iHeartRadio Canada | |
Formerly | CHUM Radio (1945–2011) |
Company type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Radio broadcasting |
Predecessor | CHUM Limited |
Founded | 1945 2011 (Bell Media Radio) 2016 (iHeartRadio Canada) | (as CHUM Limited)
Headquarters | 250 Richmond Street West, , Canada |
Key people | Randy Lennox (president of broadcasting) [1] |
Parent | Bell Media |
Divisions | Orbyt Media (formerly CHUM Radio Network) |
Website | bellmedia |
Bell Media Radio, G.P. (formerly CHUM Radio), operating as iHeartRadio Canada, is the radio broadcasting and music events subsidiary of Canadian media conglomerate Bell Media, a division of BCE Inc.. The company owns stations across the country, including in most of Canada's largest radio markets. The company's programming is distributed to other stations across Canada via its syndication division, Orbyt Media, and it is also the local licensee of the Virgin Radio brand.
iHeartRadio Canada's originated in 1945 as CHUM Radio which was then acquired by CTVglobemedia in 2007 and expanded upon the acquisition of Astral Media in 2013. Today the company operates over 71 radio stations across the country.
The company has its origins in CHUM Limited, which was acquired by CTVglobemedia in 2006. Through subsequent acquisitions, it also subsumed the radio properties of Astral Media in 2013; many of these were former Standard Radio stations that were acquired by Astral in 2007.
In 2016, Bell Media reached a licensing agreement with U.S. radio conglomerate iHeartMedia to operate a localized version of its internet radio platform iHeartRadio, and organize Canadian versions of its event franchises (such as the Jingle Ball). Since this agreement, Bell has primarily promoted its audio content, including radio stations and podcasts, under the public-facing brand iHeartRadio Canada.
In 2023, Bell Media laid off 6% of its workforce and closed nine of its radio stations and sold three as part of a restructuring plan and consolidated newsrooms across its platforms, resulting in its news/talk stations laying off most of their news staff and relying instead on the local and national newsrooms of CTV News. Stations closed included Winnipeg's CFRW, Calgary's CKMX, Edmonton's CFRN, Vancouver's CFTE and CKST and London's CJBK while Hamilton's CKOC and CHAM and Windsor's CKWW were sold [2] to CINA Radio Group for $455,000. [3]
On February 8, 2024, parent company BCE announced a total of cuts across the company, including 4,800 layoffs—with approximately 10% of those jobs being at Bell Media specifically, and the sale of 45 of its 103 radio stations to Vista Radio, Whiteoaks Communications Group, Durham Radio, My Broadcasting Corporation, ZoomerMedia, Arsenal Media and Maritime Broadcasting, pending approval by the CRTC. [4] Bell executive Robert Malcolmson told Canadian Press that the "significant divestiture" of Bell's radio assets occurred "because it's not a viable business anymore". [5]
Its head office is currently located at 250 Richmond Street West in Toronto, where the studios of its Toronto flagship stations CHUM-FM, CKFM-FM, CFRB and CHUM-AM are located. CHUM-AM and CHUM-FM moved from their historic location, 1331 Yonge Street, after the property was sold to Aspen Ridge Homes for $21.5 million. [6] [7] Former Standard Radio stations CFRB and CKFM were previously located at the intersection of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue West until 2013. [8]
CHUM Radio also previously operated CHUM Satellite Services, a multimedia division which provided programming and production services for corporate clients. This operation was acquired in 2009 by Stingray Digital, [9] which eventually renamed it Stingray360.
On January 6, 2016, iHeartMedia announced that Bell Media would enter into a licensing deal to launch a Canadian version of its radio streaming service iHeartRadio. Bell will handle Canadian licensing, marketing, and distribution of the service, contribute its content to the venture, and also gain rights to produce iHeartRadio-branded events. The service launched in October 2016. [10]
Since then, Bell has downplayed the branding "Bell Media Radio" in reference to its stations, and has referred to the collective platform, including the terrestrial stations, online outlets (which were all consolidated under iHeartRadio.ca) and podcasts from Bell Media properties that are distributed under the platform, under the name iHeartRadio Canada. The MuchMusic Video Awards were also re-branded as the iHeartRadio MMVAs.
Bell's stations broadcast under various formats, although hot adult contemporary and adult hits are particularly common. The stations typically air locally produced or voice-tracked programming for the majority of their schedules, although some national network programming also airs. In 2007 and part of 2008, the hot adult contemporary radio stations also aired the national evening program The Sound Lounge . [11]
As of 2021, the majority of Bell Media's music radio stations operate under standard, networked formats with a mix of local and/or common national programming. [12] [13] These brands include.
Bell's French-language radio stations in Quebec, inherited from Astral Media, have similarly operated using networked formats:
Bell inherited Astral's Boom FM (classic hits) and EZ Rock (adult contemporary) brands during the acquisition as well: presently, Boom FM is used only by two Bell-owned stations, both in Quebec, and the majority of English-language stations using the brand are owned by Stingray Radio (who had acquired the flagship outlet in Toronto, CHBM-FM, as part of divestments during the acquisition). The last remaining EZ Rock-branded stations in Canada were phased out with the launch of the Bounce and Move brands.
Until 2024, Bell also operated three networked brands featuring talk and spoken word programming. Except for TSN Radio (which features a mix of local programming and other acquired sports talk programs and event broadcasts, often syndicated from ESPN Radio and Westwood One), the majority of this programming was automated with little local content:
Following the sale or closure of numerous Bell stations in 2023 and 2024, the BNN Bloomberg and Funny radio brands were no longer in use. Aside from three TSN Radio stations, Bell's remaining news/talk stations carry local programming with some regionally or nationally-syndicated shows, and audio simulcasts of CTV News programs, under the iHeartRadio Talk Network [23] branding.
Bell distributes The Breakfast Club , The Bobby Bones Show , Brooke & Jeffrey , On Air with Ryan Seacrest , and the American Top 40 in Canada via the syndication arm Orbyt Media. [24] Bell began to introduce in-house evening programming for its news/talk stations in 2017 with The Evan Solomon Show (until Solomon's departure in 2023). [25] In 2020, Bell dropped Coast to Coast AM from its stations and replaced it with The Late Shift with Jason Agnew , [26] later replaced in 2021 by the new overnight show The Late Showgram with Jim Richards ; he would later move to an evening show, Newstalk Tonight, in 2022. [26] [27] As of 2024, other Bell Media Radio-syndicated shows include The Vassy Kapelos Show, The Richard Crouse Show, The Jerry Agar Show, and the CTV National News .
In November 2024, Bell Media announced new programming in collaboration with Canadian musician Bryan Adams (in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of his album Reckless ), including a "Bryan Adams Radio" channel on iHeartRadio, and a new syndicated radio show presented by Adams that will launch in January 2025. [28]
City of licence | Call sign | Frequency | Band | Years owned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calgary, AB | CKMX | 1060 | AM | 2013–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
CFVP | 6.03 | SW | 2013-2023 | Defunct shortwave relay of CKMX | |
Edmonton, AB | CFRN | 1260 | AM | 2013–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
CHBN-FM | 91.7 | FM | 2005–2010 | Sold to Rogers Sports & Media in 2010 | |
Hamilton, ON | CHAM | 820 | AM | 2013–2024 | Sold to CINA Radio Group in 2023, CRTC approved sale in 2024 |
CKOC | 1150 | AM | 2013–2024 | Sold to CINA Radio Group in 2023, CRTC approved sale in 2024 | |
London, ON | CKSL | 1410 | AM | 2013–2016 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2016 |
CJBK | 1290 | AM | 2013–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 | |
CHST-FM | 102.3 | FM | 2000–2010 | Sold to Rogers Sports & Media in 2010 | |
Toronto, ON | CFXJ-FM | 93.5 | FM | 2010–2013 | Sold to Stingray Radio in 2013 |
Vancouver, BC | CKST | 1040 | AM | 1992–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
CFTE | 1410 | AM | 1973–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 | |
Windsor, ON | CKWW | 580 | AM | 1985–2024 | Sold to CINA Radio Group in 2023, CRTC approved the sale in 2024 |
Winnipeg, MB | CFRW | 1290 | AM | 1974–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
CHUM Limited was a Canadian media company based in Toronto, Ontario in operation from 1945 to 2007. The company was founded in 1945 as York Broadcasters Limited when it launched CHUM-AM 1050 but was acquired by salesman Allan Waters in 1954. CHUM had expanded to and owned 33 radio stations across Canada under its CHUM Radio Network division and also owned other radio stations.
299 Queen Street West, also known as Bell Media Queen Street or Bell Media Studios, is the headquarters of the television/radio broadcast hub of Bell Canada's media unit, Bell Media, and is located at the intersection of Queen Street West and John Street in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building previously served as the headquarters of CTVglobemedia until Bell Canada acquired CTV again in 2011 as well as CHUM Television, a division of CHUM Limited, until CTV acquired CHUM in 2007, and was once known as the CHUM-City Building. It is now head offices and downtown Toronto studios for Bell Media.
Bell Media Inc. is a Canadian media conglomerate that is the mass media subsidiary of BCE Inc.. Its operations include national television broadcasting and production, radio broadcasting, digital media and Internet properties.
CP24 is a Canadian English-language specialty news channel owned by Bell Media, a subsidiary of BCE Inc. and operated alongside the Bell-owned CTV Television Network's owned-and-operated television stations CFTO-DT and CKVR-DT. The channel broadcasts from 9 Channel Nine Court in the Toronto borough of Scarborough.
Corus Entertainment, Inc. is a Canadian mass media and television production company. The company was founded in 1987 as Shaw Radio, Ltd. as a subsidiary of Shaw Communications and was spun-off from Shaw in 1999. It has prominent holdings in the radio, publishing, and television industries. Corus is headquartered at Corus Quay in Toronto, Ontario
CFRB is a commercial radio station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is owned by Bell Media and carries a News/Talk radio format. Its studios and offices are in the Entertainment District at 250 Richmond Street West.
CFXJ-FM is a radio station in Toronto, Ontario. Owned by Stingray Radio, it broadcasts a country music format. Its studios are located on Yonge Street at St. Clair Avenue in Toronto's Deer Park neighbourhood.
CHUM is a Canadian AM radio station in Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned and operated by Bell Media. CHUM's studios are co-located with TSN at 9 Channel Nine Court in the Agincourt neighbourhood of Scarborough, with its transmitter array located in the Clarkson neighbourhood of Mississauga. TSN 1050 is simulcast on Bell Satellite TV channel 989, and on Shaw Direct channel 867. The station is also carried on the 3rd HD digital subchannel of CKFM-FM.
Stingray Radio is a Canadian radio broadcasting conglomerate owned by Stingray Group. It owns and operates 101 radio stations in Canada—making it the second-largest radio conglomerate in Canada behind Bell Media. It also owns two television stations in Lloydminster. The majority of its stations are situated in Atlantic and Western Canada, with its largest presences being in the provinces of Alberta and Newfoundland.
Rogers Media Inc., operating as Rogers Sports & Media, is a Canadian subsidiary of Rogers Communications that owns the company's mass media and sports properties.
CKFM-FM is a Canadian radio station in Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned by Bell Media. The station airs a Top 40/CHR format, and is the flagship of Canada's "Virgin Radio" stations. CKFM's studios are located at 250 Richmond Street West in the Entertainment District, while its transmitter is located at the top of the CN Tower.
CJAD is a commercial radio station operating in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The station has an English language news/talk radio format and identifies itself on-air as CJAD 800. Owned and operated by Bell Media, it has a daytime power of 50,000 watts but reduces power to 10,000 watts at night to avoid interfering with other stations on AM 800. The transmitter is located near Saint-Édouard, while studios and offices are located on René-Lévesque Boulevard East in Downtown Montreal. CJAD can be heard across Canada on Bell Satellite TV channel 953.
CKGM is an English-language AM radio station in Montreal, Quebec, owned by Bell Media Radio. Formerly an affiliate of sports radio network "The Team," it was one of three stations to retain the sports format after the network folded in 2002 until it switched to the TSN Radio branding in October 2011. CKGM has been an all-sports station since May 2001. Its studios and offices are located on René Lévesque Boulevard East in Downtown Montreal.
CHAM is an AM radio station in Hamilton, Ontario. It is owned by Neeti Prakash Ray and is part of the CINA Media Group.
CKOC is a radio station in Hamilton, Ontario. It is owned by Neeti Prakash Ray and is part of the CINA Media Group. CKOC is a 50,000-watt, Class B station operating on a regional broadcast frequency, with transmitters located near Empire Corners in Haldimand County, about 25 kilometers south of Hamilton. A six-tower directional antenna is used at all times. The station has a classic hits format promoted as "Superhits of the 70s and 80s".
CKSL was a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 1410 AM in London, Ontario, Canada. The station aired a comedy radio format branded as Funny 1410. The station broadcast with a power of 10,000 watts from its transmitter site located on Scotland Drive in South London. The station's coverage area was directional to the north and south during the day, and towards the north at night to protect WDOE in Dunkirk, New York, located across Lake Erie from CKSL.
CJBK was a Canadian radio station, broadcasting in London, Ontario, Canada, on the assigned frequency of 1290 kHz. The station was owned by Bell Media. It was classified as a Class B station, having an antenna system input power of 10,000 watts,. CJBK's studios were located at 1 Communications Road along with sister stations CJBX-FM, CIQM-FM and CFPL-DT while its former transmitter site was located near White Oak Road and Manning Drive south of London. The station last aired a News/Talk/Sports format. It broadcast the Western Ontario Mustangs college football team, serving as its flagship station. It also broadcast Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings games.
250 Richmond Street West is a studio complex in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building now serves as the headquarters of iHeartRadio Canada's national radio operations of Bell Media, and as the studios of the company's Toronto radio stations, CHUM-FM, CFRB and CKFM-FM.
TSN Radio is a semi-national sports radio brand and part-time network in Canada carried on AM radio stations owned by Bell Media. The TSN Radio brand, and some of the stations' content, are shared with Bell Media's television sports channel, The Sports Network. With the American sports media company ESPN being a minority shareholder in TSN, most of the stations also air some ESPN Radio programming, usually on weekends and/or overnight.