MONTREAL – Cogeco is one step closer to buying up Corus’ radio stations in Quebec.
The cableco said Tuesday that it has submitted an official application to the CRTC detailing “the radio broadcasting strategy Cogeco intends to implement following this major acquisition”. The $80 million deal, announced in April, includes 11 radio stations: French and English stations in Montreal (CFQR-FM 92.5, CHMP-FM 98.5, CKOI-FM 96.9 and CKAC-AM 730); Quebec City (CFOM-FM 102.9 and CFEL-FM 102.1); CJRC-FM 104.7 in Gatineau; Sherbrooke (CKOY-FM 104.5 and CHLT-FM 107.7); CHLN-FM 106.9 in Trois-Rivieres and CIME-FM 103.9 in St-Jerome.
"We worked really hard to chart a successful strategy offering the most advantages for the benefit of the radio broadcasting system as a whole”, said Richard Lachance, VP of Cogeco Diffusion Inc., in a statement. “We believe it will be highly attractive to the Commission as well as to the communities in which the stations involved in the deal operate. We have always aimed at improving the diversity, strength and local character of radio and our submission is in line with that thinking."
Cogeco said no details of the strategy will be released until the Commission makes the application public. A public hearing on the application is expected to be held this Fall.
