Corus Radio’s CJGV-FM/99.1 (Winnipeg) has announced plans to debut a Country format after Boxing Day.
“Country 99,” launching Dec. 27 at 12:01 a.m., will target “country music purists and new country fans,” according to the station’s announcement. The station has not yet announced its airstaff.
The announcement of a new format has been expected since “[email protected]” dismissed its airstaff in September and said that a “whole new sound” was coming. The station’s Classic Hits format ended on Nov. 13 when it switched to an All-Christmas playlist, which it has done annually since 2020.
The new format will compete with three other Country stations in Winnipeg: Pattison Media’s “QX104” (CKQX-FM/104.1 Selkirk-Winnipeg) and Native Communications’ “NOW Country 104.7” (CIUR-FM Winnipeg) and “NCI-FM” (CICY-FM/105.5 Selkirk-Winnipeg).
Corus runs Country formats in several other Canadian markets.
Locally, Corus also owns News/Talk station CJOB/680, Rocker “Power 97” (CJKR-FM/97.5), and Global TV station CKND-TV/9.