CHMP-FM (98.5 MHz) is a French language talk radio station serving the Greater Montreal Area and licensed to the off-Island suburb of Longueuil.
Owned and operated by Cogeco, it broadcasts with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts as a Class C1 station, using an omnidirectional antenna atop Mount Royal, at 298.9 metres (981') in height above average terrain (HAAT).
In the early 1990s, CIEL changed to French hot adult contemporary as the softer AC format was filled by rivals CFGL-FM and CITE-FM Throughout its 23 years with the CIEL-FM call sign, the station's studios were located on St-Charles Street in Old Longueuil, but the station served the entire Greater Montreal area.
On August 8, 2000, the station's call letters were changed to CKOO-FM as it switched to a modern rock format branded as Cool FM.
With rock music failing to gain traction in Montreal, Corus announced on November 27, 2003, that the station would flip to a talk format starting in 2004.
With Paul Arcand as host, 98,5 FM rapidly climbed to the top of the Montreal ratings with 1,133,000 listeners and 120,000 visitors on its website.
[2] CHMP is the last station to broadcast from the legendary 211 Gordon Avenue studios in Verdun, which had been home to CKVL and CKOI-FM for decades.
From February 2005 until April 1, 2007, the station had an all-talk format only during Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulated hours, while playing music at night.
On April 2, 2007, the station began broadcasting a full-time talk format, except for weekends when Souvenirs Garantis classic hits programming was heard.
On April 30, 2010, it was announced that all Corus Québec stations, including CHMP, would be sold to Cogeco for $80 million, pending CRTC approval.