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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. In 2016, Bell Media reached a deal with U.S. radio conglomerate iHeartMedia to operate a localized version of its internet radio platform (iHeartRadio) and organize live events in Canada under iHeartMedia brands, such as the Jingle Ball.
Bell Media currently owns over 100 radio stations across Canada, including 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.
Operations
Former CHUM Radio logo
As of August 2009, 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, and CFRB are located. The stations moved from their historic location, 1331 Yonge Street, after the property was sold to Aspen Ridge Homes for $21.5 million.[2][3]
The CHUM neon sign in 2010, relocated to 250 Richmond Street West
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,[4] 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.[5]
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 other original audio content from Bell Media properties that are distributed under the platform (including podcasts), under the name iHeartRadio Canada. The MuchMusic Video Awards were also re-branded as the iHeartRadio MMVAs.
Programming
Bell's stations broadcast in a variety of formats, although hot adult contemporary and adult hits are particularly common. Its Hot AC & AC stations use a variety of brand names, including Move Radio, but are all patterned to an extent after flagship CHUM-FM, while its adult hits stations are all branded as Bob FM. The company is the largest private-sector radio operator in Canada with 109 radio stations across the country.
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.
The company also operates eight sports radio stations, all branded as TSN Radio. Three of these 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.[6]
On May 28, 2019, Bell launched Pure Country as a standard branding for its country music stations, 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 on evenings.[7][8]
