Corus Québec
Corus Québec was a French-language Canadian news and talk radio network serving much of Quebec.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Corus Québec was a French-language radio network operated in Quebec by Toronto-based Corus Entertainment. It developed from Radiomédia, a network created in 1994 after the merger of the Télémédia and Radiomutuel radio operations. The network inherited a difficult and concentrated Quebec AM-radio market in which several competing stations had closed during the merger process. The surviving stations were organized under the Radiomédia identity, with programming and news services distributed across major Quebec markets. Corus Entertainment acquired the relevant Quebec radio properties from Astral Media in 2005. Astral had previously acquired Télémédia's Quebec radio assets but was required to divest the AM stations because of ownership-concentration concerns. Once Corus completed the transaction, it renamed Radiomédia as Corus Québec. The group combined the former Radiomédia news operation outside Montreal with the newsroom of Corus-owned all-news station CINF, branded Info 690, to create CorusNouvelles. In Montreal, however, Corus dismantled CKAC's local newsroom and shifted news production toward the Info 690 operation, a decision that attracted criticism because CKAC's newsroom had been highly regarded by listeners. The network's principal stations covered a broad range of formats. CHMP-FM in Montreal, officially licensed to Longueuil, served as a talk-radio flagship. CFOM-FM in Quebec City carried the Souvenirs Garantis classic-hits format. CKAC in Montreal became associated with sports talk, while CINF operated as an all-news station. Affiliates and associated stations extended the network's reach to places including Lévis, Saint-Jérôme, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay, Rimouski, New Carlisle and Alma. Some stations were owned directly by Corus, while others participated as affiliates. In 2009, Corus announced that four stations would introduce blocks of classic-hits programming modeled on CFOM-FM. The change was structured to preserve the stations' news-and-talk classification for Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission purposes, with music scheduled during specified daytime periods rather than replacing the broader regulatory format entirely. This reflected the network's attempt to balance audience-oriented programming changes with the regulatory framework governing its licences. Corus Québec's independent existence ended as Corus exited most of its Quebec radio operations. On April 30, 2010, Corus announced an agreement to sell all of its Quebec stations except CKRS-FM to Cogeco for $80 million, stating that the Quebec stations were less profitable than its other Canadian radio holdings. The transaction required regulatory approval and remedies for ownership limits in several markets. CKRS was subsequently sold separately to Radio Saguenay. The CRTC approved the main transaction in December 2010, subject to divestitures. After the transfer, the CorusNouvelles service was reorganized as Cogeco Nouvelles, with CHMP-FM remaining its flagship. The Corus Québec name therefore became a historical identity for a Quebec radio network rather than an active consumer brand.
History
Corus Québec originated in the restructuring of Quebec's AM-radio sector during the 1990s. On September 30, 1994, Télémédia and Radiomutuel merged their relevant operations, leading to the closure of six AM stations in Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières and Chicoutimi. The closures were remembered in Quebec radio circles as “le vendredi noir,” or “Black Friday.” In most markets, the station with the stronger surviving signal remained on air, although the outcome did not always correspond to the station with the longer history or most recent ratings success. The surviving properties were organized under the Radiomédia network. Ownership was initially shared by Télémédia and Radiomutuel for the network's principal stations, while each company retained additional individual stations and continued operating separate FM networks. Radiomédia provided a common French-language news service while its owners competed in other segments of the Quebec radio market. Astral Media, the successor to Radiomutuel, acquired Télémédia's Quebec radio assets in 2001. Competition authorities required Astral to divest the AM properties because the combined holdings raised concentration concerns. After unsuccessful earlier attempts to dispose of the assets, Astral reached a transaction with Corus Entertainment. The deal received approval in early 2005 and was completed in May. Corus renamed Radiomédia as Corus Québec and integrated the network with its existing Montreal all-news station, CINF, known as Info 690. The company combined the former Radiomédia news staff outside Montreal with the Info 690 team to form CorusNouvelles. At the same time, Corus closed CKAC's Montreal newsroom and incorporated its news operation into the new structure. The decision was controversial among listeners and observers because CKAC's newsroom had a stronger reputation than the Info 690 newsroom in Montreal. In January 2010, news production was moved to CHMP-FM after CINF and its English-language sister station CINW closed. The network's stations used several formats. CFOM-FM in Quebec City carried the Souvenirs Garantis classic-hits service. CHMP-FM, licensed to Longueuil and serving Montreal, was the main talk station. CKAC in Montreal focused on sports talk, and CINF provided all-news programming. Other Corus-owned or affiliated stations served regional markets including Lévis, Saint-Jérôme, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières and Saguenay. Affiliate relationships also connected the network with stations in Rimouski, New Carlisle and Alma, although ownership and programming arrangements varied. In February 2009, Corus announced plans to add classic-hits blocks to four stations using CFOM-FM as the model. The blocks ran during defined daytime windows, allowing the stations to continue being treated as news-and-talk services for CRTC purposes. This was a programming and positioning adjustment rather than a complete abandonment of the network's news-and-talk identity. Corus later decided to leave most of the Quebec radio market. In April 2010, it announced the planned sale of all Corus Québec stations except CKRS-FM to Cogeco for $80 million. Corus said the Quebec properties were less profitable than its radio holdings elsewhere in Canada. Because Cogeco's existing holdings could exceed common-ownership limits, the transaction required regulatory conditions and station divestitures. CKRS was sold separately to Radio Saguenay, with approval reported in November 2010. The CRTC approved the principal Cogeco transaction on December 17, 2010, requiring Cogeco to arrange additional divestitures. In 2011, CFEL-FM and CJEC-FM were sold to Leclerc Communication. Another station, CJTS-FM, ceased operations after Cogeco could not find a buyer by the applicable deadline. The network's news operation was subsequently renamed Cogeco Nouvelles. These transactions ended Corus Québec as an operating network and transferred its principal stations and services into Cogeco's Quebec radio structure.
- 2011
Additional divestitures and shutdown follow
[1]CFEL-FM and CJEC-FM were sold to Leclerc Communication, while CJTS-FM ceased operations after no buyer was found by the deadline.
- 2010
Corus announces sale to Cogeco
[1]Corus announced the planned sale of most Corus Québec stations to Cogeco for $80 million, excluding CKRS-FM.
- 2010
CKRS is sold separately
[1]CKRS-FM was sold to Radio Saguenay, a local business group, in a transaction subsequently approved by the CRTC.
- 2010
CRTC approves the main station transfer
[1]The CRTC approved Cogeco's acquisition subject to conditions addressing common-ownership limits.
- 2009
Classic-hits programming is expanded
[2]Four stations announced scheduled classic-hits programming blocks based on CFOM-FM's format while retaining news-and-talk status for regulatory purposes.
- 2005
Corus takes control and adopts the Corus Québec name
[1]Corus Entertainment completed its acquisition of the relevant Quebec AM stations and renamed the Radiomédia network Corus Québec.
- 2005
CorusNouvelles is established
[1]Corus combined the former Radiomédia news team with the Info 690 newsroom to create the CorusNouvelles service.
- 2001
Astral acquires Télémédia's Quebec radio properties
[1]Astral Media acquired the Quebec radio assets of Télémédia, creating ownership-concentration concerns that later led to divestitures.
- 1994
Radiomédia is created
[1]The network was formed after Télémédia and Radiomutuel merged relevant Quebec radio operations, a restructuring accompanied by the closure of six AM stations.
Products and positioning
A Quebec-wide French-language radio network combining news, talk, sports, all-news and selected classic-hits programming, with a strong presence in major urban and regional markets.
Radio network news service · 2005
CorusNouvelles
CorusNouvelles was the network's French-language news service. It combined the former Radiomédia news operation outside Montreal with the Info 690 newsroom in Montreal. After CINF closed, production shifted to CHMP-FM in January 2010. Following the station sale to Cogeco, the service was reorganized as Cogeco Nouvelles.
Talk radio
CHMP-FM 98.5
CHMP-FM, officially licensed to Longueuil and serving the Montreal market, was one of Corus Québec's principal talk-radio outlets. It later became the production base for the network news service and remained the flagship when CorusNouvelles was converted into Cogeco Nouvelles.
Classic-hits radio
CFOM-FM 102.9
CFOM-FM in Quebec City carried the Souvenirs Garantis classic-hits format. Its programming was used as the model for classic-hits blocks introduced on additional Corus Québec stations in 2009.
Sports talk radio
CKAC 730
CKAC in Montreal was a major Corus Québec sports-talk outlet. Corus also closed the station's local newsroom after acquiring the Quebec properties, integrating news production with the broader CorusNouvelles operation.
All-news radio
CINF 690
CINF in Montreal operated as an all-news station under the Info 690 identity. Its newsroom was combined with the former Radiomédia team to establish CorusNouvelles, and the station later closed in 2010.
Brand decisions
2010
Sell most Quebec radio stations to CogecoM&ABackground
Corus stated that its Quebec radio stations were less profitable than its stations elsewhere in Canada.
Action taken
Corus agreed to sell all Corus Québec stations except CKRS-FM to Cogeco, subject to CRTC approval and ownership-related conditions.
Aftermath
The CRTC approved the transaction with divestiture requirements. The network identity disappeared as the stations moved into Cogeco's Quebec radio operations, and CorusNouvelles became Cogeco Nouvelles.
Announced transaction value. $80 million (2010 announced sale)
- Astral Media — Astral Media announced legal action, arguing that the transaction could give Cogeco an unfairly large position in the Montreal radio market.
2009
Add classic-hits blocks to selected stationsStrategyBackground
Corus sought to apply the successful CFOM-FM classic-hits model to additional stations while preserving their news-and-talk classification for regulatory purposes.
Action taken
The company scheduled classic-hits programming during defined daytime periods on four stations.
Aftermath
The stations continued to be treated as news-and-talk services for CRTC purposes, while their schedules gained a larger music component.
2005
Rebrand Radiomédia as Corus QuébecStrategyBackground
After acquiring the Quebec radio properties, Corus sought to place them under a unified corporate identity and integrate their news resources with CINF's Montreal operation.
Action taken
Corus renamed Radiomédia as Corus Québec and created CorusNouvelles by combining the former network newsroom with the Info 690 newsroom.
Aftermath
The reorganization established Corus Québec as Corus Entertainment's French-language Quebec radio network, although the closure of CKAC's local newsroom was criticized by listeners.
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