CJTR-AM

CKTR began broadcasting on February 6. It operated on a frequency of 1350 kHz with 1,000 watts of power (single day and night directional pattern). The “TR” in the call sign: Trois-Rivieres.

The application to transfer ownership of CKTR from CKTR Ltee to Champion Savings Corp. and Lloyd Rogers Champion was denied. The CBC Board said when the application was made by Mr. Rufiange for the original licence in September of 1953, it was granted with the understanding that he would keep control of the company.

CKTR operated as an independent station with no network affiliation. It was owned by CKTR Ltee (J. Fernand Rufiange 99.8%, Andre Rufiange 0.1% and John G. McD Brown 0.1%). J. Fernand Rufiange was president of the company and manager of CKTR.

CKTR Ltee sold CKTR Radio to CKTR (1958) Ltee.

CKTR received approval to increase power from 1,000 watts full-time to 5,000 watts day and 1,000 watts at night, and to change frequency from 1350 (DA-1) to 1150 KHz (DA-2). According to a print ad, CKTR was to be 5,000 watts as of October 15.

Beaudoin was an announcer at CKTR.

CKTR applied to increase power from 5,000 watts to 10,000 watts day and 5,000 watts at night. The application was deferred as the BBG wanted to investigate the possibility of the necessary arrangements being made to allow power increases at both Trois-Rivieres stations. Both were now 5,000 watts but CHLN was at the low end of the dial while CKTR was in the middle, at 1150. CHLN was getting superior coverage as a result. Last year, CHLN’s application for 10,000 watts was denied by the BBG following CKTR’s objections. This year the tables were reversed as CKTR was seeking 10 kW with CHLN objecting. Later in the year, power increase applications for both stations were approved.

Jacques Hebert was promotion director. Marcel Beaudoin as an announcer.

Print Ad: The St. Maurice Valley is completely covered up and down – CFLM La Tuque – 1000 watts – “Exclusive”. For an area population – 25,000. CKTR – Trois-Rivieres – 5000 watts – “First Anytime”. Quebec 3rd market – buying power $872,000,000.

By this time, CKTR was operating with 10,000 watts day and 1,000 watts night. Paul Aboud was President of CKTR (1958) Ltee. and C. Couture was manager of CKTR.

On May 28, CKTR (1958) Ltd. was given permission to transfer all the issued shares of capital stock to Mutual Broadcasting Ltd. Mutual was controlled by Raymond Crepault, licensee of CJMS Montreal and new stations in Sherbrooke and Ottawa.

The call letters changed to CJTR.

On March 28, CKTR 1958 Ltd. was authorized to change CJTR’s frequency and power as follows: 1150 to 1140 kHz, 10,000 / 1,000 watts DA-2 to 20,000 watts DA-2, using a new transmitter site.

Mutual Broadcasting Ltd. was headed by Raymond Crepault.

Appointments and changes effective January 14: Andre Rancourt, national sales manager of CJMS Montreal, was named general manager of CJTR. Jacques Duffresne became director of programs and production at CJTR.

1982
Radiomutuel purchased a 49% interest in CIGB-FM.

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).

Andre Cote became CJTR’s general manager.

On August 28, approval was granted for the transfer of effective control of Mutual Broadcasting Canada Ltd. (CJTR Trois-Rivieres, CKMF-FM and CJMS Montreal, CHIK-FM and CJRP Quebec City, 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.

CJTR was given approval to increase the day-time power from 10,000 to 50,000 watts.

Radiomutuel acquired the remaining 51% interest in CIGB-FM.

On September 30, Telemedia and Radiomutuel merged their AM operations because they could no longer afford to compete with each other. As a result, they closed CJMS Montreal, CJRP Quebec, CJMT Chicoutimi, CJRS Sherbrooke, CJTR Trois-Rivieres,  and CKCH Hull. All six stations left the air on this date and the licenses were turned in to the CRTC. The merger produced a new company known as RadioMedia, but the two companies still ran their FM stations separately.  The CRTC revoked the licences on November 2.