Larche Communications

{{Short description|Canadian media company}}

Larche Communications was a Canadian media company, which operated four radio stations in the province of Ontario. The company was named for its president, Paul Larche.

Based in Midland, the company began in 1997 when it acquired CICZ-FM in Midland.[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1997/DB97-361.HTM CRTC Decision 97-361] Larche later expanded to Waterloo when it was licensed to open a new station, CIKZ.[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2003/db2003-153.htm CRTC Decision 2003-153] The company later entered an agreement with Rogers Media in 2007, selling CIKZ to that company in exchange for CICX-FM in Orillia.[http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20070605/radioswap.html "Rogers, Larche swap Ontario radio stations"], Toronto Sun, June 4, 2007

Larche's application for a new radio station in Sudbury was also approved by the CRTC on July 12, 2007. This station, CICS-FM, officially launched on August 18, 2008.[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/db2007-229.htm CRTC Decision 2007-229]. On May 9, 2008, the company was also given CRTC authorization to launch a rock-formatted station in Owen Sound on 92.3 FM.[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/db2008-100.htm CRTC Decision 2008-100]

On November 13, 2008, Larche applied for two new FM radio stations, a hot adult contemporary station in Orillia[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/n2008-14.htm#2 Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2008-14 #2] and a country music station to serve the Bracebridge/Gravenhurst area.[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/n2008-14.htm#13 Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2008-14 #13] The CRTC denied both applications from Larche Communications to operate new radio stations in Orillia, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, however, an application from another company received approval to operate a new FM station in Orillia on June 1, 2009.[https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-318.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2009-318], Licensing of new radio stations to serve Orillia, Ontario, CRTC, June 1, 2009

On August 9, 2017, Bell Media announced that it would acquire Larche Communications' stations, pending CRTC approval.{{cite web|url=http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/bell-media-to-acquire-four-ontario-radio-stations-from-larche-communications-inc/|title=Bell Media to Acquire Four Ontario Radio Stations from Larche Communications Inc. – Bell Media|publisher=Bell Media|language=en|accessdate=2017-08-10}} Bell Media received approval from the CRTC on February 14, 2018.[https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-57.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-57], CICZ-FM Midland, CICX-FM Orillia, CJOS-FM Owen Sound and CICS-FM Sudbury – Acquisition of assets, CRTC, February 14, 2018