View source for Boom FM

{{Short description|Branding of Canadian radio stations airing a classic hits format}}
{{about|a group of radio stations in Canada|the similarly named UK radio station|Boom Radio}}
{{Infobox radio network
| network_name = Boom FM
| logo = Boom logo.svg
| country = [[Canada]]
| network_type = [[Radio network]]
| format = [[Classic hits]]<br>[[Adult hits]]<br>[[Oldies]]
| owner = [[Bell Media Radio]]<br><small>([[Bell Media]])</small>
| headquarters = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| language = [[English language|English]]<br>[[French language|French]](Formerly)
| key_people = 
| foundation = by [[Astral Media]]
| launch_date = May 1, [[2003 in radio|2003]]
| past_names = 
| website = ''(see each station’s articles)''
}}
'''Boom FM''' is a branding of [[classic hits]] [[radio station]]s broadcasting in [[Canada]]. The trademark is owned by [[Bell Media]], formerly Bell Media owned two stations using the branding, until it was sold to [[Arsenal Media]] as part of the company's restructuring.

The name "Boom" is a reference to [[baby boomers]], who are the main target of the network.

==History==
"Boom" was first launched on May 1, 2003 as a network of [[French language|French-language]] [[oldies]] stations, and originally included [[CFEI-FM]] and [[CHRD-FM]]. [[CFVM-FM]] and [[CFZZ-FM]] joined the network in 2005 after these stations were acquired by [[Astral Media]] from [[Corus Entertainment]]. All four stations previously had an [[adult contemporary]] [[radio format|format]]. Since Astral Media already has two [[FM broadcasting|FM]] stations in each of Quebec's larger markets, it is impossible for them under current [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) regulations to launch Boom FM stations in these markets without dumping either the [[Énergie]] or the [[Rouge FM]] format, both of which are very successful according to [[Bureau of Broadcast Measurement]] (BBM) ratings.

On December 26, 2009, "Boom" added its first [[English language|English-language]] affiliate, [[CHBM-FM]] in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], which flipped from its longtime [[adult contemporary]] ''[[EZ Rock]]'' format (as CJEZ-FM) to [[adult hits]] under the ''Boom 97.3'' name. It was the only Boom FM station not using the [[classic hits]] format, though its logo uses the same lettering and [[45 rpm adapter|45 RPM plastic insert]] device as its Quebec counterparts. Owner [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]], however, currently markets the station's format as classic hits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncc.ca/our-stations/|title=Radio|access-date=2017-06-28|archive-date=2017-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621081700/http://www.ncc.ca/our-stations/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 30, 2011, "Boom" added its second [[English language|English-language]] affiliate, [[CJOT-FM]] in [[Ottawa]] which flipped from the very same [[adult contemporary]] of the former CJEZ-FM Toronto as ''EZ Rock'' to the classic hits format as ''Boom 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 a [[blind trust]] pending its eventual sales.<ref name=crtc-bellastraltrust>{{cite web|last=Biblic|first=Mirko|title=Re: Voting Trust Agreement between BCE Inc. and Pierre Boivin, the trustee Application No. 2013-0243-9 – Approved|date=27 June 2013|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/lb130627.htm|publisher=CRTC|access-date=5 July 2013|archive-date=6 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706034345/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/lb130627.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> CJOT would be sold [[Corus Entertainment|Corus Radio]] in March 2013,<ref name=gandm-closer>{{cite web|title=Bell moves closer to Astral with sale of TV assets|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/bce-to-sell-assets-to-corus-as-part-of-astral-deal/article9272784/|publisher=The Globe and Mail|access-date=5 March 2013}}</ref> while CHBM was sold to [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]] in August 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1215153/newcap-signs-agreement-with-bell-media-to-acquire-five-radio-stations-in-toronto-and-vancouver|title=Newcap signs agreement with Bell Media to acquire five radio stations in Toronto and Vancouver|publisher=CNW|access-date=26 August 2013}}</ref> Corus' acquisition of CJOT-FM was approved on January 31, 2014,<ref name="crtc-approval-ottawa">{{cite web|url=http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?Id=2627|title=Corus Entertainment Receives CRTC Approval on the Acquisition of Ottawa Radio Stations CKQB-FM and CJOT-FM|work=Corus Entertainment|date=January 28, 2014|access-date=January 29, 2014|archive-date=February 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212011125/http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?Id=2627|url-status=dead}}</ref> while Stingray's acquisition of CHBM-FM was approved on March 19, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2014/2014-129.htm |title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-129 |access-date=2014-06-02 |archive-date=2014-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326142711/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2014/2014-129.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite differing ownership, both stations continue to use the Boom FM name and logo.

On August 25, 2014, Corus' [[CJSS-FM]] in [[Cornwall, Ontario|Cornwall]] 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 in [[Alberta]]. In July 2017, several of Stingray's rural Alberta stations took on the Boom format.

In May 2018, Boom 104.1 [[Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu]] and Boom 106.5 [[Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec|Saint-Hyacinthe]] has changed to an [[adult 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, including [[CFZZ]] and [[CFEI]], which was to be sold to Arsenal Media. On March 11, 2025 the CRTC approved the sale to [[Arsenal 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

==Stations==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Station ID
! Frequency
! City
! Province
! Language
! Owner
|-
| [[CHBM-FM]]
| 97.3
| [[Toronto]]
| [[Ontario]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[CJOT-FM]]
| 99.7
| [[Ottawa]]
| [[Ontario]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Corus Entertainment]]
|-
| [[CJSS-FM]]
| 101.9
| [[Cornwall, Ontario|Cornwall]]
| [[Ontario]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Corus Entertainment]]
|-
| [[CJXK-FM]]
| 95.3
| [[Cold Lake, Alberta|Cold Lake]]
| [[Alberta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[CKKY-FM]]
| 101.9
| [[Wainwright, Alberta|Wainwright]]
| [[Alberta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[CILB-FM]]
| 103.5
| [[Lac La Biche, Alberta|Lac La Biche]]
| [[Alberta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[CKBA-FM]]
| 94.1
| [[Athabasca, Alberta|Athabasca]]
| [[Alberta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[CHSL-FM]]
| 92.7
| [[Slave Lake, Alberta|Slave Lake]]
| [[Alberta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[CIXF-FM]]
| 101.1
| [[Brooks, Alberta|Brooks]]
| [[Alberta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[CFXW-FM]]
| 96.7
| [[Whitecourt, Alberta|Whitecourt]]/[[Fox Creek, Alberta|Fox Creek]]
| [[Alberta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[CFHI-FM]]
| 104.9
| [[Hinton, Alberta|Hinton]]
| [[Alberta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[CHOO-FM]]
| 99.5
| [[Drumheller, Alberta|Drumheller]]
| [[Alberta]]
| [[English language|English]]
| [[Stingray Digital|Stingray Radio]]
|}

===Former stations===
* [[Amqui]], [[Quebec]] - [[CFVM-FM]] (switched to RockDétente in 2008; now [[Rouge FM]])
* [[Drummondville]], [[Quebec]] - [[CHRD-FM]] (switched to RockDétente in 2008; now [[Rouge FM]])
* [[Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec|Saint-Hyacinthe]], [[Quebec]] - [[CFEI-FM]] (switched to O network in 2025)
* [[Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu]], [[Quebec]] - [[CFZZ-FM]] (switched to O network in 2025)
===Unrealised station===
[[CKSM (AM)|CKSM]] AM 1220 of [[Shawinigan]], [[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 owned [[CKOB-FM|CHLN]] 550 AM of [[Trois-Rivières]], closed down on June 30, 2007.<ref>[http://www.journalacces.ca/section/2007-04-13/article-455047/Boom-FM-renonce-a-Shawinigan/1 Boom FM renonce à Shawinigan] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223173816/http://www.journalacces.ca/section/2007-04-13/article-455047/Boom-FM-renonce-a-Shawinigan/1 |date=February 23, 2015 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Other===
Stingray's [[CHNO-FM]] in [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]], [[Ontario]], [[CIJK-FM]] in [[Kentville, Nova Scotia|Kentville]], [[Nova Scotia]], and [[CHHI-FM]] in [[Miramichi, New Brunswick|Miramichi]], [[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]] in [[Fredericton]], [[New Brunswick]] was also branded as Rewind until March 2024 when the station flipped to [[Contemporary hit radio|Top 40/CHR]] with Stingray's HOT brand.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Bell Media}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boom Fm}}
[[Category:Bell Media]]
[[Category:Radio formats]]
[[Category:French-language radio in Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian radio networks]]