To Expand iHeartRadio Into Canada
January 6, 2016
BELL MEDIA and iHEARTMEDIA have entered into an exclusive new partnership that will bring the iHEARTRADIO brand to CANADA in 2016. The iHEARTRADIO digital service in CANADA will showcase content from BELL MEDIA, CANADA’s largest radio broadcaster with 106 licensed radio stations in 54 markets across the country.
“We are partnering with the fast-rising iHEARTRADIO brand to develop its incredible presence in CANADA through our leading platforms,” said BELL MEDIA Pres./Entertainment Production and Broadcasting RANDY LENNOX. “We will deliver a digital service that will serve our listeners across the country, providing them with great music, news and sports, as well as relevant and customized content from BELL MEDIA radio and television assets, while providing dynamic and measurable advertising opportunities to our clients.”
“Joining with BELL MEDIA to extend the iHEARTRADIO brand with Canadians is an exciting moment for us,” said iHEARTRADIO Pres. DARREN DAVIS. “This partnership allows us to connect with even more music fans and radio listeners and we know Canadians will enjoy the service as much as our listeners in the U.S.”
– See more at: http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/149097/bell-media-and-iheartmedia-sign-exclusive-partners#sthash.fou7eK8F.dpuf
This is a bit of a headscratcher. Don’t iHeart stations in the US play a lot of the same syndicated talk shows? The knock on American AM radio is that no matter what city you’re visiting, the primetime programming seldom varies.
So is Bell planning to run US shows on their Canadian stations? Or are they preparing to spend some dough creating original national programs?
Very mysterious.
Clear Channel destroyed much of the U.S. radio industry by cutting to the bone. Can it be mere coincidence Bell is teaming up with them after making massive cuts to Canada’s radio industry?