CHEQ-FM

On July 31, Jacques Vachon on behalf of a company to be incorporated, was granted a licence for a new AM station at Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce. The station would broadcast on 1360 kHz with power of 10,000 watts day and 5,000 atts night (directional).

CJVL signed on the air on December 12.

Couméli Inc. sold Clival Inc. (owner of CJVL) to Radio Beauce Inc. (Nelson Jalbert).

On July 25, approval was given for the transfer of 333 1/3 common shares of Clival Inc. (owner of CJVL) from Miville Vachon to Jacques and Philippe Vachon, on an equal basis; and the subsequent transfer of 100% of Clival by Jacques & Philippe Vachon to Coumelie Inc., a company controlled by Rene Coulombe. The new owner also operated CFLS in nearby Levis. 

On September 16, Gestion Overtime inc. was given approval to purchase CJVL from Radio Beauce inc. The station was also given approval to move to the FM band, operating on 101.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 4,677 watts.

CHEQ-FM signed on the air, replacing CJVL-AM.

On August 16 the CRTC approved the application by 9079-3670 Quebec inc. to acquire CHEQ-FM from Gestion Overtime inc. The Commission notes that the applicant did not propose any tangible benefits; CHEQ-FM has been unprofitable over the three years preceding filing of this application. In accordance with its policy for commercial radio, the Commission will forego benefit requirements for this station. The Commission notes the important benefit associated with this transaction, that being the maintenance of CHEQ-FM as a viable, local radio service. The applicant intends to broadcast 126 hours of local programming per week. Of this total, 21 hours will be spoken word programming and will include 8 hours of local news (information and sports). 

On May 17 the CRTC approved the transfer of ownership and control of 9079-3670 Quebec inc. from Jacques Poulin to 9174-8004 Quebec inc., a corporation owned by a group of minority shareholders and controlled by a board of directors. 

On August 19 the CRTC approved the following technical changes for CHEQ-FM: frequency from 101.3 MHz to 101.5 MHz; increase in average effective radiated power from 4,677 watts to 26,000 watts (maximum ERP would increase from 4,677 watts to 100,000 watts); and increase in effective height of the antenna above average terrain from 24 metres to 65.3 metres. CHEQ-FM told the Commission that these changes would enable it to improve coverage in the existing service area and reach rural listeners. The changes would also make the station more competitive with Quebec stations received in its service area. 

On June 30, the CRTC renewed the broadcasting licence for the French-language commercial radio station CHEQ-FM Sainte-Marie de Beauce from 1 July 2010 to 31 August 2013. This short-term licence renewal will enable the Commission to review, at an earlier date, the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 and its conditions of licence. In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2009-786, the Commission stated that the licensee may have failed to comply with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, which relates to the provision of annual returns, for the 2007 and 2008 broadcast years. The Commission also stated that the licensee may have failed to comply with its condition of licence relating to contributions to Canadian talent development for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 broadcast years.

The CRTC approved the change in the effective control of 9174-8004 Québec inc. from a control exercised by its board of directors to a control exercised by Richard Speer, through Attraction Radio inc. 9174-8004 Québec was the licensee of CHEQ-FM Sainte-Marie de Beauce (not yet on the air).

On August 24, CHEQ moved from 101.3 to 101.5 MHz.

In March, CHEQ changed format from Adult Contemporary (FM 101.5) to Contemporary Hits (O 101.5).

In August, the CRTC approved the change of effective control of Groupe Attraction Radio. The move transferred majority ownership of the company’s 14 Quebec radio stations to Sylvain Chamberland, the company’s executive VP and CEO. He would hold a 50.25% stake in the new ownership structure. Chamberland was recruited by Attraction’s founder Richard Speer in 2011 to set up the radio division.

In January, Attraction Radio became Arsenal Media Group.