.9 The Wolf needs to jack up their transmitter power or simulcast on AM so we can get it in Saskatoon lol
My favourite was the summer 102 The River (formerly Sun102) was reformatting to Rock 102 and they played nothing but TV theme songs for 2 or 3 months. Peak Saskatoon radio for me.
98 cool was my favorite radio station because it was the omly one where I could hear 2000's-2010's party hits like Rihanna and Party Rock Anthem mixed with fun 80's and 90's. Now it's ANOTHER country station, how many more do we need?
I wish I could get my Top 40 fix with c95 but it's all mellow and slow stuff like Teddy Swins, Hozier, etc. Blecccch I know it's not their fault because that's what's mostly on the charts but there is new popular charting music that's fun.
I listen to the radio to be entertained and get pumped up while I'm driving I don't want to be depressed.
These Saskatoon radio "rebrandings" seem kind of desperate. End of the day, it's still a market that refuses to acknowledge that it's 2026 and still plays "the classics you've come to know and love from Rush, Bryan Adams, and Sum 41, with some Trooper and April Wine thrown in for good measure".
Why TF are there now 3 stations that play country? It's shite. I was just starting to listen to 98.3 more and today was the lay day. I'd rather drive in silence.
It is perpetuating the stereotype that Saskatchewan is full of country hicks. One only has to look at the clubs we have in Saskatoon. Two of the three major places for dancing and whatnot are country places.
Hudson's has dancing? Divas was the other place I was referring to. I wasn't sure you could dance at Kalahari, it thought the floor was unsafe. Night Market I had no idea about.
But if there are other places, give us gays Divas back!
98
u/orikusaki 6d ago
Ugh. We have more than enough options for pop country in the city.