CHOE-FM

On April 5, Les Communications Matane Inc., owner of CHRM-AM, was given approval to open a new FM station at Matane, operating on 95.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 12,730 watts. The new station would offer a soft rock format – 20% instrumental – targeted to the 20 to 44 age group. CHRM-AM would move from a contemporary MOR to a more traditional MOR format. A competing application from Power Broadcasting for a rebroadcaster of CIKI-FM Rimouski was denied. Power did proposed to originate 15 hours weekly of local programming though.

CHOE 95.3 signed on.

Sister station CHRM moved to the FM dial as CHRM-FM.

CHOE was granted a power increase, from 12,730 watts to 30,000 watts.

On March 12, the CRTC approved CHOE-FM’s application to change its authorized contours by decreasing the average ERP from 30,000 to 14,600 watts.

The CRTC approved the change of ownership of CHOE-FM from Les Communications Matane to Attraction Media.

CHOE-FM rebranded to O 95.3.

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.