Rythme FM
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Type | Adult contemporary radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Cogeco |
| History | |
| Launch date | 1999 |
| Coverage | |
| Availability | FM: Quebec (Montreal, Quebec City, Saguenay, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Gatineau) |
| Links | |
| Website | Rythme FM |
Rythme FM is a network of French-language adult contemporary FM radio stations broadcasting in most major markets of Quebec. The network was created and owned by Cogeco.
The brand "Rythme FM" was introduced in January 1999 at CFGL-FM in the Montreal market, and the network was created after Cogeco received new licences in other markets in 2002 and 2003.
The Rythme FM network is in direct competition against Rouge FM; both networks offer a very similar product, with Rouge FM having a marginally hot AC-leaning sound compared to Rythme FM, which leans somewhat more towards oldies/classic hits.
On April 30, 2010, Cogeco announced it would purchase Corus Quebec's radio stations.[1] The sale was approved by the CRTC on December 17, 2010; one of the conditions, however, stipulated that Rythme FM outlet CJEC-FM in Quebec City must be sold to another party by December 2011.[2] On November 9, 2011, it was announced that Cogeco would sell CJEC-FM, as well as CFEL-FM, to Leclerc Communication Inc., a company owned by Quebec City businessman Jacques Leclerc, owner of Laura Secord Chocolates and Biscuits Leclerc.[3]
Following Leclerc's takeover of CJEC-FM, that station continued to carry Rythme FM's branding and networked programming until May 21, 2012, when it dropped its branding and programming in favour of its own programming, relaunched on June 20, 2012 as WKND 91.9.[4] As Cogeco opted to leave its other stations in Quebec City, CFOM-FM and CJMF-FM, as they are for the short term, it leaves the Quebec City area without a Rythme FM affiliate.
On August 16, 2011, CIME-FM in Saint-Jérôme became part of Rythme FM network and added programming from Rythme FM and also adopted imaging and slogan of Rythme FM, but kept its CIME branding.
On August 25, 2014, following an agreement with RNC Media, CHLX-FM Gatineau became an affiliate of Rythme FM, adopting its branding, becoming the first non-Cogeco station to affiliate with that network (other than CJEC-FM).[5] This will follow on March 9, 2015 with the rebranding of RNC-owned CHOA-FM in Rouyn-Noranda, expanding the Rythme FM network to the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region;[6] ironically, CHOA-FM was once an affiliate of Rythme FM's competitor, RockDétente (now Rouge FM), before rebranding to Couleur FM in the mid-2000s.
On November 26, 2014, it was announced that Attraction Radio stations CKRS-FM (later reassigned CILM-FM) 98.3 and CKGS-FM 105.5 in Saguenay will join the Rythme FM network beginning February 9, 2015; this followed the CRTC's approval to increase the amount of music hours for CKRS.[6][7] This would bring the Rythme FM affiliate and branding to every major market in Quebec, except Quebec City.
On August 22, 2016, CIME-FM, which adopted Rythme FM's logo styling (but not its name) and some of its programming, left the Rythme network and adopted a new slogan: "La Couleur Musicale des Laurentides". The CIME branding would expand to CJLA-FM Lachute, Quebec and CHPR-FM Hawkesbury, Ontario following Cogeco's acquisition of these stations from RNC Media in 2018.
In January 2017, CHLX-FM dropped Rythme FM and re-branded as Wow 97.1, which they continue to use to this day. On August 7. 2017, its sister station, CHOA-FM, dropped Rythme FM and re-branded similarly as Wow FM.[8] In April 2018, Cogeco acquired CHOA-FM, but kept the Wow FM branding. On March 24, 2022, Arsenal Media (formerly Attraction Radio) acquired CHOA-FM, still branded as WOW FM.
In August 2018, Attraction Radio abandoned the Rythme FM network affiliation on CILM-FM and CKGS-FM for its in-house branding, "O". Cogeco would acquire CILM-FM from Arsenal Media on April 25, 2022, reintroducing the Rythme FM branding in Saguenay in the process.[9][10]
On August 16, 2021, the Rythme FM branding was reintroduced to Quebec City when Cogeco-owned CFOM-FM changed its branding from M 102.9.[11] This led the return of the Rythme FM branding and format to the Quebec City market since CJEC-FM's disaffiliation and sale in 2012.
In January 17, 2025, CHLX-FM returned into the Rythme FM affiliation
Rythme FM stations
Cogeco-owned
- Laval / Montreal - CFGL-FM 105.7 MHz
- Quebec City - CFOM-FM 102.1 MHz
- Saguenay (Chicoutimi) - CILM-FM 98.3 MHz
- Sherbrooke - CFGE-FM 93.7 MHz
- Trois-Rivières - CJEB-FM 100.1 MHz
Affiliated stations
Former affiliated stations
- Saguenay (La Baie) - CKGS-FM 105.5 MHz (owned by Arsenal Media)
- Rouyn-Noranda - CHOA-FM 96.5 MHz (owned by Arsenal Media); repeaters in Val-d'Or (103.5 MHz) and La Sarre (103.9 MHz)
- Saint-Jérôme - CIME-FM (as "CIME") 103.9 MHz
Former stations
- Quebec City - CJEC-FM (now owned by Leclerc Communication; rebranded as "WKND 91.9")
