CILM-FM

On March 21, the CRTC approved in part an application by Carl Gilbert, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, for a broadcasting licence to operate a new French-language, commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Saguenay (zone La Baie). Within 90 days of the date of this decision, the applicant must submit an amendment to its application proposing the use of a frequency other than 99.9 MHz (channel 260A) that is acceptable to both the Commission and the Department of Industry. Th applicant had proposed an effective radiated power of 6,000 watts. Gilbert proposed a pop rock music format. All programming would be local, with the exception of five hours of national and international information originating from the Nouvelles Télé-Radio (NTR) network. The applicant proposed to broadcast 120 minutes of local and regional information and a 60-minute public affairs magazine on Saturday mornings summarizing the week’s events in La Baie. The new station would also air two classical music programs on Saturdays and Sundays, and one program Monday to Thursday titled Place à la Relève, showcasing new artists in La Baie, Bas-Saguenay and elsewhere in the region by means of interviews with songs from the artists’ repertoires. The licence would expire 31 August 2013.
 

On August 22, the CRTC approved the application by Carl Gilbert, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, to operate the new French-language commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Saguenay (zone La Baie) at 105.5 MHz (channel 288) with an average effective radiated power of 6,000 watts.

CKGS-FM began broadcasting on March 19. 

CKGS-FM became known as “KOOL FM”.

On December 13, the CRTC denied the application by CKGS-FM for the addition of a transmitter (105.9 MHz with ERP of 57 watts, maximum ERP of 250 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 51.1 metres) in Mont Ste-Claire to rebroadcast the programming of CKGS-FM to the population of Chicoutimi and Jonquière.  

The licensee indicated that the objective of its application was to address a technical problem, which would permit it to adequately serve the population of Chicoutimi and Jonquière and to ensure better reception quality of CKGS-FM in these localities and their surroundings. Although the Commission recognized the precarious financial situation of CKGS-FM, it considered that an increase in its listening share would be to the detriment of the market’s local stations that serve the population located in the proposed service area for the new transmitter. Furthermore, since the financial situation of these other stations was also precarious and depended in large part on advertising revenue from Chicoutimi and the Saguenay region, the Commission was of the view that any loss of revenue could exacerbate the situation and further weaken those stations.

On July 3, the CRTC approved the application by 9202-1617 Québec inc. to amend the licence for CKGS-FM in order to modify the station’s technical parameters by changing the antenna’s transmission site, by changing the frequency from 105.5 MHz (channel 288A) to 105.7 MHz (channel 289A), by decreasing the average effective radiated power from 6,000 to 2,930 watts (maximum ERP of 6,000 watts), by changing the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional and by increasing the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 18.3 to 32.87 metres.  

The licensee stated that the station’s significant financial losses were due to the station’s technical problems. They said approval of this application would enable it to better serve listeners residing within the station’s authorized contours. The station’s audience in the primary market and residing in the La Baie area regularly commuted approximately 13 kilometres to the Chicoutimi area. According to the applicant, listeners commuting by car did not receive a quality signal in a large part of the secondary contour. Furthermore, the applicant added that a number of merchants had cancelled their advertising campaigns, attributing this to poor signal reception in the secondary contour. The applicant was therefore forced to adjust its advertising prices.

The CRTC approved temporary delegation and change to the effective control of 9202-1617 Québec inc. from a control exercised by its board of directors to a control by Attraction Média Inc., a corporation controlled by Mr. Richard Speer. 9202-1617 Québec was the licensee of CKGS-FM La Baie.

The CRTC approved the change to the ownership and effective control of 9202-1617 Québec inc. through the transfer of the shares of 9202-1617 to Attraction Radio inc., a corporation controlled by Richard Speer. 9202-1617 was licensee of CKGS-FM.

On February 9, CKGS-FM became CILM-FM and joined the Rythme FM network.

In late August, CILM-FM flipped format and branding from Hot Adult Contemporary Rythme FM to CHR oriented O 98.3.

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.

On December 19, the CRTC renewed CILM’s licence to August 31, 2024. This short-term licence renewal would allow for an earlier review of the licensee’s compliance with regulatory requirements. It was determined that the licensee was in non-compliance with regard to Canadian content development contributions.

In January, Attraction Radio became Arsenal Media Group.