Boom FM
Encyclopedia
Boom FM is a branding of classic hits
radio station
s broadcasting in Canada
. The network and its stations are operated by Astral Media
.
Boom FM was first launched on May 1, 2003 as a network of French-language
oldies stations, and originally included CFEI-FM and CHRD-FM. CFVM-FM and CFZZ-FM joined the network in 2005 after these stations were acquired by Astral Media from Corus Entertainment
. All three stations previously had an adult contemporary format
. Since Astral Media already has two FM
stations in each of Quebec's larger markets, it is impossible for them under current Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulations to launch Boom FM stations in these markets without dumping either the NRJ or the Rouge FM format, both of which are very successful according to Bureau of Broadcast Measurement
(BBM) ratings.
On December 26, 2009, Boom FM added its first English-language affiliate, CHBM-FM in Toronto
, Ontario
, which flipped from its longtime adult contemporary EZ Rock
format (as CJEZ-FM) to adult hits under the boom 97-3 name. It is the only Boom FM station not using the classic hits format, though its logo uses the same lettering and 45 RPM plastic insert
device as its Quebec counterparts. On June 30, 2011, Boom FM added its second English-language affiliate, CJOT-FM in Ottawa
which flipped from the very same adult contemporary of the former CJEZ-FM Toronto as EZ Rock to the classic hits format as boom 99.7. The name "Boom FM" is a reference to baby boomers, who are the main target of the network.
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s broadcasting in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The network and its stations are operated by Astral Media
Astral Media
Astral Media Inc. is a Canadian media corporation. It is Canada's largest radio broadcaster with 83 radio stations in eight provinces, and is a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, including The Movie Network, Super Écran, Family, Teletoon, Canal D, Canal Vie, VRAK.TV,...
.
Boom FM was first launched on May 1, 2003 as a network of French-language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
oldies stations, and originally included CFEI-FM and CHRD-FM. CFVM-FM and CFZZ-FM joined the network in 2005 after these stations were acquired by Astral Media from Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian media and entertainment conglomerate.Corus is a leading Canadian specialty television and radio producer, with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's...
. All three stations previously had an adult contemporary format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
. Since Astral Media already has two FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
stations in each of Quebec's larger markets, it is impossible for them under current Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulations to launch Boom FM stations in these markets without dumping either the NRJ or the Rouge FM format, both of which are very successful according to Bureau of Broadcast Measurement
Bureau of Broadcast Measurement
BBM Canada, also known as BBM, is an audience measurement organization for Canadian television and radio broadcasting.BBM was established on May 11, 1944 as a division of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. The organization was originally known as the "Bureau of Broadcast Measurement", and...
(BBM) ratings.
On December 26, 2009, Boom FM added its first English-language affiliate, CHBM-FM in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, which flipped from its longtime adult contemporary EZ Rock
EZ Rock
EZ Rock is a brand of adult contemporary music radio stations heard primarily in Canada. The branding was originally created by Telemedia in the mid-1990s for its adult contemporary stations, and based on the call sign of its former Toronto flagship CJEZ .Telemedia was later acquired by Standard...
format (as CJEZ-FM) to adult hits under the boom 97-3 name. It is the only Boom FM station not using the classic hits format, though its logo uses the same lettering and 45 RPM plastic insert
45 rpm adapter
A 45 rpm adapter is a small plastic or metal insert that goes in the middle of a 45-rpm record so it will play on a turntable...
device as its Quebec counterparts. On June 30, 2011, Boom FM added its second English-language affiliate, CJOT-FM in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
which flipped from the very same adult contemporary of the former CJEZ-FM Toronto as EZ Rock to the classic hits format as boom 99.7. The name "Boom FM" is a reference to baby boomers, who are the main target of the network.
Stations
| Station ID | Frequency | City | Province | Language |
| CFEI-FM CFEI-FM CFEI-FM is a French language Canadian radio station located in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, approximately 40 kilometres east of Montreal.Owned and operated by Astral Media, it broadcasts on 106.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts using an omnidirectional antenna.The station has an... |
106.5 | Saint-Hyacinthe Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec Saint-Hyacinthe is a city in southwestern Quebec east of Montreal on the Yamaska River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 55,823. The city is located in Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality of the Montérégie region, and is traversed by the Yamaska River which flows... |
Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... |
French |
| CFZZ-FM CFZZ-FM CFZZ-FM is a French language Canadian radio station located in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Owned and operated by Astral Media, it is part of the Boom FM network. As such, the station has an oldies format.... |
104.1 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... |
French |
| CHBM-FM | 97.3 | Toronto Toronto Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... |
Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
English |
| CJOT-FM | 99.7 | Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario... |
Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
English |
Former stations
- Amqui - CFVM-FMCFVM-FMCFVM-FM is a French-language Canadian radio station located in Amqui, Quebec.Owned and operated by Astral Media, it broadcasts on 99.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 23,800 watts using an omnidirectional antenna....
(switched to RockDétente in 2008; now Rouge FM) - Drummondville - CHRD-FMCHRD-FMCHRD-FM is a French-language Canadian radio station located in Drummondville, Quebec.Owned and operated by Astral Media, it broadcasts on 105.3 MHz using a directional antenna with an average effective radiated power of 2,900 watts and a peak effective radiated power of 4,750 watts .The station has...
(switched to RockDétente in 2009; now Rouge FM)