1 of 1- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline 
Montreal FM Station Changing Format By Skirting CRTC Rules
The French language station at 99.5, which is branded on air as WKND and plays music, isn't owned by Quebecor, which has a conflict in the market But it will soon be effectively running it and on August 26th, will shift the format to simulcast part of its all talk network.
There are rules about this kind of thing but the owner - Leclerc Communications - seems to have found a way to get around them.
"Regulations from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission prevent commercial radio stations from having spoken-word programming for more than 50 per cent of their weekly schedule without prior authorization, which is why 99.5 is keeping music content on evenings and weekends.
The CRTC also prohibits a company from owning a radio station, television station and local newspaper in the same market, which is why Québecor, which owns TVA and Le Journal de Montréal, can’t buy the station from Leclerc."
Montreal's 99.5 FM to replace music with Québecor's talk radio
- RadioAaron
- Member
Offline
Re: Montreal FM Station Changing Format By Skirting CRTC Rules
Not surprising that someone finally decided to try to take a piece of 98.5, the most listened-to station in the country.
(98.5 itself also launched with music in evenings and on weekend while they applied to the CRTC to go all-talk)
- Bristol
- Member
Offline
Re: Montreal FM Station Changing Format By Skirting CRTC Rules
And 98,5 still does music overnights outside of the regulatory broadcast day. Interestingly Leclerc does well in Quebec City with the WKND format..
- RadioAaron
- Member
Offline
Re: Montreal FM Station Changing Format By Skirting CRTC Rules
RadioAaron wrote:
Not surprising that someone finally decided to try to take a piece of 98.5, the most listened-to station in the country.
Reminded myself I haven't looked this up lately....most listened to stations in Canada.
1. 98.5 Montreal
2.. Boom 97.3
3. Energie Montreal
4. CKOI Montreal
5. CHFI
6. CHUM 104.5
7. Virgin 999
8. Rhythme Montreal
9. ICI Premiere Montreal
10. The Beat 92.5 Montreal
- paterson1
- Member
Offline
Re: Montreal FM Station Changing Format By Skirting CRTC Rules
Montrealers seem to love their radio with six of the most listened to stations in Canada. And four of the six are music stations.
I wonder when the CRTC changed the rules about the number of different media that could be owned by one company in a specific market. The Blackburn Group owned the London Free Press, Two radio stations, a TV station, a weekly free circulation newspaper, and a market research firm all of them serving London, for many years.
There was a royal commission on concentration of media ownership, but the Kent Commission in 1981 couldn't find any strong evidence of Blackburn influencing news or having undue direction or sway in the London market. The newspaper, TV and radio news departments were all large and totally separate from each other. In fact they were competitors and didn't appear to share exclusive stories.
In the mid to late 70's there had been a push for the company to divest some of their London media. At one point it was rumoured that they were going to sell Stereo 96 (CFPL-FM). But that never happened, and the station became very popular three or four years later, when they moved to an adult alternative sound and soon after album rock.
- RadioAaron
- Member
Offline
Re: Montreal FM Station Changing Format By Skirting CRTC Rules
I wonder when the CRTC changed the rules about the number of different media that could be owned by one company in a specific market. The Blackburn Group owned the London Free Press, Two radio stations, a TV station, a weekly free circulation newspaper, and a market research firm all of them serving London, for many years.
If memory serves me correctly (and there's a very good chance it doesn't) it was in 1999 when they expanded radio ownership limits to 4 stations.
- paterson1
- Member
Offline
Re: Montreal FM Station Changing Format By Skirting CRTC Rules
I wonder when the CRTC changed the rules about the number of different media that could be owned by one company in a specific market. The Blackburn Group owned the London Free Press, Two radio stations, a TV station, a weekly free circulation newspaper, and a market research firm all of them serving London, for many years.
If memory serves me correctly (and there's a very good chance it doesn't) it was in 1999 when they expanded radio ownership limits to 4 stations.
You are likely correct. Blackburn sold CFPL and CKNX TV in 1992 and the Free Press in 1997. They also sold CFPL AM & FM in 1999, but held on to CKNX AM and FM. Looks like Blackburn has 13 stations today and runs 5 digital news sites.