Rogers Sports & Media has dropped the longtime “Country 104.3” format from CJQM-FM (Sault Ste. Marie) and flipped the station to Classic Rock.
“104.3 The Fox” is positioned as “The Sault’s Rock Station,” featuring “the anthems, the icons, and the best Canadian bands of all time.” Its website says it will feature the syndicated Brock and Dalby morning show.
The switch removes CJQM-FM from competition with Sovereign Communications’ “Country 105” (WMKD/105.5 Pickford-Sault Ste. Marie) and instead puts it in competition with Sovereign’s “Rock 101” (WSUE/101.3 Sault Ste. Marie).
The former “Country 104.3” website and social media pages posted a message urging Country fans to switch to the web feed of their sister station in North Bay, about 350 kilometers to the east.
Rogers also owns Adult Contemporary outlet “Kiss 100.5” (CHAS-FM Sault Ste. Marie).
In a situation showcasing the differences between Canadian and U.S. broadcast regulatory policy, the Ontario Sault Ste. Marie has five times the population of its Michigan counterpart but has only two commercial radio licenses compared with seven on the Michigan side.