Bell Media is selling 45 of its 103 radio station in Canada and cutting 4,800 jobs across it and parent BCE Inc.
Bell Chief Legal and Regulator Officer Robert Malcolmson told the Canadian Press, “That’s a significant divestiture. It’s because it’s not a viable business anymore. We will continue to operate ones that are viable, but this is a business that is going in the wrong direction.”
Bell, which operates its radio division under the iHeartRadio brand under license from iHeartMedia, will sell the 45 stations to seven buyers. Vista Radio Ltd. is buying 21 stations in the province of British Columbia. Maritime Broadcasting System Limited will acquire 5 stations in New Brunswick, Arsenel Media will purchase seven stations in Quebec. Stations being divested in Ontario are being split among four companies. Whiteoaks Communications Group Limited will purchase four stations in Hamilton and St. Catharines. Durham Radio Inc. buys three in Lindsay and Peterborough. My Broadcasting Corporation gets four in Kingston and Brockville. Zoomer Media buys CJOS-FM Owen Sound. No terms for the sales were disclosed and all are pending CRTC approval.
The stations being sold are:
To Arsenal Media
Amqui PQ – French AC “Rouge 99.9” CFVM-FM
Drummondville PQ – Rock “Energie 92.1” CJDM-FM and French AC “Rouge 105.3” CHRD-FM
Rimouski PQ – Rock “Energie 98.7” CIKI-FM and French AC “Rouge 102.9” CJOI-FM
St-Hyacinthe PQ – French Classic Hits “Boom 106.5” CFEI-FM
St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu PQ – French Classic Hits “Boom 104.1” CFZZ-FM
To Durham Radio
Lindsay ON – Variety Hits “Bounce 91.9” CKLY-FM
Peterborough ON – AC “Move 99.7” CKPT-FM and “Pure Country 105” CKQM-FM
To My Broadcasting Corporation
Brockville ON – Variety Hits “Bounce 103.7” CJPT-FM and AC “Move 104.9” CFJR-FM
Kingston ON – AC “Move 98.3” CFLY-FM and “Pure Country 99” CKLC-FM
To Maritime Broadcasting
Bathurst NB – Variety Hits “Bounce 104.9” CKBC-FM
Grand Falls NB – Variety Hits “Bounce Radio 93.5” CIKX-FM
Truro NB – “Pure Country 99.5” CKTY-FM and Variety Hits “Bounce 100.9” CKTO-FM
Woodstock NB – “Pure Country 104” CJCJ-FM
To Vista Radio
Dawson Creek BC – “Pure Country 890” CJDC
Fort Nelson BC – Variety Hits “Bounce 102.3” CKRX-FM
Fort St. John BC – AC “Move 98.5” CHRX-FM and Variety Hits “Bounce Radio 101.5” CKNL-FM
Golden BC – Variety Hits “Bounce 106.3” CKGR-FM
Kelowna BC – CHR “Virgin Radio 99.9” CHSU-FM, AC “Move 101.5” CILK-FM, and News/Talk “AM 1150” CKFR
Kitimat BC – Variety Hits “Bounce 97.7” CKTK-FM
Nelson BC – Variety Hits “Bounce Radio 106.9” CKKC-FM
Osoyoos BC – Variety Hits “Bounce Radio 1240” CJOR
Penticton BC – AC “Move 97.1” CJMG-FM and Variety Hits “Bounce Radio 800” CKOR
Prince Rupert BC – Variety Hits “Bounce 99.1” CHTK-FM
Revelstoke BC – Variety Hits “Bounce 106.1” CKCR-FM
Salmon Arm BC – Variety Hits “Bounce 91.5” CKXR-FM
Summerland BC – Variety Hits “Bounce 98.5” CHOR-FM
Terrace BC – Variety Hits “Bounce 590” CFTK and “Pure Country 103.1” CJFW-FM
Trail BC – Variety Hits “Bounce Radio 95.7” CJAT-FM
Vernon BC – “Pure Country 105.7” CICF-FM
To Whiteoaks Communications Group
Hamilton ON – Variety Hits “Bounce Radio 102.9” CKLH-FM
St. Catharines ON – Rock “97.7 HTZ-FM” CHTZ-FM, AC “Move 105.7” CHRE-FM, and “News Talk 610” CKTB
To ZoomerMedia
Owen Sound ON – Variety Hits “Bounce Radio 92.3” CJOS-FM