Less than a year after its launch, Banff Centre Radio will air its final live show on Friday (Feb. 27) at 8 a.m. The Banff Centre will revoke its licenses for current radio stations 101.1 (English) and 103.3 (French) FM and move exclusively to a digital platform.
Less than a year after its launch, Banff Centre Radio will air its final live show on Friday (Feb. 27) at 8 a.m.
The Banff Centre will revoke its licenses for current radio stations 101.1 (English) and 103.3 (French) FM and move exclusively to a digital platform.
The shift will affect four Banff Centre Radio employees who will not have their contracts renewed March 31 when they expire.
It was a difficult decision, but the right one, said Carolyn Warren, vice-president Arts, as The Banff Centre has its sights set on developing a podcast network.
When The Centre took over the radio stations, which were previously park stations, and launched them in June 2014, the mandate they received from Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) – the governing radio body in Canada – required them to continue providing information to visitors regarding park happenings.
It was “restrictive” to the authentic storytelling they were trying to accomplish at the Banff Centre Radio station, said Warren.
“We're looking at ways to really redirect our resources in the most focused and strategic way and for us at this point that meant moving to a digital strategy, which was less restrictive on content and would allow us to reach a broad audience nonetheless through our brand new website, which is launching in about a month or two,” Warren said.
Banff Centre Radio will remain on air and broadcast previously aired shows until its application for release is approved. Select Banff Centre Radio shows and new shows will be available as podcasts in the coming months at banffcentre.ca.
With Alberta's current economic state, said Warren, the broader economic context for the decision will enable The Banff Centre to change strategies and move toward podcasts – an audio show that can be downloaded online – which will allow The Centre to have more avenues to create and produce its preferred content. Senior members of the Banff Centre Radio staff will fabricate the podcasts.
Warren thinks this is an opportunity for The Banff Centre to dial in on a passionate podcast audience looking for a range of storytelling.
“We're looking forward to sharing some of the amazing music recorded and produced here,” Warren said. “Were looking forward to sharing some of the experiences that different artists who come through have in their residency and their presentation series.”
