Radio polls | Animators leave with their heads held high

Paul Houde, Bernard Drainville, Joël Le Bigot and Marie-Louise Arsenault leave their microphone in full swing, reveal Numéris polls.

Marc-Andre Lemieux
The Press

Produced at the dawn of a period of major changes in radio, this spring sounding also confirms the dominance of 98.5 FM within French-speaking Greater Montreal. The antenna of Paul Arcand and company collects 23.8 market shares, in front of ICI Première, which is illustrated all the same with 15.8 shares.

Paul Houde loses his position at 98.5 FM while recording substantial gains. On Saturdays, its show garners 23.3 market shares, up 27% compared to spring 2021. On Sundays, it garners 27.2 shares, up 21%. On the general list, Paul Houde’s Weekends figure at 11^e rank, a jump of 5 steps from the previous survey.

Despite these excellent results, the station does not regret having terminated the contract of the host, who will be replaced by Elisabeth Crête next fall.

“As I told Paul privately, our decision was not based on his performance; it was a matter of scheduling strategy, said Cogeco vice-president of talk stations and general manager of 98.5 FM Montreal, Pierre Martineau. I’m glad Paul can leave with his head held high. It is well deserved. He worked hard. »

Also at 98.5 FM, Bernard Drainville, who announced his return to politics last week, is also going to the top. His show dominates its time slot with 22.9 market shares, a 9% increase compared to spring 2021. Overall, Drainville PM arrives in 3^e position, behind Since you have to get up 98.5 FM and See you next week from ICI Première.

Detail to report, discussions are initiated with “a few people” to replace Bernard Drainville, tells us Pierre Martineau. Listening tests will be conducted over the next few weeks. Although it is a hasty departure, the general manager of 98.5 FM is not in a hurry to appoint a successor.

And given the antenna’s desire to give more space to women (hence the recent hiring of collaborators Chantal Lamarre and Marie-Ève ​​Tremblay), everything indicates that we should talk more about a successor.

“I’m going to take the time to do things right with my team,” said Pierre Martineau. We have a plan. And so far, it’s going pretty well. »

The crazier we are up sharply

On HERE Premiere, Saturday and nothing else with Joël Le Bigot will disappear from the airwaves at 4^e ranking in the general list of the most popular shows in Greater Montreal with 62,000 average listeners/minute, up 18% compared to spring 2021. The veteran will host his last show on June 18, after 45 years behind the microphone.

The more the merrier, the more we read! also has a glorious end. Marie-Louise Arsenault’s literary event is packing up as it attracts 36,900 listeners, an increase of 57%. Next fall, the host will pilot Everything can happena new talk show hosted on late Saturday afternoons, while Émilie Perreault will occupy her old slot from Monday to Friday.

The evening is (still) youngwhich will move during the week and become The day (is still young)ends its journey in front of 26,000 faithful, a constant rating, when we take a look at the 2021 polls.

“It’s great to see that a large number of listeners have enjoyed these programs,” commented Radio-Canada’s General Manager Radio, Audio and Greater Montreal, Caroline Jamet. But I have confidence in our programming choices for the fall. »

Post-Julie Bélanger FM rhythm

On the music radio side, Julie Bélanger is deserting Rythme FM, while the Cogeco antenna supplants the competition with 12.7 market shares. At lunchtime, his show with Marie-Ève ​​Janvier suffered an 8% drop compared to spring 2021. In the morning, Rhythm at work shows ratings that are basically unchanged from last year.

The management of Rythme FM has not yet revealed who will replace Julie Bélanger alongside Marie-Ève ​​Janvier at noon. However, an announcement is imminent.

“Julie’s departure represents a challenge, concedes Pierre Martineau. But our succession plan is solid. »

Elsewhere, Énergie increased its audience with 9.2 market shares and overtook CKOI (7.9). Red remains stable with 6.5 shares. As for ICI Musique, it continued its rise and collected 5.5 shares, its best performance since the introduction of PPM measures in 2008.

WKND, 91.9 Sports and Radio Circulation complete the top 10.