News

Blackburn Media Launches Big Country Canada Network Across Southwestern Ontario; Windsor-Essex, Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent country stations unite under one regional brand.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO, OCT. 5, 2026 – Blackburn Media has launched the Big Country Canada Network, bringing together Windsor’s Big Country 95.9 & 92.7, Sarnia-Lambton’s Big Country 103.9 and Chatham-Kent’s Big Country 91.3 under one shared brand.

Building on rebrands from early 2026, Big Country Canada shares major personalities, music, features and promotions while continuing to provide local news, information, community involvement and market-specific content.

The idea is simple: create a bigger radio experience without losing what makes local radio matter.

“These communities have a lot in common, but each one still has its own personality and culture,” said Cordell Green, Big Country Canada Format Lead Manager. “Bringing the stations together gives us the opportunity to create bigger promotions, stronger programming and more compelling content, while still making sure Windsor sounds like Windsor, Sarnia sounds like Sarnia and Chatham-Kent belongs to Chatham-Kent.”

The Big Country Canada promise is “BIG songs. BIG variety. REAL life.” The stations combine today’s biggest country artists, familiar favourites and the hottest in-demand artists with relatable personalities, local information and positive stories reflecting everyday life.

The network also brings together four stations with deep local histories. CHOK has served Sarnia-Lambton since 1946 and returned to country music in 2019. CFCO traces its Chatham-Kent history to 1926 and this year completed its move from 630 AM and 92.9 FM to its new full-time home at 91.3. CJWF 95.9 launched in Windsor in 2009 and, together with CJSP 92.7 in Leamington, provides country service across Windsor-Essex.

The launch comes as country music continues to enjoy remarkable mainstream strength. Country was the second-most-listened-to music format measured by radioCount in 2025, generating more than 5 million hours of listening each week. Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem was Canada’s No. 1 album of 2025, while in 2026 Ella Langley has spent months at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and Canadian Cameron Whitcomb has reached No. 3.


Big Country Canada’s weekday lineup starts with The BIG Breakfast with Mike and Cheryl, built around real-life conversation, observation and what is happening in the lives of our listeners and the communities they call home. Wide Open Workdays put the music front and centre, followed by The BIG Drive Home with Cordell, combining country music, personality, listener conversation, entertainment and local information.

Other features include The Daily Scoop for country and entertainment news and The BIG Vibes Minute, featuring inspiring and feel-good stories from close to home and around the world, meant to brighten your day. Big Country also spotlights the people behind the local stories through interviews and human-interest features celebrating neighbours, local heroes and interesting people throughout the communities it serves.

“There are more ways to hear music than ever, so radio has to offer more than just a playlist,” Green said. “It has to feel human, useful and connected to where you live. We think bringing these stations together lets us do that even better.”

For advertisers and community partners, Big Country Canada creates the opportunity to reach country listeners across Southwestern Ontario west of London through one larger brand, while remaining a strong option for individual local campaigns. Partnerships can extend across radio, digital, personalities, contests, concerts, sponsorships, events and community initiatives, reaching listeners throughout their day. 

Listeners can hear Big Country Canada on 95.9 and 92.7 FM in Windsor-Essex, 103.9 FM in Sarnia-Lambton and 91.3 FM in Chatham-Kent, as well as through station websites, the iHeartRadio app, mobile and connected devices, smart speakers and digital streams.


Big Country Canada. BIG songs. BIG variety. REAL life.

CFCO Moving to New, Stronger FM Frequency at 91.3 FM

Chatham, ON — Blackburn Media is pleased to announce that CFCO, Chatham-Kent’s heritage radio station, will soon have a new and expanded FM home. Beginning April 25th, CFCO will officially transition to 91.3 FM, marking a significant milestone in the station’s nearly 100-year history.

After broadcasting on the AM band since 1927, (1210 AM and 630 AM) as well as operating on low-power 92.9 FM since 2000, CFCO’s move to 91.3 FM positions the station for long-term sustainability while delivering a stronger, more reliable signal to listeners across Chatham-Kent.

CFCO will continue to proudly serve the community as “Chatham-Kent’s Country”, pairing the best of today’s country music with a long-standing dedication to local programming and community engagement. As the station evolves onto a new FM frequency, its focus on serving, informing, and entertaining Chatham-Kent remains unchanged.

To ensure a smooth transition for listeners, CFCO is currently in a simulcast period, broadcasting simultaneously on 630 AM, 92.9 FM, and the new 91.3 FM frequency. This approach allows listeners time to migrate to the new frequency without disruption.

“The reality is that the long-term viability of AM radio is coming to an end,” said Blackburn Media Vice President, Walter Ploegman. “To sustain CFCO for the next 100 years, moving fully to the FM band was a necessary step. This conversion addresses challenges with aging AM infrastructure and ensures we continue to serve Chatham-Kent with a strong, dependable signal.”

This decision reflects changing audience habits away from AM radio, compounded by the lack of AM radios in electric vehicles, signal reliability challenges during adverse weather, and the increasing cost of maintaining aging AM transmission facilities.

The new FM signal will broadcast at 1,250 watts from a new tower location, providing consistent 24/7 coverage across all of Chatham-Kent, in all weather conditions. CFCO will also continue to stream online, through the iHeartRadio app, and on smart speakers, ensuring listeners can tune in wherever and however they choose.

A testing period is currently underway, and listeners will not experience any interruption in service.

“There will be no disruption to service,” according to Dave Palmer, CFCO Program Manager. “CFCO will broadcast continuously during the transition to full FM and will remain on 630 AM and 92.9 FM until the AM signal is officially retired in a few months.” This move represents both an evolution and a commitment — preserving CFCO’s legacy while strengthening its future as a trusted, local voice for Chatham-Kent.

About Blackburn Media

Blackburn Media is a Canadian-owned multimedia company serving Southwestern
Ontario with radio, digital, and community-focused content. Committed to trusted local
storytelling and innovative marketing solutions, Blackburn Media connects audiences
and businesses through engaging, impactful media.

For more information, contact:
Management.chatham@blackburnmedia.ca
blackburnmedia.ca