Bell Media, Astral Media and the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group announced Pattison’s acquisition of three key FMs in Calgary, Alberta and Winnipeg, Manitoba, subject to CRTC approval. They are:
Bell Media:
KooL FM 101.5 (CKCE-FM) – hot adult contemporary format in Calgary
FAB 94.3 (CHIQ-FM) – classic pop format in Winnipeg
Astral:
QX 104 (CFQX-FM) – country format in Winnipeg
Pattison’s deal is a result of the proposed transaction to unite Astral and Bell Media. Like in the US, Astral and Bell will have to divest some stations to comply with the CRTC Common Ownership Policy, which limits the number of stations a company can own in a single market.
Said Rick Arnish, Chairman of Jim Pattison Broadcast Group: “This is a very important acquisition for our Broadcast Group and, with the approval of this transaction from the CRTC, we will expand our presence in the major markets of Calgary and Winnipeg, which we have been focusing on for some time. With the pending launch of our newest station CHPK-FM (95.3 The Peak) in Calgary , combining forces with KooL FM (Today & Back in the Day) and its great team will allow our Group to have a very strong competitive FM radio combo in Alberta’s fastest-growing city. We’re also very excited about the opportunity to expand in western Canada and specifically into the Winnipeg radio market with two separate stations, QX 104 (Today’s Country) and FAB 94.3 (Super Hits of the 60s & 70s).”
The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, with its headquarters in Kamloops, B.C. is the industry’s largest private, western-based broadcast group, currently operating 30 FM radio stations, as well as three conventional television stations, in British Columbia and Alberta.
