Cogeco to sell off Rythme FM?

[azumanga]

According to the Wikipedia article for Corus Québec, it mentioned that Cogeco, acquiring the Corus stations in Quebec, will be selling off all its Rythme FM stations, which currently is all but one of Cogeco's stations before the Corus purchase.

Any truth to that?

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Well, it is true that Two AM and Two FM in a specific market is the MAX for ownership in Canada.

I'd say more, but I'm not aware of the Quebec market enough to discuss loopholes, etc.

 

[mimo]

To add to that it's 2 stations on each band per language. So they can have 4 FM's as long as 2 are French and 2 are English.

 

[e-dawg]

Could Corus switched 98.5 or 105.7 to English language from French language?

 

[azumanga]

Could Corus switched 98.5 or 105.7 to English language from French language?

Only if they get approval from the CRTC and/or the Quebec government -- I think some frequencies have been allocated for a particular language.

Unlike the US, where formats can be changed at a toss of a hat (including flipping an English station to Spanish or vice-versa), stations in Canada must seek approval from the CRTC to make any format changes. And since it involves a French-language station in Quebec, the Quebec government may also be required to intervene.

 

[Dan Sys]

stations in Canada must seek approval from the CRTC to make any format changes

The only stations in Canada that require CRTC approval to change formats are those with specialty licenses.