CHOM 97.7 FM is an English-language radio station broadcasting from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Bell Media operates the station and its sister channels CFCF DT, CITE FM, CJAD, CJFM FM, CKGM, CKMF FM, and CFJP DT. The station broadcasted from the Mount Royal candelabra tower with a radiated power of 41,200 watts. FM using an omnidirectional antenna. It transmits mainstream rock format and is sometimes pronounced /ˈʃoʊm/ SHOHM as if it were a French word. Its broadcasting lineup includes news, entertainment, sports, music, talk/live shows, interviews, debates, weather, and traffic updates. The channel broadcasts for 24 hours around the world through live streaming on its official website.
History of CHOM 97.7 FM
Early years (1963-1974)
The station was formerly known as CKGM FM and was founded as a sister station to AM station CKGM by Geoff Stirling and opened on July 16, 1963. On September 1, 1963, CKGM-FM introduced a lovely music format after a few weeks of simulcasting CKGM. The channel flipped to album-oriented rock format on October 28, 1969. Doug Pringle played “Also Sprach Zarathustra” by Richard Strauss as the first song after changing the format, followed by “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles. On October 19, 1971, it changed its call sign to CHOM FM.
Currently, Streaming for this station is not available.
Going Bilingual (1974-1977)
CHOM presented a plan for the station’s bilingual (English/French) broadcasting to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in 1974. CRTC approved this plan, but only on an experimental basis for a period of three years. Finally, the CRTC required the station to choose between the two languages in 1977; after considering switching to a French-language broadcast, it eventually returned to English full-time. During the late 1970s, on-air advertising steadily increased.
Rise and fall and CHUM takeover (1979-2002)
In 1979, CHOM-FM surpassed CKGM in the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement ratings after growing in popularity. On August 20, 1985, CHUM Limited purchased both stations. The station bought the rights to Howard Stern’s syndicated program, which debuted on CHOM on September 2, 1997. On August 27, 1998, it canceled his program because the CRTC had received numerous complaints concerning politically incorrect remarks that complainants perceived as sexist and homophobic.
Standard Radio takeover and a return to their classic rock direction (2002-2007)
Standard Broadcasting bought the station in January 2002, operating CJAD and CJFM-FM in Montreal.
Astral takeover and new direction (2007-2013)
On October 29, 2007, Astral Media acquired ownership of Standard Broadcasting and its assets, changing ownership once more. It celebrated its 40th anniversary as a radio channel on October 19, 2010. It was revealed that Terry DiMonte would be joining the station once more on June 22, 2011.
Bell Media
Bell Media acquired Astral Media in July 2013. With the merger, CHOM and CKGM, the station’s original AM sister station that CTVglobemedia (now Bell Media) bought from CHUM in 2007, were again connected.
Programs
Weekdays
Randy Bachman’s Vinyl Tap – 6:00 AM to Mon 9:00 AM
Nights with Alice Cooper – 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
CHOM Rocks – 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Mornings Rock with Jay, Sharon, and Chantal – 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Randy Renaud – 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Bilal Butt – 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM
Jason Rockman – 4:00 AM to Thu 9:00 AM
Saturday
CHOM Rocks – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Pete Marier – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Hal Jaques – 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM
Contact Details
Address: 1717 Blvd. René-Lévesque E. H2L 4T9, Montréal, QC
Requests: 514-790-0977
Reception: 514-931-2466
SMS: 11-97-7
Official Website: https://www.iheartradio.ca/chom
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHOM977/?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CHOM977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chom977/
Consider Listening: 96.9 CKOI
