CKLD-FM

CKLD-FM, plaisir 105.5, Thetford Mines

Arsenal Media Group

StationYearFreq.PowerOwner/Info
CKLD-FM2019107.157,200Arsenal Media Group
CKLD-FM2015107.157,200Attraction Radio inc.
CKLD-FM1998107.157,200Radio Mégantic Ltée.
CKLD-AM1950133010,000Radio Mégantic Ltée.

1950

CKLD began broadcasting on February 12, operating on 1230 kHz with a power of 250 watts. CKLD served the Thetford Mines area – the world’s richest asbestos mining centre. 

1952

Approval was given for the transfer of CKLD from La Compagnie de Radio-Diffusion de Thetford Mines Ltee to Radio Thetford Ltee. Later in the year, approval was given for the transfer of six common shares.

CKLD became a CAB member.

1957

CKLD was an affiliate of the CBC’s French language network and the French Radio Association. The station was owned by Radio Megantic Ltee (H. Lagueux 93.8%, Mme. H. Lagueux 0.5%, Guy Vachon 1.5% and four other shareholders 4.2%). Henri Lagueux was president of the company and manager of CKLD.

1963

CKLD was granted approval to increase power to 1,000 watts day and 250 watts night.

1965

Francois Labbe was president of Radio Megantic Ltee and manager of CKLD. 

1967

The BBG approved a new station at Lac Megantic. The bulk of its programming would come from CKLD at first but gradually the new station would become fully independent. A few hours of local programming would be offered daily. The new station would broadcast on 1340 kHz with a full-time power of 250 watts (directional during the day). It would be a CBC affiliate.

Undated

CJLP Disraeli is launched as a rebroadcaster of CKLD

CKLD moved to 1330 kHz and increased power to 10,000 watts.

1972

On March 21, Radio Megantic Ltee was licenced to operate a network which would link CKLD, CKFL Lac Megantic, CFDA Victoriaville and a proposed new AM station at Plessisville. The network would be called Radio Apalache.

1976

CKLD received approval to change its frequency to 1330 kHz and increase full-time power to 10,000 watts. Radio Megantic was also granted permission for a rebroadcast transmitter at Disraeli, using CKLD’s existing 1230 kHz frequency with a power of 1,000 watts day and 250 watts at night.

1979

On June 8, Radio Megantic Ltee was authorized to disaffiliate CKLD and CJLP from Radio-Canada and to join Le Resseau Telemedia. Radio-Canada was granted FM licences to serve these communities and would maintain a modified affiliation agreement with Radio Megantic until FM receiver ownership was at sufficient level in the region.

1998

On September 29, CKLD was granted a move to the FM dial, operating on 105.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts.

1999

CKLD moved to the FM dial. The old CKLD-AM went silent on August 31.

2000

Radio Mégantic was given approval to add a transmitter at Disraeli to rebroadcast the programs of CKLD. The new station would replace CJLP-AM and operate on 107.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 57.2 watts. 

2003

On January 23 the CRTC approved an application by Radio Mégantic ltee, owned by François Labbé, for authority to implement a corporate reorganization that would modify the direct control of Radio Megantic. Mégantic, the licensee of CKLD-FM Thetford Mines and its transmitter CJLP-FM Disraeli, is part of a Quebec radio network known as Réseau des Appalaches. The network also includes Radio Victoriaville ltée, the licensee of CFDA-FM Victoriaville, and Réseau des Appalaches (FM) ltée, the licensee of CFJO-FM and CFJO-FM-1 Lac Mégantic. Mégantic holds and controls 58.54% of the voting rights for Victoriaville, and shares equally in the ownership of Appalaches with Victoriaville. The proposed reorganization involves the transfer of the 79.01% voting interest in Mégantic currently held by the management corporation Gestion 450 inc., which company is owned by François Labbé, to a new management firm to be incorporated, that will also be owned by Mr. Labbé, and is to be named Gestion des Appalaches inc. (Gesco). In a concurrent transaction, Gesco will also acquire Mr. Labbé’s direct holdings (9.75%) in Victoriaville. The Commission notes that ultimate control of the licensees participating in the Réseau des Appalaches will remain unchanged and will continue to be exercised by François Labbé. The Commission further notes that Mégantic’s control of Victoriaville has increased from 40% to 58.54% without the prior approval of the Commission. 

2010

On April 28, the CRTC approved the application by Radio Mégantic ltée to change the authorized contours of CJLP-FM Disraeli, the transmitter for the French-language radio programming undertaking CKLD-FM Thetford Mines, by increasing the average effective radiated power from 57.2 to 114.4 watts (maximum ERP from 104 to 208 watts with an effective height of the antenna above average terrain of -0.4 meters). The licensee stated that the proposed amendments would improve reception of CJLP-FM’s signal in the primary service area. Additionally, the licensee submitted that it wished to take into account the changes that the Department of Industry planned to make to the domestic interference protection criteria for FM stations set out in Broadcast Procedures and Rules – Part 3: Application Procedures and Rules for FM Broadcasting Undertakings effective 1 January 2011.

On May 28, the CRTC renewed the licence of CKLD-FM (including its transmitter CJLP-FM Disraeli) until August 31, 2016.

2015

On May 19, the CRTC approved the application by Attraction Radio inc. for authority to acquire the shares and change the effective control of Gestion Appalaches, the parent company of Radio Mégantic ltée (CKLD-FM Thetford Mines and its transmitter CJLP-FM Disraeli), Réseau des Appalaches (FM) ltée (CFJO-FM Thetford Mines and its transmitter CFJO-FM-1 Lac Mégantic), and Radio Victoriaville ltée (CFDA-FM Victoriaville).

Attraction Radio was owned by Attraction Média inc. (80%) and Ooük Management Inc. (20%) and controlled by Richard Speer. Gestion Appalaches was a corporation owned by François Labbé (90.91%), Annie Labbé (2.82%) and Fiducie familiale F. Labbé (6.27%). Effective control of Gestion Appalaches was exercised by François Labbé. Following the transaction, Gestion Appalaches would be wholly owned by Attraction Radio and controlled by Richard Speer.

To ensure compliance with the Common Ownership Policy, the Commission directed Attraction Radio, as a condition of approval, to file a technical change application by August 13, 2015 to reduce to under 5% the population included in the overlapping area of the primary contours of CKYQ-FM Plessisville and CFDA-FM Victoriaville, as well as to shut down the transmitter CKYQ-FM-1 Victoriaville.

2016

In September, CFDA Victoriaville ended its partial simulcast of CKLD.

2017

In July, CKLD changed branding from Passion Rock to plaisir 105.5.

2018

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.

2019

In January, Attraction Radio became Arsenal Media Group.

The story continues elsewhere…
Effective September 1st 2019, we will only be adding new material to these station histories in exceptional circumstances. Our intent to chronicle the early days of these radio and television stations has been achieved, and many new sources and technologies, from the CRTC website to Wikipedia, and others, are now regularly providing new information in these areas.

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