CKMF-FM

CJMS-FM signed on the air on May 18. The station was co-owned by CJMS-AM but operated through a separate company, Supravox Corp. Ltee (also noted as Supra-Corp). CJMS-FM broadcast in stereo with 40,000 watts of effective radiated power on frequency 94.3 MHz.

A. R. Crepault was President of Supravox Corp. Ltee. CJMS-FM programming was totally independent from what was offered by CJMS-AM.

CJMS-FM became CKMF.

On December 21, the transfer of Supravox Corp. Ltee from Raymond, Pierre and Elise Crepault, to Corporation Civitas Ltee was approved.

On June 7, Supravox Corp. Ltd. was authorized to move the studios for CKMF from 1700 Berri Street to 225 Roy Street East.

A corporate reorganization took place. Mutual Broadcasting 1980 (Canada) Ltd., CJMS Radio Montreal and CHIC Radio Ltd. merged to form Mutual Communications (1980) Ltd.

In giving CKMF a short-term licence renewal, the CRTC complained the station had deviated substantially from the musical format for which it was licensed.

On June 30, CKMF was authorized to change format from Middle of the Road to Contemporary MOR.

On August 30, the CRTC approved the following changes: (A) Mutual Broadcasting 1980 Canada Ltd. was authorized to acquire CKMF-FM from Supervox Corp. Ltd. (B) Mutual Broadcasting Ltd. – upon disolution of Mutual Broadcasting 1980 Canada Ltd. and Mutual Broadcasting Ltd., was licensed to continue the operation of CJRP-AM and CHIK-FM (CJRP Radio Provincialle Ltee), CJRS-AM (CJRS Radio Sherbrooke Ltee), CJTR-AM (CJTR Radio Trois-Riviere Ltee) and CJRC-AM (CJRC Radio Capitale Ltee). (C) Amalgamate Mutual Broadcasting 1980 Canada Ltd. (CJMS-AM, CKMW-AM and CFNY-FM), Supravox Corp. Ltd. and Mutual Broadcasting Ltd. into Mutual Broadcasting Canada Ltd. . (Radiodiffusion Mutuelle Canada Ltee). 

Yves Guerrard, previously president of Radio Mutuel’s Montreal operations, was now responsible for the company’s FM stations in Montreal, Quebec and Trois-Rivieres.

Jacques Ouimette became director of communications for CKMF/CJMS.

On August 28, approval was granted for the transfer of effective control of Mutual Broadcasting Canada Ltd. (CKMF-FM and CJMS Montreal, CHIK-FM and CJRP Quebec City, CJTR Trois-Rivières, CJRC Gatineau and the Radiomutuel network), through the transfer of all of the issued and outstanding shares from Radiomutuel Inc., the parent company of Mutual Broadcasting Canada Limited, to Communications Radiomutuel Inc., a corporation ultimately controlled by Normand Beauchamp and Paul-Emile Beaulne. Radiomutuel Inc. and Communications Radiomutuel Inc. would then amalgamate into one company, to be known as Communications Radiomutuel Inc., and a share issue of subordinate Class A voting shares of the amalgamated company, representing an aggregate consideration of $12 million, would be offered to the public. Ultimately, the ownership structure of Communications Radiomutuel Inc. would be as follows: 130170 Canada Inc. (a holding company owned equally by Beauchamp and Beaulne) 63.4%, and the public, 36.6%. The company had been owned by the family of the late Raymond Crepault. Before the sale, Normand Beauchamp was the company’s president and Paul Emile Beauline was executive vice president.

Louise Hurtubise became sales manager for CKMF and CJMS.

On September 11, 1986, the CRTC published an application by the licensee to amend the broadcasting licence for CKMF-FM by reducing the level of French-language vocal music broadcast from 65% to 55%. The Commission noted that this application had been submitted as a result of Public Notice CRTC 1986-67 dated March 19, 1986 entitled “French-language Popular Music”, in which the Commission stated that it was willing to authorize, on an interim basis and under certain conditions, applications by licensees of FM stations to reduce their authorized level of French-language vocal music from 65% to 55%. The Commission gave careful consideration to all the information at its disposal, in particular, the unique problems faced by stations operating in the rock and dance formats in obtaining French-language recordings, the competitive position of CKMF-FM in the Montreal market, the licensee’s achievements in promoting Canadian talent, and its efforts to comply with its commitments regarding French-language vocal music. Accordingly, on January 29, 1987, the Commission decided to approve the proposal to reduce the authorized level of French-language vocal music broadcast by CKMF-FM from 65% to 55% for a period expiring March 31, 1989. The Commission would require the licensee to submit, on a weekly basis from the date of the present decision, self-assessment reports on the level of French-language vocal music broadcast by CKMF-FM. The Commission intended to study the station’s programming in the near future in order to review its compliance. 

The CRTC again turned down CKMF’s request to delete traditional and special interest music programming. Two similar requests were denied in the past, with the Commission saying it viewed with grave concern the company’s repeated failure to comply with this aspect of its Promise of Performance. CKMF-FM would be required to continue to submit weekly performance reports. 

By this time, CKMF was operating with a power of 41,400 watts.

The CRTC gave Radiomutuel Inc. permission to continue to operate its French-language FM satellite network originating from CKMF-FM. The network, which provided nearly 65 hours a week of programming has operated with temporary authority since March of 1990.
 

The CRTC had concerns with a number of Radiomutuel stations. In the case of CKMF and its sister station CJMS 1280 it was too few French-language vocals.

CJMS-AM left the air.

CKMF was given approval to operate a transitional digital radio undertaking, using the Eureka-147 D.A.B. system. The transmitter would be located on Mount Royal and operate on 1452,816 MHz with an effective isotropic radiated power of 11,724 watts.

Astral Communications inc. purchased Radiomutuel inc. 

On July 6 the CRTC renewed CKFM-FM’s licence until August 31, 2014. Conditions: The licensee shall make a basic annual contribution to Canadian content development. The licensee shall allocate 60% of this basic annual CCD contribution to the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) or MUSICACTION. 

In August, Astral’s chain of “Energie FM” stations changed their name to “NRJ” (pronounced Energie in French). The change was part of a licensing deal with NRJ-FM in France.

On August 28, the CRTC renewed the transitional digital radio licence of CKMF-DR-1.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CKMF-DR-1 to April 30, 2012.

On April 23, the CRTC administratively renewed the broadcasting licence for digital radio programming undertaking CKMF-DR-1 until August 31, 2012.

Since September 3, Astral’s five radio stations, NRJ Montréal 94.3, 107,3 Rouge fm, CJAD 800 AM, Virgin Radio 96 and CHOM 97 7, had been broadcasting from the same address, thereby making Astral Radio Montreal Canada’s largest private radio broadcasting centre. Over the past year, Astral Radio had made major investments in its Montreal headquarters in order to make state-of-the-art technology an integral part of its infrastructure. The Astral Radio English-language stations (CJAD 800 AM, Virgin Radio 96 and CHOM 97 7) left their studios on Fort Street to join their French-language counterparts (NRJ Montréal 94.3 and 107,3 Rouge fm) at 1717 René-Lévesque Boulevard East. Astral Radio’s five Montreal stations were now united under one roof, sharing cutting-edge technology in their exceptionally modern and attractive new premises. In addition to uniting the strengths of the five stations, this endeavor brought stations, shows and radio personalities together under one roof.

On June 27, 2013, after a previous such application had been denied in 2012, the CRTC approved an application by Astral Media Inc. to sell its pay and specialty television channels, conventional television stations and radio stations to BCE Inc., including CKMF-FM.

In February, CKMF moved from Contemporary Hits to Alternative Rock, but keeping the NRJ name.

The ten NRJ stations in Quebec were rebranded as Énergie on August 24. Programming remained Pop Rock hits. CKMF changed from NRJ 94.3 to ENERGIE 94.3.

In the spring, CKMF changed format from Modern AC to CHR, keeping the Energie 94.3 name.

Bell Media announced in June that it would move almost the entire Énergie 94.3 talent lineup over to sister station Rouge FM 107.3, starting August 14.