CJMS-AM

The CBC Board of Governors approved an AM application by La Bonne Chanson Inc. The station would be programmed as a “cultural” station according to Rev. Charles-Emile Gadbois, head of the licensee company. He said it would be patterned after WNYC and WQXR in New York City. It would be a French-language station operating with 5,000 watts of power on a frequency of 1280 kHz. Approval was given for the transfer of one common share and the issuance of 59 common and 190 preferred shares in La Bonne Chanson Inc. (the station was still not on the air at this point). CJMS began broacasting on November 3. The station operated on a frequency of 1280 kHz with a power of 1,000 watts. CJMS operated as an independent station with no network affiliation. (another possible start date: January 14, 1954)

CJMS received approval for the operation of a 1,000 watt emergency transmitter.

Power increased January 10, to 5,000 watts day and night. The same directional pattern was used for day and night operation. On August 24, CJMS moved to a new studio location at 188 rue Dorchester. Paul Leduc was Program Director at CJMS. Lionel Morin was Managing Director. CJMS became a member of CARTB (CAB). The Canada Labour Relations Board certified NABET as bargaining agent for 21 employees of La Bonne Chanson Inc., operators of CJMS.

CJMS 1280 increased daytime power to 10,000 watts, using four 210 foot towers. Night power remained at 5,000 watts. The station was now using different directional patterns for day and night operation. Ad slogans: The NEW CJMS Montreal – 1280 on the dial. / CJMS Radio 1280 Montreal has completely changed the radio rating picture in Canada’s largest city. Ring out the news. The listening habits have changed in Montreal. / The “new” CJMS serving the largest city in Canada. 24 hours every day. 5000 watts day and night. The “new” CJMS Montreal – 1280 – where everything is “new” except the call letters. The “new” CJMS. The “new” sound in Montreal. On the move. Johnny Nadon was manager of CJMS. Frenchy Jarraud was morning host. Bob Aiken joined the CJMS sales staff. For the last two years he had been with CFRB sales in Toronto and with CKEY before that. Jean Boulu was program director. Guy Langis did news. CJMS added over 2,000 square feet to their studio facility on Dorchester Street. The expansion included five new offices, an additional news room and extra mailing and promotion facilities. CJMS was also adding another studio and two more recording studios and would be taking on at least eleven new staff members as a result of the expansion.

The corporate name changed to CJMS Radio Montreal Ltee., July 25, with Raymond Crepault as the majority shareholder CJMS. The morning show was called Paris-Montreal Express hosted by Jean Lajoie. Gil LaRoche joined the national sales staff at CJMS. Ads: Reaching over 3,000,000 French Canadians 24 hours each day – CJMS 1280 – 10,000 watts day. / Now 10,000 watts designed for easy tuning – CJMS 1280 in French Montreal. Raymond Crepault (OBCI) applied to operate a new French-language TV station (channel 10) in Montreal. The licence was awarded to Paul L’Anglais & Associates. An English licence was awarded to Canadian Marconi (CFCF). Print Ads: To reach the top of French Montreal CJMS will take you there. CJMS 1280 on the dial. 1700 Berri Street. / The Cold Facts. Leading French daily in Montreal – daily circulation* – 261,453. CJMS Radio – the voice of French Canada in Greater Montreal daily circulation** – total persons reached – 489,337. The HOT buy in Montreal – CJMS – 1280 on your dial. (*La Presse: ABC Publisher’s statement, average for 6 months ending 31/3/60. **Elliott-Haynes: Daily circulation, Summer, 1960).   Lucien “Frenchie” Jarraud was on-air at CJMS. Louise de Broin was appointed head of the CJMS public relations staff. Raymond Crepault, president of CJMS, announced the appointment of Paul Coucke as chief editor and head of the news department at CJMS. He had been on the editorial staff of “La Patrie” for ten years. A blessing ceremony took place in September for the new CJMS studios and offices at 1700 Berri Street.

Print Ad: CJMS Radio 1280 – La Voix du Canada Francais a Montreal – The Voice of French Canada in Greater Montreal.

CJMS-FM began broadcasting in May. On August 7, CJMS 1280 increased daytime power to 50,000 watts, using six 208 foot towers.Night power remained 5,000 watts. Different day and night directional patterns were used.

CJMS increased night-time power. It now operated with 50,000 watts full-time. A. R. Crepault was President of CJMS Radio Montreal Ltee. Roch Demers was General Manager of CJMS. CJMS was known as the Voice of French Canada in Quebec.

Roch Demers was executive vice president.

Michel Desrochers was on-air. Paul Coucke was news director. Robert Arcand left CJMS to do on-air work at the new (co-owned) CJRC in Ottawa.

Mutual Broadcasting Ltd. was headed by Raymond Crepault. Appointments and changes effective January 14: Roch Demers had been manager of CJMS. He was now executive vice president of Mutual Broadcasting Ltd. Raymond Lanctot was named controller of the company. Serges Raymond, who had managed CJRS Sherbrooke since it opened in 1967 would now manage CJMS. Paul-Emile Beauline, who was program director and production manager at CJRC Ottawa, was named program director of CJMS. Paul Coucke, CJMS news director added the new duties of station editorialist. Pierre Lambert, became CJRC (Ottawa-Hull) program director. He had been in the CJMS Montreal creative department. Andre Rancourt, national sales manager of CJMS, was named general manager of CJTR Trois-Rivieres. Gaston Bergeron of Stephens & Towndrow Co. Ltd., replaced Rancourt at CJMS. Charles Couture became retail sales manager at CJMS. With plans for UHF-TV, Gilbert Herard, program director of CJMS, was named Mutual Broadcasting’s special co-ordinator for television.

On December 21, the transfer of CJMS Radio Monteal Ltee and Radiodiffusion Mutuelle Ltee by Raymond Crepault, Pierre Crepault and Elise Crepault to Corporation Civitas Ltee was approved.

CJMS was authorized to change its daytime radiation pattern on February 12.

On January 27, Civitas Corp. Ltd. (Telemutual Ltee) was given approval to acquire CJMS Radio Montreal Ltee (no change in control).

One of the five CJMS towers was toppled in September when vandals cut the guy wires.

Radiomutuel had its radio network licence renewed for two years, but was told to meet its commitment to provide news services. The network was established on the premise that it would offer its stations improved national and international news coverage, leaving each affiliate free to concentrate on local news. Radiomutuel was instructed to broadcast at least one hour a week of public affairs, in addition to its 7 ½ hours of news. It was also told to reduce music content to three hours.

Michael Arpin of the CRTC joined Civitas Corp. to handle government relations and corporate development.

Alain Gourd, vice-chair of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, was named president of Mutual Broadcasting Ltd., and vice-president radio for Civitas Corp. Ltd. by Ed Prevost. Georges Lebel was named to vice president and general manager of CJMS.

It was confirmed the estate of Raymond Crepault was attempting to divest itself of some of its holdings, including CKMW-CFNY and their film production house. They planned to retain the Quebec radio stations and the Radio Mutuel network. As a result of the expected shrinkage of Civitas Corp., Ed Prevost resigned as president. 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 dissolution 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)

Norman Beauchamp became president of Radio Mutuel and Paul-Emile Baulne became vice president. Both had been with Telemedia. Jacques Duhamel, who had headed RM’s Quebec City operations, was now president of CJMS-AM Montreal and CJRP-AM Quebec. Yves Guerrard, previously president of the Montreal operations, was now responsible for FM in Montreal, Quebec and Trois-Rivieres. CJMS began broadcasting in stereo using the Harris AMS system. Jacques Papin was named programming assistant at CJMS. Jacques Ouimette became director of communications for CJMS/CKMF-FM.

On August 28, approval was granted for the transfer of effective control of Mutual Broadcasting Canada Ltd. (CJMS and CKMF-FM 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 CJMS and CKMF-FM.

CJMS was given permission to make directional antenna changes.

Both the Radiomutuel and Telemedia networks increased their programming hours to provide all-night service. RM would now schedule 73.5 hours weekly, while TM would have 82 hours weekly. Radiomutuel flagship CJMS had moved to a talk format – 87 hours weekly, with only 10 hours of music.

The CRTC had concerns with a number of Radiomutuel stations. In the case of CJMS and its sister station CKMF-FM, it was too few French-language vocals. On September 30, Telemedia Communications and Radiomutuel merged their AM operations in Quebec, closing CJMS, CJRP, CJMT, CJRS, CJTR and CKCH. The two combined because they could no longer afford to compete with each other. The merger was subject to CRTC approval, but the six stations left the air on this date and the licenses were turned in to the Commission. The merged company was called RadioMedia. The two companys still ran their FM stations separately. The CRTC revoked the licences for the six stations (including CJMS Montreal) on November 2.