Cogeco is buying all of Corus Entertainment’s radio stations in Quebec for $80 million.

The deal, unveiled Friday morning, will see Cogeco bolster its local radio offerings for listeners and advertisers, according to spokesperson Marie Carrier.

‘The combination of these stations with the existing particular stations will enable us to better meet advertiser needs… and give them access to a broader cross-section of customers,’ says Carrier.

Cogeco already owns five stations in the province — four under the Rythme FM adult-contemporary format that serves women aged 25 to 54, and a fifth rock station, FM93.

Corus, meanwhile, will focus on its radio brands in Western Canada and also on its television division, said president and CEO John Cassaday in a release. According to the company’s fourth-quarter financial report on April 14, TV revenue was up to almost $137 million from $123.4 million a year earlier, while radio revenues dropped to $57.9 million. In Quebec, radio revenues had decreased by about 2%.

The deal is still subject to CRTC approval. Carrier says Cogeco will prepare is application in the coming months.

The station formats and media placements will not be affected until the application has been made and a decision reached. ‘Until then it’s business as usual,’ says Carrier.

The stations affected include: Montreal’s CKOI, CKAC and CFGR; Quebec City’s CFOM; Gatineau’s CJRC; Sherbrooke’s CHLT; CHLN in Trois-Rivières and CIME in St-Jérôme

From Media in Canada