The largest local Hamilton radio station has delivered its final broadcast.
Corus Entertainment’s CHML took to social media on Wednesday to announce it was shutting down permanently.
In the statement, officials refer to the decision to shutter as “incredibly difficult,” but say it was “made after careful consideration and is necessary following years of financial losses.”
CHML has been on the air for almost 100 years, and has broadcast from a host of locations in that time.
Reaction poured in from the community following the news, mourning the loss of a local voice.
Hamilton Mountain MP Lisa Hepfner says she is “gutted” by the news, saying the community deserves better.
The city’s mayor, Andrea Horwath, agrees. She says this sudden closure will have a significant impact on the community.
This closure comes amid mass layoffs across the board at it’s parent company, Corus Entertainment.
A Corus spokesperson provided a written statement to CHCH News, saying today’s announcement was part of a “difficult but necessary” change to ensure the company’s future.
“Given the realities of our industry, we have been faced with the challenges that have come with the significant shift in TV and Digital advertising spending, with the increased and unregulated presence of foreign owned media platforms,” the spokesperson said.
“At our core remains our commitment to serving our audiences and communities nationwide.”