 | |
| Type | Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Headquarters | Toronto,Ontario, Canada |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English French(Formerly) |
| Format | Classic hits Adult hits Oldies |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Bell Media Radio (Bell Media) |
| History | |
| Founded | byAstral Media |
| Launch date | May 1,2003 |
| Links | |
| Website | (see each station’s articles) |
Boom FM is a branding ofclassic hitsradio stations broadcasting inCanada. The trademark is owned byBell Media, formerly Bell Media owned two stations using the branding, until it was sold toArsenal Media as part of the company's restructuring.
The name "Boom" is a reference tobaby boomers, who are the main target of the network.
"Boom" was first launched on May 1, 2003 as a network ofFrench-languageoldies stations, and originally includedCFEI-FM andCHRD-FM.CFVM-FM andCFZZ-FM joined the network in 2005 after these stations were acquired byAstral Media fromCorus Entertainment. All four stations previously had anadult contemporaryformat. Since Astral Media already has twoFM stations in each of Quebec's larger markets, it is impossible for them under currentCanadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulations to launch Boom FM stations in these markets without dumping either theÉnergie or theRouge FM format, both of which are very successful according toBureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM) ratings.
On December 26, 2009, "Boom" added its firstEnglish-language affiliate,CHBM-FM inToronto,Ontario, which flipped from its longtimeadult contemporaryEZ Rock format (as CJEZ-FM) toadult hits under theBoom 97.3 name. It was the only Boom FM station not using theclassic hits format, though its logo uses the same lettering and45 RPM plastic insert device as its Quebec counterparts. OwnerStingray Radio, however, currently markets the station's format as classic hits.[1]
On June 30, 2011, "Boom" added its secondEnglish-language affiliate,CJOT-FM inOttawa which flipped from the very sameadult contemporary of the former CJEZ-FM Toronto asEZ Rock to the classic hits format asBoom 99.7.
Following Bell Media's approval in 2013 to acquire Astral Media, a condition was placed in which that it must divest itself of several television services and radio stations, including CHBM and CJOT, which were placed in ablind trust pending its eventual sales.[2] CJOT would be soldCorus Radio in March 2013,[3] while CHBM was sold toStingray Radio in August 2013.[4] Corus' acquisition of CJOT-FM was approved on January 31, 2014,[5] while Stingray's acquisition of CHBM-FM was approved on March 19, 2014.[6] Despite differing ownership, both stations continue to use the Boom FM name and logo.
On August 25, 2014, Corus'CJSS-FM inCornwall became the newest station in Ontario to be affiliated with the network.
In 2017, Stingray Radio gained permission from Bell Media to begin using the Boom brand and its content inAlberta. In July 2017, several of Stingray's rural Alberta stations took on the Boom format.
In May 2018, Boom 104.1Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Boom 106.5Saint-Hyacinthe has changed to anadult contemporary format.
On February 8, 2024, Bell announced a restructuring that included the sale of 45 of its 103 radio stations to seven buyers, subject to approval by the CRTC, includingCFZZ andCFEI, which was to be sold to Arsenal Media. On March 11, 2025 the CRTC approved the sale toArsenal Media.
On April 22, 2025, all of the French Boom Affiliates have disbanded with boom to affiliate with the O network by Arsenal media, this means that the Original Boom Affiliates are gone and now the English Boom Affiliates are whats left of Boom FM.
CKSM AM 1220 ofShawinigan,Quebec was originally announced in April 2007 to have been a new affiliate of Boom, with plans to relocate the station to the FM band. However, the plans never materialised, and the station, which at the time was owned by Astral but rebroadcast then-Corus ownedCHLN 550 AM ofTrois-Rivières, closed down on June 30, 2007.[7]
Stingray'sCHNO-FM inSudbury,Ontario,CIJK-FM inKentville,Nova Scotia, andCHHI-FM inMiramichi,New Brunswick are branded as Rewind instead of Boom, but otherwise resemble Boom FM stations with a similar logo design, a similar classic hits format and some shared programming.CIHI-FM inFredericton,New Brunswick was also branded as Rewind until March 2024 when the station flipped toTop 40/CHR with Stingray's HOT brand.