The short-lived 95 Crave, which replaced Z95.3FM in mid-2007, is being replaced by Canada's second Virgin Radio station January 8.
Virgin Radio 953 will feature some 95 Crave radio shows and introduce new weekend shows, including a Saturday night dance segment and American Top 40 and U.K. Hit 40 shows on Sunday.
The new format, launched in Toronto in August, will also introduce Ryan Seacrest into the Vancouver market with shows on weekday evenings and on Sunday afternoons.
The move is part of a new partnership between Astral Media and Virgin Radio International. It's one of a string of changes to hit the station in recent years.
Operating as Z95.3 since 1996, the station began as a contemporary hit radio station and was one of the most listened to stations for five years. In 2002, it focused on music from the '90s before switching formats in 2004 and 2005 to try to reverse its declining market share.
Following Astral Media's mid-2007 acquisition of Standard Radio, which owned Z95.3, the station switched to 95 Crave, which targeted 25- to 45-year-old women.