RNC Media

What RNC Media does

RNC Media Inc. is a private Quebec-based broadcasting company operating five FM radio stations and four digital television stations across four regional markets: Québec City, Montréal, Gatineau-Ottawa, and Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Founded in 1948 as Radio Nord by the Gourd family in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the company holds CRTC-issued broadcast licenses for FM radio transmitters, digital TV transmitters, and local production studios. Its television stations — TVA Gatineau, Noovo Gatineau, TVA Abitibi, and Noovo Abitibi — serve as regional affiliates for the TVA and Noovo networks, rebroadcasting national programming with local advertising substitution and producing local news bulletins. The radio portfolio comprises CHOI 98,1 Radio X (Québec), Rythme 97.1 (Gatineau-Ottawa), and the three-station BPM Sports network launched in 2022 (91.9 Montréal, 100.9 Québec, 96.5 Gatineau), described as Quebec's first dedicated sports radio network.

The company monetizes audience reach almost exclusively through advertising airtime sales to local, regional, and national businesses, using a sales-led go-to-market model with regional sales directors and dedicated advertising sales representatives ("conseillers publicitaires") in each market. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. RNC produces original local news and sports coverage across its markets, which functions as a key differentiator for advertisers targeting Quebec regional audiences rather than national mass-market buys. The company's brand assets — particularly CHOI 98,1 Radio X, a long-dominant station in the Québec City market, and 91.9 Sports, which ranked #1 in Canada for sports radio loyalty among men 25-54 by Spring 2017 — support pricing power with regional advertisers.

RNC Media is controlled by the Gourd family, with Jean-Yves Gourd having succeeded his father Jean-Joffre Gourd as controlling shareholder in 1996. Professional management is led by Robert Ranger (President and CEO since 2019, with prior EVP Finance and Operations experience and a track record overseeing 21 broadcast licenses in a previous role), Pierre R. Brosseau (Executive Chairman, who led expansion from 4 radio and 5 television stations in 1996 to 15 radio and 5 television stations by 2008), and Raynald Brière (Executive Vice-President of the Board, former CEO 2004–2016, recipient of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Ordre du mérite). The company's growth has historically come through CRTC license grants and tuck-in acquisitions, notably the 2004 purchase of six stations from Groupe Radio Antenne 6 in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and the 2006 acquisition of the Genex broadcasting assets underlying CHOI Radio X.

Name

RNC Media

Legal name

RNC Media Inc.

Website

https://rncmedia.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

RNC Media is a private Quebec broadcaster operating five radio and four TV stations across four regional markets. Revenue comes primarily from advertising airtime sold to local, regional, and national businesses, with TV stations affiliated to TVA and Noovo networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio and Television Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local TV Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAA), News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI), Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles) (MPAIAEAL)

Keywords

• Radio broadcasting
• Television broadcasting
• Advertising airtime
• Local news production
• Sports radio network

Headquarters

HQ city

Westmount

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Television and Radio Advertising: RNC Media generates revenue primarily through the sale of advertising airtime on its television stations (TVA Gatineau, Noovo Gatineau, TVA Abitibi, Noovo Abitibi) and radio stations (CHOI 98.1 Radio X, BPM Sports 100.9, BPM Sports 91.9, BPM Sports 96.5, Rythme 97.1). The company offers advertising opportunities to local, regional, and national businesses seeking to reach Quebec audiences across multiple markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RNC Media owns and operates 5 FM radio stations and 4 digital television stations across Quebec, producing local news, sports coverage, music and entertainment programming. Its core commercial activity is selling advertising airtime on these owned stations to local, regional and national businesses seeking to reach Quebec audiences. The company also operates the BPM Sports network — Quebec's first all-sports radio network.

Product overview

RNC Media is one of Quebec's largest broadcasting enterprises operating a portfolio of 5 radio stations and 4 television stations across five regional markets: Québec City, Montréal, Gatineau, and Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The company operates two branded networks: BPM Sports (three sports radio stations) and the general music stations under the Radio X, Rythme, and POP brands. On television, RNC Media serves as an affiliate for TVA and Noovo networks, producing local news content. The company traces its roots to 1948 when Radio Nord was founded and has grown through acquisitions and new license grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Radio X: Radio network brand created in 2009, including CHOI 98,1 Radio X in Québec.
• BPM Sports
• Planète Radio
• Couleur FM

Products and services

• CHOI 98,1 Radio X Québec's leading talk radio station at 98.1 MHz in Quebec City. The flagship of the Radio X group, known as 'Radio X, l'originale', it has been a dominant player in one of Canada's most competitive radio markets for over 20 years.
• BPM Sports 100.9 (CHXX-FM) Sports radio station serving the Québec market at 100.9 MHz with 1.5 kW of power; one of the three stations forming the BPM Sports network.
• BPM Sports 91.9 (CKLX-FM) Sports radio station serving the Montréal market at 91.9 MHz; one of the three stations forming the BPM Sports network.
• BPM Sports 96.5 (CFTX-FM) Sports radio station serving the Gatineau market at 96.5 MHz with 1750W of power; one of the three stations forming the BPM Sports network.
• Rythme 97.1 (CHLX-FM) Music radio station serving the Gatineau-Ottawa market at 97.1 MHz with 11.2 kW of power; offers diversified musical programming (rebranded from WOW 97.1 to Rythme 97.1 in January 2025).
• TVA Gatineau (CHOT-DT) TVA affiliate serving the Gatineau and Ottawa markets; produces 30-minute evening news bulletins and noon information capsules; broadcasts on channel 40.1 with 111.4 kW of power.
• TVA Abitibi (CFEM-DT) TVA affiliate serving the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region; broadcasts on channel 13.1 with 10.5 kW of power from studios in Rouyn-Noranda.
• Noovo Gatineau (CFGS-DT) Noovo affiliate serving the Gatineau market; broadcasts on channel 34.1 with 93.3 kW of power.
• Noovo Abitibi (CFVS-DT) Noovo affiliate serving the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region; broadcasts on channel 25.1 with 470 kW of power from the Val-d'Or transmitter.

Quantifiable outcome

• BPM Sports ranked #1 sports radio in Canada for male 25-54 demographic in Spring 2017
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TVA NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRNC Media operates TVA Gatineau and TVA Abitibi as affiliated television stations, rebroadcasting TVA network programming with local advertising substitution and local news bulletins. This affiliation provides access to national content and network branding for RNC's regional television operations.
• Noovo NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRNC Media operates Noovo Gatineau and Noovo Abitibi as affiliated television stations. Noovo was formerly known as V (formerly TQS), rebranding in September 2020. These stations provide local news and entertainment content under the Noovo brand in RNC's regional markets.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves29 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Corus Entertainment: Corus is a major Canadian broadcaster operating radio stations, Global TV affiliates, and specialty channels. RNC board member Fernand Bélisle serves on Corus's board, evidencing direct industry overlap and comparable business model across TV and radio.
• Stingray Group: Stingray is a Montreal-based music, media, and technology company operating music TV channels, in-store audio, and digital audio streaming services. Comparable to RNC's music radio stations (Rythme, POP, WOW) as a French-Canadian audio content distributor.
• Quebecor (TVA Group): Quebecor owns the TVA and Noovo networks to which four of RNC's TV stations are affiliated, plus its own radio and publishing assets. It is both RNC's largest business partner and its most significant incumbent competitor for French-language Quebec broadcast advertising.
• Bell Media: Bell Media is Canada's largest private broadcaster, operating radio stations, TV stations (including CTV and RDS sports), and streaming platforms. It competes directly with RNC for Quebec radio ad dollars and has historically employed RNC's senior management (e.g., Francis Beauvais).

Emerging players

• Evanov Radio Group: Evanov is a Canadian independent radio broadcaster operating smaller-format stations across multiple provinces. Smaller-scale and partially overlapping with RNC in the multi-station regional radio model, though focused on niche and ethnic formats.

Regional players

• Pattison Media: Pattison Media is one of Canada's largest private regional radio broadcasters, with stations concentrated in Western Canada. Comparable business model (multi-station regional radio with local ad sales) but geographically non-overlapping with RNC's Quebec-only footprint.

Direct peers

• Attraction Media: Attraction Media (formerly Leclerc Communication) operates a portfolio of Quebec regional radio stations. Closely comparable to RNC in size, Quebec-only focus, and multi-format (talk, music, sports) regional broadcasting approach.
• Cogeco Media: Cogeco Media is a Canadian regional radio broadcaster operating stations across Quebec and other provinces. It is a directly comparable regional radio peer with similar revenue model (local advertising) and overlapping geographic coverage in Quebec markets.
• Groupe Capitales Médias: Groupe Capitales Médias (now Le Soleil / Quebecor) operates regional French-language daily newspapers in Quebec cities. Comparable as a Quebec regional French-language media company reliant on local ad revenue, though primarily in print rather than broadcast.
• Arsenal Media: Arsenal Media is a Quebec-based independent broadcaster operating multiple radio stations across Quebec regions. Directly comparable to RNC as a regional French-language radio operator with similar advertising-driven model and overlapping Quebec footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RNC Media