# Bell Media Radio

Bell Media Radio, G.P. (formerly CHUM Radio), operating as iHeartRadio Canada, is the radio broadcasting and music events subsidiary of Canadian media conglomerate Bell Media, a division of BCE Inc.. The company owns stations across the country, including in most of Canada's largest radio markets. The company's programming is distributed to other stations across Canada via its syndication division, Orbyt Media, and it is also the local licensee of the Virgin Radio brand.
iHeartRadio Canada's originated in 1945 as CHUM Radio which was then acquired by CTVglobemedia in 2007 and expanded upon the acquisition of Astral Media in 2013. The company operated over 71 radio stations across the country until 2023. Today, it operates 55 stations after a series of sales and closures.

## History

The company has its origins in CHUM Limited, which was acquired by CTVglobemedia in 2006. Through subsequent acquisitions, it also subsumed the radio properties of Astral Media in 2013; many of these were former Standard Radio stations that were acquired by Astral in 2007.
In 2016, Bell Media reached a licensing agreement with U.S. radio conglomerate iHeartMedia to operate a localized version of its internet radio platform iHeartRadio, and organize Canadian versions of its event franchises (such as the Jingle Ball). Since this agreement, Bell has primarily promoted its audio content, including radio stations and podcasts, under the public-facing brand iHeartRadio Canada.
In 2023, Bell Media laid off 6% of its workforce and closed nine of its radio stations and sold three as part of a restructuring plan and consolidated newsrooms across its platforms, resulting in its news/talk stations laying off most of their news staff and relying instead on the local and national newsrooms of CTV News. Stations closed included Winnipeg's CFRW, Calgary's CKMX, Edmonton's CFRN, Vancouver's CFTE and CKST and London's CJBK while Hamilton's CKOC and CHAM and Windsor's CKWW were sold to CINA Radio Group for $455,000.
On February 8, 2024, parent company BCE announced a total of cuts across the company, including 4,800 layoffs—with approximately 10% of those jobs being at Bell Media specifically, and the sale of 45 of its 103 radio stations to Vista Radio, Whiteoaks Communications Group, Durham Radio, My Broadcasting Corporation, ZoomerMedia, Arsenal Media and Maritime Broadcasting, pending approval by the CRTC. Bell executive Robert Malcolmson told Canadian Press that the "significant divestiture" of Bell's radio assets occurred "because it's not a viable business anymore".

## Operations

Its head office is currently located at 250 Richmond Street West in Toronto, where the studios of its Toronto flagship stations CHUM-FM, CKFM-FM, CFRB and CHUM-AM are located. CHUM-AM and CHUM-FM moved from their historic location, 1331 Yonge Street, after the property was sold to Aspen Ridge Homes for $21.5 million. Former Standard Radio stations CFRB and CKFM were previously located at the intersection of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue West until 2013.
CHUM Radio also previously operated CHUM Satellite Services, a multimedia division which provided programming and production services for corporate clients. This operation was acquired in 2009 by Stingray Digital, which eventually renamed it Stingray360.
On January 6, 2016, iHeartMedia announced that Bell Media would enter into a licensing deal to launch a Canadian version of its radio streaming service iHeartRadio. Bell will handle Canadian licensing, marketing, and distribution of the service, contribute its content to the venture, and also gain rights to produce iHeartRadio-branded events. The service launched in October 2016.
Since then, Bell has downplayed the branding "Bell Media Radio" in reference to its stations, and has referred to the collective platform, including the terrestrial stations, online outlets (which were all consolidated under iHeartRadio.ca) and podcasts from Bell Media properties that are distributed under the platform, under the name iHeartRadio Canada. The MuchMusic Video Awards were also re-branded as the iHeartRadio MMVAs.

## Programming

Bell's stations broadcast under various formats, although hot adult contemporary and adult hits are particularly common. The stations typically air locally produced or voice-tracked programming for the majority of their schedules, although some national network programming also airs. In 2007 and part of 2008, the hot adult contemporary radio stations also aired the national evening program The Sound Lounge.
As of 2021, the majority of Bell Media's music radio stations operate under standard, networked formats with a mix of local and/or common national programming. These brands include.
* Bounce: Adult hits stations. 25 stations adopted the branding upon its launch on May 18, 2021, with the largest being Winnipeg's CFWM-FM and Hamilton's CKLH-FM; the majority of the stations that flipped included adult contemporary, hot adult contemporary, active rock, adult hits, and classic hits stations, including all remaining Bob FM and EZ Rock-branded stations operated by the company.
* Move: Adult contemporary stations. 10 stations adopted the branding upon its launch on December 27, 2020, including CHQM-FM, CJMJ-FM, and CIOO-FM.
* Pure Country: Country stations. 13 stations adopted the branding upon its launch on May 28, 2019, including 12 existing stations and newly flipped CKLC-FM in Kingston. All stations carry a midday show hosted by Shannon Ella, and The Bobby Bones Show.
* Virgin Radio: CHR/Top 40 stations, using branding licensed from the Virgin Group. The brand was first introduced by Astral Media's CKFM-FM in 2008.
Bell's French-language radio stations in Quebec, inherited from Astral Media, have similarly operated using networked formats:
* Énergie: Mainstream rock stations.
* Rouge FM: Adult contemporary stations.
Bell inherited Astral's Boom FM (classic hits) and EZ Rock (adult contemporary) brands during the acquisition as well: presently, Boom FM is used only by two Bell-owned stations, both in Quebec, and the majority of English-language stations using the brand are owned by Stingray Radio (who had acquired the flagship outlet in Toronto, CHBM-FM, as part of divestments during the acquisition). The last remaining EZ Rock-branded stations in Canada were phased out with the launch of the Bounce and Move brands.
Until 2024, Bell also operated three networked brands featuring talk and spoken word programming. Except for TSN Radio (which features a mix of local programming and other acquired sports talk programs and event broadcasts, often syndicated from ESPN Radio and Westwood One), the majority of this programming was automated with little local content:
* BNN Bloomberg Radio (until 2024): Business news stations, which featured programming from Bloomberg Radio and audio simulcasts of programs from the BNN Bloomberg television channel.
* Funny (until 2024): Carried stand-up comedy. Was initially a Canadian licensee of the U.S. radio network 24/7 Comedy.
* TSN Radio: Sports talk stations, co-branded with Bell's TSN sports channel. Three of the TSN Radio stations were formerly part of a larger but short-lived national sports radio network known as The Team, which was launched by CHUM Limited in 2001 on virtually all of the company's AM radio stations across Canada, but was dissolved in 2002 due to poor ratings. The stations that did not remain AM sports radio stations are either oldies or news/talk formats.
Following the sale or closure of numerous Bell stations in 2023 and 2024, the BNN Bloomberg and Funny radio brands were no longer in use. Aside from three TSN Radio stations, Bell's remaining news/talk stations carry local programming with some regionally or nationally-syndicated shows, and audio simulcasts of CTV News programs, under the iHeartRadio Talk Network branding.
Bell distributes The Breakfast Club, The Bobby Bones Show, Brooke & Jeffrey, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, and the American Top 40 in Canada via the syndication arm Orbyt Media. Bell began to introduce in-house evening programming for its news/talk stations in 2017 with The Evan Solomon Show (until Solomon's departure in 2023). In 2020, Bell dropped Coast to Coast AM from its stations and replaced it with The Late Shift with Jason Agnew, later replaced in 2021 by the new overnight show The Late Showgram with Jim Richards; he would later move to an evening show, Newstalk Tonight, in 2022. As of 2024, other Bell Media Radio-syndicated shows include The Vassy Kapelos Show, The Richard Crouse Show, The Jerry Agar Show, and the CTV National News.
In November 2024, Bell Media announced new programming in collaboration with Canadian musician Bryan Adams (in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of his album Reckless), including a "Bryan Adams Radio" channel on iHeartRadio, and a new syndicated radio show presented by Adams that will launch in January 2025.

## Stations

| City | Call Sign | Frequency | Branding | Network | Format |
| Brandon, Manitoba | CKX-FM | FM 96.1 | Bounce 96.1 | Bounce | adult hits |
| Brandon, Manitoba | CKXA-FM | FM 101.1 | Pure Country 101 | Pure Country | country |
| Calgary, Alberta | CIBK-FM | FM 98.5 | 98.5 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| Calgary, Alberta | CJAY-FM | FM 92.1 | CJAY 92 | | mainstream rock |
| Edmonton, Alberta | CFBR-FM | FM 100.3 | 100.3 The Bear | | active rock |
| Edmonton, Alberta | CFMG-FM | FM 104.9 | 104.9 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| Fredericton, New Brunswick | CKHJ | AM 1260 | Pure Country 103.5 | Pure Country | country |
| Fredericton, New Brunswick | CFXY-FM | FM 105.3 | Bounce 105.3 | Bounce | adult hits |
| Fredericton, New Brunswick | CIBX-FM | FM 106.9 | Move 106.9 | Move Radio | adult contemporary |
| Gatineau, Quebec | CIMF-FM | FM 94.9 | 94,9 Rouge | Rouge FM | adult contemporary |
| Gatineau, Quebec | CKTF-FM | FM 104.1 | Énergie 104,1 | Énergie | mainstream rock |
| Halifax, Nova Scotia | CJCH-FM | FM 101.3 | 101.3 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| Halifax, Nova Scotia | CIOO-FM | FM 100.1 | Move 100 | Move Radio | adult contemporary |
| Kitchener, Ontario | CKKW-FM | FM 99.5 | Bounce 99.5 | Bounce | adult hits |
| Kitchener, Ontario | CFCA-FM | FM 105.3 | 105.3 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| London, Ontario | CIQM-FM | FM 97.5 | 97.5 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| London, Ontario | CJBX-FM | FM 92.7 | Pure Country 93 | Pure Country | country |
| Magog, Quebec | CIMO-FM | FM 106.1 | Énergie 106,1 | Énergie | mainstream rock |
| Midland, Ontario | CICZ-FM | FM 104.1 | Bounce 104.1 | Bounce | adult hits |
| Montreal, Quebec | CKGM | AM 690 | TSN 690 | TSN Radio | sports |
| Montreal, Quebec | CJAD | AM 800 | CJAD 800 AM | iHeart Radio Talk Network | news/talk |
| Montreal, Quebec | CHOM-FM | FM 97.7 | CHOM 97.7 | | mainstream rock |
| Montreal, Quebec | CJFM-FM | FM 95.9 | 95.9 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| Montreal, Quebec | CKMF-FM | FM 94.3 | Énergie 94,3 | Énergie | mainstream rock |
| Montreal, Quebec | CITE-FM | FM 107.3 | 107,3 Rouge | Rouge FM | adult contemporary |
| Orillia, Ontario | CICX-FM | FM 105.9 | Pure Country 106 | Pure Country | country |
| Ottawa, Ontario | CFRA | AM 580 | 580 CFRA | iHeart Radio Talk Network | news/talk |
| Ottawa, Ontario | CFGO | AM 1200 | TSN 1200 | TSN Radio | sports |
| Ottawa, Ontario | CKKL-FM | FM 93.9 | Pure Country 94 | Pure Country | country |
| Ottawa, Ontario | CJMJ-FM | FM 100.3 | Move 100 | Move Radio | adult contemporary |
| Pembroke, Ontario | CHVR-FM | FM 96.7 | Pure Country 96.7 | Pure Country | country |
| Quebec City, Quebec | CHIK-FM | FM 98.9 | Énergie 98,9 | Énergie | mainstream rock |
| Quebec City, Quebec | CITF-FM | FM 107.5 | 107,5 Rouge | Rouge FM | adult contemporary |
| Regina, Saskatchewan | CHBD-FM | FM 92.7 | Pure Country 92.7 | Pure Country | country |
| Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec | CJMM-FM | FM 99.1 | Énergie 99,1 | Énergie | mainstream rock |
| Saguenay, Quebec | CFIX-FM | FM 96.9 | 96,9 Rouge | Rouge FM | adult contemporary |
| Saguenay, Quebec | CJAB-FM | FM 94.5 | Énergie 94,5 | Énergie | mainstream rock |
| Sherbrooke, Quebec | CITE-FM-1 | FM 102.7 | 102,7 Rouge | Rouge FM | adult contemporary |
| Sudbury, Ontario | CICS-FM | FM 91.7 | Pure Country 91.7 | Pure Country | country |
| Toronto, Ontario | CFRB | AM 1010 | Newstalk 1010 | iHeart Radio Talk Network | news/talk |
| Toronto, Ontario | CHUM | AM 1050 | TSN 1050 | TSN Radio | sports |
| Toronto, Ontario | CHUM-FM | FM 104.5 | CHUM 104.5 | | hot adult contemporary |
| Toronto, Ontario | CKFM-FM | FM 99.9 | 99.9 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| Trois-Rivières, Quebec | CHEY-FM | FM 94.7 | 94,7 Rouge | Rouge FM | adult contemporary |
| Trois-Rivières, Quebec | CIGB-FM | FM 102.3 | Énergie 102,3 | Énergie | mainstream rock |
| Val-d'Or, Quebec | CJMV-FM | FM 102.7 | Énergie 102,7 | Énergie | mainstream rock |
| Vancouver, British Columbia | CFBT-FM | FM 94.5 | 94.5 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| Vancouver, British Columbia | CHQM-FM | FM 103.5 | Move 103.5 | Move Radio | adult contemporary |
| Victoria, British Columbia | CFAX | AM 1070 | CFAX 1070 | iHeart Radio Talk Network | news/talk |
| Victoria, British Columbia | CHBE-FM | FM 107.3 | 107.3 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| Windsor, Ontario | CKLW | AM 800 | AM 800 CKLW | iHeart Radio Talk Network | news/talk |
| Windsor, Ontario | CIDR-FM | FM 93.9 | 93.9 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |
| Windsor, Ontario | CIMX-FM | FM 88.7 | Pure Country 89 | Pure Country | country |
| Winnipeg, Manitoba | CFWM-FM | FM 99.9 | Bounce 99.9 | Bounce | adult hits |
| Winnipeg, Manitoba | CKMM-FM | FM 103.1 | 103.1 Virgin Radio | Virgin Radio | contemporary hit radio |

### Former stations

| City of licence | Call sign | Frequency | Band | Years owned | Fate |
| Amqui, QC | CFVM-FM | 99.9 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Arsenal Media in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Bathurst, NB | CKBC-FM | 104.9 | FM | 2013–2024 | Sold to Maritime Broadcasting System in 2024 |
| Brockville, ON | CJPT-FM | 103.7 | FM | 1996–2025 | Sold to My Broadcasting Corporation in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Brockville, ON | CFJR-FM | 104.9 | FM | 1997–2025 | Sold to My Broadcasting Corporation in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Calgary, AB | CKMX | 1060 | AM | 2013–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
| Calgary, AB | CFVP | 6.03 | SW | 2013-2023 | Defunct shortwave relay of CKMX |
| Dawson Creek, BC | CJDC | 890 | AM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Drummondville, QC | CHRD-FM | 105.3 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Arsenal Media in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Drummondville, QC | CJDM-FM | 92.1 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Arsenal Media in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Edmonton, AB | CFRN | 1260 | AM | 2013–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
| Edmonton, AB | CHBN-FM | 91.7 | FM | 2005–2010 | Sold to Rogers Sports & Media in 2010 |
| Fort Nelson, BC | CKRX-FM | 102.3 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Fort St. John, BC | CHRX-FM | 98.5 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Fort St. John, BC | CKNL-FM | 101.5 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Golden, BC | CKGR-FM | 106.3 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Grand Falls, NB | CIKX-FM | 93.5 | FM | 2013–2024 | Sold to Maritime Broadcasting in 2024 |
| Hamilton, ON | CHAM | 820 | AM | 2013–2024 | Sold to CINA Radio Group in 2023, CRTC approved sale in 2024 |
| Hamilton, ON | CKOC | 1150 | AM | 2013–2024 | Sold to CINA Radio Group in 2023, CRTC approved sale in 2024 |
| Hamilton, ON | CKLH-FM | 102.9 | FM | 2007–2024 | Sold to Golden Horseshoe Broadcasting in 2024. |
| Kawartha Lakes, ON | CKLY-FM | 91.9 | FM | 2000–2025 | Sold to Durham Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025. |
| Kelowna, BC | CKFR | 1150 | AM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Kelowna, BC | CHSU-FM | 99.9 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Kelowna, BC | CILK-FM | 101.5 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Kingston, ON | CFLY-FM | 98.3 | FM | 1997–2025 | Sold to My Broadcasting Corporation in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Kingston, ON | CKLC-FM | 98.9 | FM | 1997–2025 | Sold to My Broadcasting Corporation in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Kitimat, BC | CKTK-FM | 97.7 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| London, ON | CKSL | 1410 | AM | 2013–2016 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2016 |
| London, ON | CJBK | 1290 | AM | 2013–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
| London, ON | CHST-FM | 102.3 | FM | 2000–2010 | Sold to Rogers Sports & Media in 2010 |
| Nelson, BC | CKKC-FM | 106.9 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Osoyoos, BC | CJOR | 1240 | AM | 2007–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Owen Sound, ON | CJOS-FM | 92.3 | FM | 2018–2024 | Sold to ZoomerMedia in 2024 |
| Penticton, BC | CKOR | 800 | AM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Penticton, BC | CJMG-FM | 97.1 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Peterborough, ON | CKPT-FM | 99.7 | FM | 1977–2025 | Sold to Durham Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025. |
| Peterborough, ON | CKQM-FM | 105.1 | FM | 1977–2025 | Sold to Durham Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025. |
| Prince Rupert, BC | CHTK-FM | 99.1 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Revelstoke, BC | CKCR-FM | 106.1 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Rimouski, QC | CIKI-FM | 98.7 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Arsenal Media in 2024 |
| Rimouski, QC | CJOI-FM | 102.9 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Arsenal Media in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Saint-Hyacinthe, QC | CFEI-FM | 106.5 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Arsenal Media in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC | CFZZ-FM | 104.1 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Arsenal Media in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| St. Catharines, ON | CKTB | 610 | AM | 2013–2024 | Sold to Golden Horseshoe Broadcasting in 2024 |
| St. Catharines, ON | CHRE-FM | 105.7 | FM | 2013–2024 | Sold to Golden Horseshoe Broadcasting in 2024 |
| St. Catharines, ON | CHTZ-FM | 97.7 | FM | 2013–2024 | Sold to Golden Horseshoe Broadcasting in 2024 |
| Salmon Arm, BC | CKXR-FM | 91.5 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Summerland, BC | CHOR-FM | 98.5 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Terrace, BC | CFTK | 590 | AM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Terrace, BC | CJFW-FM | 103.1 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Toronto, ON | CFXJ-FM | 93.5 | FM | 2010–2013 | Sold to Stingray Radio in 2013 |
| Trail, BC | CJAT-FM | 95.7 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Truro, NS | CKTO-FM | 100.9 | FM | 2013–2024 | Sold to Maritime Broadcasting in 2024 |
| Truro, NS | CKTY-FM | 99.5 | FM | 2013–2024 | Sold to Maritime Broadcasting in 2024 |
| Vancouver, BC | CKST | 1040 | AM | 1992–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
| Vancouver, BC | CFTE | 1410 | AM | 1973–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
| Vernon, BC | CICF-FM | 105.7 | FM | 2013–2025 | Sold to Vista Radio in 2024, CRTC approved sale in 2025 |
| Windsor, ON | CKWW | 580 | AM | 1985–2024 | Sold to CINA Radio Group in 2023, CRTC approved sale in 2024 |
| Winnipeg, MB | CFRW | 1290 | AM | 1974–2023 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2023 |
| Woodstock, NB | CJCJ-FM | 104.1 | FM | 2013–2024 | Sold to Maritime Broadcasting in 2024 |