98.5 FM captured almost a quarter (23.8%) of listeners’ attention this spring in Montreal, according to the most recent Numeris surveys. Cogeco’s talk station thus occupies first place among the most listened to stations, ahead of ICI Première, which garnered 15.8% of the market share.
The gap between the two main stations is widening while in the last sounding of this winter ICI Première had reached a historic record with 18.3%, against 22.8% for 98.5 FM.
“It’s hard to ask for better when you see that 98.5 ranks first among the most listened to radio stations in the country with 1.8 million listeners each week. We also see that all the programs are working well, it shows the paying efforts of our teams. It’s party time in the village today, as they say! », rejoiced in an interview Pierre Martineau, vice-president of the spoken network and general manager of 98.5FM.
During the week, the station continues to see its hosts lead their respective time slots, led by the indelible Paul Arcand at the helm of Since you have to get up. The Normandeau effect with Nathalie Normandeau, Drainville PM hosted — until last week — by Bernard Drainville or even Quebec Now with Patrick Lagacé are also among the most popular shows.
Faced with such results at the top, Pierre Martineau is not overly worried about recent and future departures. Recall that Bernard Drainville submitted his resignation last Thursday to return to politics in the ranks of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ). Legendary night host Jacques Fabi will retire this June. We will not find Paul Houde on Saturday and Sunday mornings either, the host will be replaced this fall by Elisabeth Crête.
“Departures are part of life, it gives you the opportunity to be creative, to bring about change, to do things differently. […] No one is irreplaceable in our profession,” insists Mr. Martineau.
Second place
As for public radio, we cling to second place in the market. Note that five of the ten most-watched programs in Greater Montreal are broadcast on ICI première. See you next week led by Philippe Lagüe and his collaborators is in 2nd place, Saturday and nothing else with Joël Le Bigot in 4th place, Noon info with Alec Castonguay in 5th place, All one morningthe morning of Patrick Masbourian is found in 8th place and Facts firsthosted by Alain Gravel in the 9th row.
“The loyalty of our listeners, who are more than ever at the rendezvous of our antennas, day after day, touches us deeply. It is for them that our teams bring together their passion and talent, in order to support them in their daily lives and offer them, each season, a diversified and relevant program. I am extremely proud of the craftsmen of our radio stations,” said Caroline Jamet, General Manager, Audio and Radio at Radio-Canada, in a press release.
On ICI Première also long-time animators will not be back this fall. Joël Le Bigot will be retiring in June, after 45 years of hosting at Radio-Canada. Not to mention the departure of Claude Bernatchez who was for 17 years at the helm of the morning show of ICI Première Québec, or that of the host Michel Lacombe who hosted the show The 21st.
In the rest of this spring list, we find Rythme FM in third place with 12.7% of the market share. The station thus remains the most listened to music station on the island, ahead of Énergie which reaches 9.2%, CKOI with 7.9% and Rouge which records 6.5%. ICI Musique continues to rise and beat its own record this spring with 5.5% of listening shares, compared to 5.4% this winter.
To complete, we then find WKND (2.1%), 91.9 Sports (0.9%) and Radio Circulation (0.3%).