Arsenal Media
{{Short description|Canadian radio broadcasting company}}
Arsenal Media is a broadcasting company based in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, Canada operating 18 radio stations. Through its various antennas, the company is able to reach more than one and a half million potential listeners in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Estrie, Centre-du-Québec, Lanaudière, Beauce, Chaudière-Appalaches, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Haute-Mauricie, Gaspésie/Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Côte-Nord.
History
= Attraction Radio =
The company was founded as a subsidiary of Attraction Media in 2011, following the association of Richard Speer (Founding President of Attraction Media) and Sylvain Chamberland. The group's first acquisition was that of the station CHEQ-FM in 2012. The transaction was announced on March 1, 2012{{Cite web |last=iClic (www.iclic.com) |title=CHEQ-FM passe aux mains d'Attraction Média |url=https://www.enbeauce.com/actualites/affaires/25831/cheq-fm-passe-aux-mains-dattraction-media |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=EnBeauce.com |language=fr}} and was authorized by the CRTC on June 8 of the same year.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2012-09-19 |title=Applications processed pursuant to streamlined procedures |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-503.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=crtc.gc.ca}} CHEQ General Manager Mario Paquin described the transaction as "the first link in Attraction's radio division" and added that other transactions are to come.
A month and a few days later, the station CJIT-FM located in Lac-Mégantic was acquired from the company Les Productions du temps perdu inc.{{Cite web |last=Logiaction |title=La station CJIT-FM vendue ! - Rémi Tremblay : Actualités {{!}} L'Écho de Frontenac, hebdo de la région de Lac-Mégantic |url=https://echodefrontenac.com/2012-04-12/1827-la-station-cjit-fm-vendue |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=La station CJIT-FM vendue ! - Rémi Tremblay : Actualités {{!}} L'Écho de Frontenac, hebdo de la région de Lac-Mégantic |language=fr-CA}}{{Cite web |last=Ronald_Martel |date=2012-04-27 |title=La station CJIT vendue à Attraction Radio |url=https://www.latribune.ca/2012/04/27/la-station-cjit-vendue-a-attraction-radio-e23756d32f8c17324d1bc48da5e1711f/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=La Tribune |language=fr}} The transaction was authorized on July 5. Subsequently, two other transactions will follow in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and thereby finalize the series of transactions of the year 2012: That of CKRS-FM announced on June 18 and authorized on October 12, 2012.{{Cite web |last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca |first=Zone Arts- |title=Le FM 98 est vendu à Attraction Radio |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/566360/fm98-vente-ckrs |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Radio-Canada |language=fr-ca}}{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2013-02-15 |title=Applications processed pursuant to streamlined procedures |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/2013-62.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=crtc.gc.ca}} and that of CKGS-FM which was announced on September 12 and authorized on December 14.{{Cite web |last=Stéphane_Bégin |date=2012-09-12 |title=Groupe Attraction achète Kool-FM |url=https://www.lequotidien.com/2012/09/12/groupe-attraction-achete-kool-fm-4f88d307c0452a36aa255178e2cd456e/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Le Quotidien |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2013-02-15 |title=Applications processed pursuant to streamlined procedures |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/2013-62.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=crtc.gc.ca}}
== 2013-2014 ==
2013 begin with the announcement of the acquisition of the station CJLM-FM from the Coopérative de radiodiffusion du M103-5 FM. Negotiations to purchase the station began in November 2011 and the agreement was announced on January 23, 2013.{{Cite web |last=iClic (www.iclic.com) |title=Attraction Radio achète le M103,5 |url=https://www.lejournaldejoliette.ca/actualites/societe/176145/attraction-radio-achete-le-m1035 |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Le Journal de Joliette |language=fr}} The acquisition of assets was approved by the CRTC on July 30, 2014.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2014-07-30 |title=ARCHIVED - CJLM-FM Joliette – Acquisition of assets |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2014/2014-396.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=crtc.gc.ca}} In 2013, the company officially brought only one station into its fold: CKYQ-FM in Plessisville. The transaction was announced on October 17, 2012, but was authorized by the CRTC on February 13, 2013.{{Cite web |last=Yanick_Poisson |date=2012-10-17 |title=Attraction Radio achète KYQ-FM |url=https://www.latribune.ca/2012/10/17/attraction-radio-achete-kyq-fm-c13c0a9dd3d64cb9680c4155e40e916e/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=La Tribune |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2013-06-05 |title=Applications processed pursuant to streamlined procedures |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/2013-274.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=crtc.gc.ca}}
== 2014-2015 ==
On April 23, 2014, Attraction Radio acquired the Réseau des Appalaches.{{Cite web |last=ezn2_spadmin |date=2014-04-23 |title=Le Réseau des Appalaches vendu à Attraction Radio |url=https://www.courrierfrontenac.qc.ca/actualites/le-reseau-des-appalaches-vendu-a-attraction-radio/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Courrier Frontenac |language=fr-FR}} This network consists of three stations and two rebroadcasters. CRTC authorization arrived on June 19, 2015.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2015-05-19 |title=ARCHIVED - Various radio stations in Thetford Mines and Victoriaville - Change in effective control |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2015/2015-200.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=crtc.gc.ca}} On December 2, 2014, Attraction radio announced the conclusion of an affiliation agreement with Cogeco Media for the implementation of the Rythme FM network in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.{{Cite web |title=New radio station the Rythme fm network is expanding |url=https://corpo.cogeco.com/cgo/en/press-room/press-releases/new-radio-station-the-rythme-fm-network-is-expanding/ |website=corpo.cogeco.com}} The CKRS-FM station was thus set to become a station of the Rythme FM network as of February 9, 2015.{{Cite web |last=Desbiens |first=Pierre-Luc |date=2014-12-03 |title=Nouvelle page d'histoire |url=https://www.journaldequebec.com/2014/12/03/nouvelle-page-dhistoire |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Le Journal de Québec}}
== 2016 ==
On February 3, 2016, two stations located on the Côte-Nord are acquired: CKCN-FM and CIPC-FM.{{Cite web |last=Gendron |first=Stéphanie |date=2016-02-03 |title=Attraction Radio acquiert deux stations sur la Côte-Nord |url=https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2016/02/03/attraction-radio-acquiert-deux-stations-sur-la-cote-nord |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Le Journal de Montréal}} A few weeks later, on February 22, two other stations entered the company's fold: CHRM-FM and CHOE-FM.{{Cite web |last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca |first=Zone Économie- |date=2016-02-22 |title=Les stations de radio privées de Matane vendues à Attraction Radio |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/766543/chrm-choe-matane-radio-achat-attraction-radio-transaction |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Radio-Canada |language=fr-ca}} These are located in Matane. The transaction between the group and Les Communications Matane was authorized by the CRTC on June 13 of the same year.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2019-10-28 |title=Broadcasting Applications Report |url=https://applications.crtc.gc.ca/demradbroadappl/Default-Defaut.aspx?lang=eng&en=2017-90 |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=applications.crtc.gc.ca}} On April 28, an agreement was reached with Radio Haute-Mauricie Inc. for the purchase of the station CFLM-FM.{{Cite web |last=Scarpino |first=Michel |date=2016-04-28 |title=Le 97,1 FM passe aux mains d'Attraction Radio |url=https://www.lechodelatuque.com/actualites/le-971-fm-passe-aux-mains-dattraction-radio/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=L’Écho de la Tuque |language=fr-FR}} The station officially became the property of Attraction Radio on October 31 of the same year.{{Cite web |last=Scarpino |first=Michel |date=2016-10-31 |title=Le FM 97,1 est officiellement propriété d'Attraction Radio |url=https://www.lechodelatuque.com/actualites/le-fm-971-est-officiellement-propriete-dattraction-radio/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=L’Écho de la Tuque |language=fr-FR}}
= Arsenal Media =
== 2018 ==
On March 22, 2018, Sylvain Chamberland, vice president and chief operating officer of Attraction Media and president of Attraction Radio, purchased the group's fifteen stations through an agreement. This marks the end of Attraction Media's adventure in the radio world.{{Cite news |last=GAGNON |first=JEAN-SÉBASTIEN |date=2018-03-22 |title=Attraction quitte le monde de la radio |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/economie/medias-et-telecoms/201803/22/01-5158354-attraction-quitte-le-monde-de-la-radio.php |access-date=2024-08-12 |work=La Presse |language=fr-CA}} Conditional on the CRTC's approval of the transaction, a new entity was announced. The latter approved on July 31.{{Cite web |title=Ownership of Arsenal Media |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/ownership/eng/cht236.pdf |website=crtc.gc.ca}} The new entity was called Arsenal Media.
On August 13, 2018, the station CKRS-FM, which became CILM-FM, moved under the O banner due to the non-renewal of the affiliation agreement with the Rythme FM network with Cogeco Media.{{Dead link |title=O 98.3 and 105.5 arrive in Saguenay |url=https://www.neomedia.com/saguenay-lac-st-jean/actualites/actualites/343079/o-983-et-1055-debarquent-au-saguenay |site=Néomedia Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean |accessed=2021-03-09|date=August 2024}}
== 2019-2020 ==
On August 26, 2019, Arsenal Media announced the acquisition of the station CFVD-FM belonging to Radio Dégélis inc.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-26 |title=ARSENAL MEDIA ANNONCE L'ACQUISITION DE CFVD-FM À DÉGELIS |url=https://arsenalmedia.com/2019/08/26/arsenal-media-annonce-lacquisition-de-cfvd-fm-a-degelis/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Arsenal Media |language=fr-FR}} The CRTC gave its approval on December 11.{{Cite web |title="CRTC APPROVES ARSENAL MEDIA'S ACQUISITION OF CFVD-FM IN DÉGELIS" |url=https://arsenalmedia.com/2019/12/11/le-crtc-approve-lacquisition-par-arsenal-media-de-cfvd-fm-a-degelis/ |website=arsenalmedia.com}} The group officially became the owner of the station on March 2, 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-02 |title=ACQUISITION DE CFVD-FM À DÉGELIS PAR ARSENAL MEDIA |url=https://arsenalmedia.com/2020/03/02/acquisition-de-cfvd-fm-a-degelis-par-arsenal-media/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Arsenal Media |language=fr-FR}}
== 2021-2022 ==
On May 6, 2021, Arsenal Media announced that it had reached an agreement with Cogeco Media.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-06 |title=COGECO MÉDIA ET ARSENAL MÉDIA CONCLUENT UNE ENTENTE |url=https://arsenalmedia.com/2021/05/06/cogeco-media-et-arsenal-media-concluent-une-entente/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Arsenal Media |language=fr-FR}} This agreement meant that Cogeco would become the owner of the CILM-FM station located in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Arsenal Media would become the owner of the Capitale Rock (CHGO-FM and CJGO-FM-1) and WOW (CHOA-FM) stations in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Conditional on CRTC approval, it was approved on March 24, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2022-03-24 |title=CHGO-FM Val-d'Or, CHOA-FM Rouyn-Noranda and its transmitters and CJGO-FM La Sarre and its transmitter – Acquisition of assets |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2022/2022-74.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=crtc.gc.ca}}{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2022-03-24 |title=CILM-FM Saguenay (Chicoutimi) – Acquisition of assets |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2022/2022-75.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=crtc.gc.ca}}
On April 25, 2022, the company officially became the owner of stations CHGO-FM, CJGO-FM and CHOA-FM and transferred station CILM-FM to Cogeco Media.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-25 |title=Arsenal Media, maintenant le plus grand radiodiffuseur régional au Québec |url=https://arsenalmedia.com/2022/04/25/arsenal-media-maintenant-le-plus-grand-radiodiffuseur-regional-au-quebec/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Arsenal Media |language=fr-FR}}
== 2024-2025 ==
On February 8, 2024, Arsenal Media announced the acquisition, subject to regulatory approval, of seven regional stations owned by Bell Media (CFZZ-FM in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, CFEI-FM in Saint-Hyacinthe, CJDM-FM and CHRD-FM in Drummondville, CJOI-FM and CIKI-FM in Rimouski, and CFVM-FM in Amqui).{{Cite web |title=Arsenal media Acquires 7 bell media radio stations in Quebec |url=https://www.newswire.ca/en/news-releases/arsenal-media-acquires-7-bell-media-radio-stations-in-quebec-808360232.html |website=newswire.ca}}{{Cite web |title="BCE conglomerate cuts 4,800 jobs, almost 10% of its workforce" |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2047866/bce-job-cutting-restructuring |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=ici.radio-canada.ca}} These stations were being acquired as part of a restructuring at Bell Media. Arsenal intends to disaffiliate the Énergie and Boom stations, which will join the O network, and the Rouge stations, which will join the Plaisir network.{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |date=2024-07-02 |title=Notice of hearing - 5 September 2024 - National Capital Region |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2024/2024-148.htm |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=crtc.gc.ca}} The company officially became the owner of the stations on March 11, 2025.[https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2025/2025-76.htm Broadcasting Decision 2025-76] CRTC, March 11, 2025
Radio stations owned by Arsenal Media
Arsenal Media's stations are grouped under one of the company's four banners. Each of its banners has a distinctive brand image and is aimed at diverse audiences. The O brand has a Top 40 musical style. Four stations display the colours of the Plaisir banner intended for an adult audience. Hit Country, a network launched in 2019, broadcasts country music. The WOW FM brand is shared with Cogeco Media.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
= O =
- CHOE-FM - 95.3 in Matane
- CHEQ-FM - 101.5 in Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce
- CFJO-FM - 97.3 in Victoriaville
- CIPC-FM - 99.1 in Sept-îles and Port-Cartier
- CJLM-FM - 103.5 in Joliette
- CFLM-FM - 97.1 in La Tuque
- CHGO-FM - 104.3 in Val-d'Or
- CJGO-FM - 102.1 in La Sarre and CJGO-FM-1 - 95.7 in Rouyn-Noranda
- CJDM-FM - 92.1 in Drummondville
- CIKI-FM - 98.7 in Rimouski
- CFEI-FM - 106.5 in Saint-Hyacinthe
- CFZZ-FM - 104.1 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
= Viva =
= Hit Country =
- CKGS-FM - 105.5 in La Baie
- CKYQ-FM - 95.7 in Plessisville
- CHCT-FM - 105.3 in Sainte-Marie
- CJIT-FM - 106.7 in Lac-Mégantic
= WOW FM =
- CHOA-FM - 96.5 in Rouyn-Noranda, CHOA-FM-1 - 103.5 in Val-d'Or and CHOA-FM-2 -103.9 in La Sarre
References
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