The owners of Proud FM, Canada’s first commercial gay and lesbian radio station, are planning to launch a French-language version in Montreal.
On Nov 21, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission approved an application by Dufferin Communications (a subsidiary of the Evanov Radio Group) for a French-language commercial AM radio station.
The proposed Radio Fierté will feature a mix of spoken word and music programming for Montreal’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
“We are pleased to be increasing the diversity of voices in Montreal’s radio market,” announced CRTC vice-chairman Tom Pentefountas in a press release.
However, Evanov’s Michael Kilbride says there’s still a lot to work to be done before any Montrealers will be dancing to classic Mitsou. “It’s all predicated on us negotiating a deal with the owners of the transmitter site,” says Kilbride.
The transmitter is owned by Bell Media, which has offered Radio Fierté a spot at 990 AM.
“I was told that Bell had been told by the commission to ‘play nice’ with us,” says Kilbride.
The station has committed that all programming is local, with a mix of news, spoken word and music by established and upcoming artists.
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