99.7 WOW FM (CKNC-FM) listen live

About

99.7 WOW FM (formerly known as Oldies 99.7, call sign CKNC-FM) is a commercial radio station serving Simcoe, Ontario, and surrounding Norfolk County. Owned and operated by My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), the station broadcasts an engaging mix of classic hits from the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s.

On July 27, 2026, My Broadcasting Corporation rebranded Simcoe’s Oldies 99.7 as 99.7 WOW FM. On paper, it was a simple name change. On air, however, it was a conscious pivot away from the tired "vintage archive" format that often turns classic hits stations into background noise for waiting rooms.

"Operating under the slogan 'Just Great Songs,' the station focuses on expanding its playlist with unexpected throwbacks rather than repeating the same 40 tracks."

Instead of relying strictly on overplayed staples, WOW FM has broadened its rotation to include surprising tracks—like Coolio’s “Fantastic Voyage,” The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven,” or En Vogue’s “My Lovin’”—that actually make listeners want to turn up the volume.

Regional Context: Southwestern Ontario's Dial

Station	Format & Regional Differentiation
92.9 The Grand (CHTG-FM, Haldimand)	Leans heavily into classic rock. In contrast, WOW FM offers a lighter, more eclectic blend pairing synth-pop (Depeche Mode, New Order), dance-pop (Crystal Waters, Robin S.), and ’90s R&B (TLC, Salt-N-Pepa) with rock classics.
Boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM, Toronto)	Boasts a massive music library but lacks local connection to Norfolk County. WOW FM balances music with tailored news, weather, and community updates for Simcoe, Port Dover, and Waterford.

Station Pros & Cons

✓ The Good

Less Predictable Playlist: Features a wide spectrum from Gordon Lightfoot and Rush to Haddaway, TLC, and Christina Aguilera. Deeply rooted Canadian content (CanCon) from artists like Gowan, Haywire, and Kim Mitchell blends smoothly with global hits and tracks by bands like Squeeze.
Solid Local Coverage: Delivers timely, relevant updates for Norfolk County rather than generic Greater Toronto Area (GTA) news.

✕ The Not-So-Good

No Current Hits: Does not feature Top 40 or current streaming charts (sister station 98.9 myFM serves that market).
Signal Range Limits: Strong local signal around Simcoe and Norfolk County, but drops off past Woodstock or toward Hamilton, requiring online streaming for long highway drives.

Author’s Note: The Listening Test

I kept 99.7 WOW FM on at my shop for about four straight hours on a weekday afternoon. Surprisingly, the mix was effortless to leave on. You still get standard radio staples—local weather, quick news updates, and ad breaks—but the music choices kept me tuned in. Hearing MARRS’s “Pump Up the Volume” followed shortly by R.E.M. and Milli Vanilli was wonderfully unpredictable. The DJs kept banter brief and local, making the station practical for work or driving around the county without feeling like a total time warp.