MONTREAL – A province-wide news network is next for Corus Radio now that the purchase of the former Telemedia group of radio stations from Astral Media has been completed.
Corus Québec president Pierre Arcand announced today that the deal was official, making Corus Québec the largest talk radio broadcaster in Quebec. In this transaction, Corus Québec acquired seven AM stations and one FM station: CKAC Montreal, CHRC Quebec City, CJRC Gatineau, CKRS Saguenay, CHLN Trois-Rivières, CHLT Sherbrooke, CKTS Sherbrooke, and CFOM-FM Lévis. In return, Corus Québec will transfer the following five FM stations to Astral Media: CJOI-FM Rimouski, CIKI-FM Rimouski, CFVM-FM Amqui, CFZZ-FM Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and CJDM-FM Drummondville.
The CRTC approved the $11 million deal in January.
"Corus Québec is now present in the six largest urban centers in Quebec and plans to offer local radio programming that will be rooted in each region and relevant to our listeners," said Arcand. "We will look to regional talent and expertise to give these stations back to their communities.”
During the coming weeks, Corus Québec management will work with the creative personnel in its various stations to launch Corus Nouvelles – the largest private radio news agency in Quebec. With a team of more than 70 journalists in Montreal, Quebec City, and outlying regions, Corus listeners everywhere will be able to tune in to the news at any time. Corus Nouvelles journalists will be producing and broadcasting news bulletins round the clock.
“CKAC’s mission as a talk radio station will be strengthened, and listeners will be given more opportunities to speak. In addition, programming will focus on the following areas: health, sports, politics, and news,” says the press release.
"Corus Québec management shares Montrealers’ attachment to this station. That’s why we have decided to position CKAC for the latest industry trends to help it reclaim its record listenership levels," Arcand added in the press release.
The station has already begun implementing this change, and the Corus Québec action plan has the same goals.
