CISM 89,3 FM

What CISM 89,3 FM does

CISM 89,3 FM is a francophone university radio station broadcasting from the Université de Montréal campus in Montréal, Canada, operating as a non-profit corporation legally named Communication du Versant Nord (CISM-FM) inc. The station is owned and governed by the Université de Montréal student community, with board representation from FAÉCUM (3 seats, primary funder at ~60% of budget), AEP (1 seat), AGEFAC (1 seat), and Université de Montréal (1 seat). It holds an exclusive CRTC FM broadcasting permit and transmits on 89.3 MHz at 10,000 watts of power with a 70 km coverage radius spanning Montréal, Laval, Rive-Sud, and Rive-Nord, reaching approximately 85,000 weekly listeners per the Numeris (BBM) Fall 2022 survey.

The station's technology stack combines FM broadcast with online streaming via cism893.ca, podcast distribution through iTunes/Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, a Bandcamp presence, and YouTube video content. It transitioned to a fully digital on-air system in June 2018, replacing physical CDs with digital files for broadcasting and library management. Core products include over 70 original weekly shows produced by 150+ volunteer hosts, weekly music charts (palmarès) in Franco and Album categories, live studio sessions (Session Live à CISM), podcasts with 12 weeks of on-demand archives, and cultural news coverage. Programming spans music genres, culture, information, sports, and science, and the station has historically launched the careers of major Quebec artists including Les Trois Accords, Karkwa, Loud, and Les Cowboys Fringants.

The business model rests on four revenue streams: (1) mandatory but reimbursable student activity fees (CAN$2.50/session for FAÉCUM members, CAN$2 for Polytechnique, CAN$1 for Continuing Education); (2) advertising and sponsorships sold through a media kit and self-serve Adsfollo platform with tiered student and commercial rates, targeting an audience that is 76% aged 18–34 and 88% with at least a college diploma; (3) public donations via the Zeffy platform; and (4) institutional grants including the Canadian Community Radio Fund. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with active participation in cultural festivals (Francofolies, Nuits d'Afrique, Festif!, Montreal Jazz Festival) and a volunteer recruitment model built around seasonal calls for show project submissions.

Name

CISM 89,3 FM

Legal name

Communication du Versant Nord (CISM-FM) inc.

Website

https://cism893.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CISM 89,3 FM is a francophone university radio station owned by the Université de Montréal student community, broadcasting on 89.3 MHz across greater Montréal to 85,000 weekly listeners with volunteer-produced programming in music, culture, and news.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

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

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Network Distribution & Programming Services (Syndicators, Format Providers) (MPAIAEAH)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• University radio station
• Music programming
• Podcast production
• Francophone media

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Student Activity Fees (Cotisation non obligatoire / CANO): The primary funding source is a mandatory student activity fee collected per session from Université de Montréal students ($2.50/session via FAÉCUM), Polytechnique students ($2.00/session), and Faculty of Continuing Education students ($1.00/session). Students can opt to request reimbursement of this fee.
2. Advertising and Sponsorships: CISM sells advertising packages combining FM radio spots and web presence. It offers student advertising rates as well as commercial/advertiser partnerships. The station's media kit targets audiences with high engagement in music, performing arts, theater, and cultural events.
3. Donations: The station runs a public donation campaign (Zeffy platform) to supplement its budget from student fees and advertising.
4. Government and Community Grants: CISM receives support from the Fonds canadien de la radio communautaire (Canadian Community Radio Fund), which notably helped fund a new broadcast console. Additional support comes from institutional partners including the Université de Montréal and student associations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CISM 89,3 FM is a non-profit university radio station broadcasting on FM 89.3 MHz from the Université de Montréal campus, reaching 85,000 weekly listeners across the Greater Montréal area. It produces 70+ original weekly radio shows covering music genres, culture, science, sports, and current affairs, complemented by online streaming, podcast distribution, weekly music charts (palmarès), live artist sessions, and cultural news content. The station is funded primarily through student activity fees and advertising sales.

Product overview

CISM 89,3 FM is a university radio station broadcasting from the University of Montréal since 1991. The station operates as a non-profit corporation owned by the student community, claiming to be the largest French-language campus radio station in the world. The station's core offerings include FM radio broadcasting on 89.3 FM reaching the greater Montréal area, over 70 original weekly radio shows (émissions) produced by volunteer animators, music charts (palmarès) featuring Franco and album rankings, and podcast (balado) versions of shows available for subscription. Supporting services include live studio sessions (Session Live à CISM), music album submission for artists, volunteer radio show project submission, cultural news coverage, and advertising packages for businesses. The programming spans diverse categories including music specialties, culture, information, sports, science, and society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CISM 89,3 FM Radio Broadcasting Live FM radio broadcasting on 89.3 MHz from the Université de Montréal campus, reaching 85,000 weekly listeners across a 70 km radius covering Montréal, Laval, Rive-Sud, and Rive-Nord. Targeted at general listeners seeking alternative music, cultural commentary, and independent media.
• Émissions (Radio Shows) Over 70 original weekly radio shows produced and hosted by volunteers, covering diverse music genres, culture, information, sports, science, and society topics. Targeted at listeners seeking alternative, volunteer-curated programming.
• Palmarès (Music Charts)

Quantifiable outcome

• 85,000 weekly listeners (Numeris/BBM 2022–2023)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FAÉCUM (Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal)coreOthersFAÉCUM represents the Université de Montréal student community of approximately 38,000 members per session. It is the primary financial backer, providing 60% of CISM's operational budget through student activity fees. Three seats on CISM's board of directors are reserved for FAÉCUM representatives.
• AGEFAC (Association générale étudiante de la formation et de l'apprentissage continus)minorOthersAGEFAC represents students of the Faculty of Continuing Education (approximately 6,000 members per session). One seat on CISM's board of directors is reserved for AGEFAC.
• AEP (Association étudiante de Polytechnique)minorOthersAEP represents Polytechnique Montréal students (approximately 7,000 members per session). One seat on CISM's board of directors is reserved for AEP.
• Université de MontréalcoreOthersThe host institution for CISM. One seat on the board of directors is held by a Université de Montréal representative. The station operates from campus in Pavilion J-A DeSève.
• Ferarock (Fédération des radios associatives françaises)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISM is a member of Ferarock, a federation of French-language community radio stations dedicated to broadcasting emerging music not represented on commercial radio. CISM participates as a 'cousine' (sister station) within the network.
• BonsoundminorOthersMusical partner listed in CISM's advertising/partnership section. Artists such as Luan Larobina and Magi Merlin are distributed through Bonsound.
• EvenkominorOthersCultural event promoter partner listed in CISM's advertising/partnership section. Evenko organizes major music festivals and concerts in Quebec.
• Festival en chanson de Petite-ValléeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival en chanson de Petite-Vallée partners with CISM for artist promotion. CISM has awarded bursaries to emerging artists through the festival's songwriter program.
• Pop MontréalminorOthersMusical partner listed in CISM's advertising/partnership section. Pop Montréal is an annual independent music festival.
• Festival International Nuits d'AfriqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural festival partner. CISM partnered with the festival to present the Sound System series featuring Afro-descendant music artists Soul of Zoo and Blast from the Past.
• Festival International de Films FantasiaminorOthersCultural partner listed in CISM's media kit and partnership section.
• Festival du Nouveau CinémaminorOthersCultural partner listed in CISM's media kit and partnership section.
• Microbrasserie L'Espace PublicminorOthersPrivate partner listed in CISM's media kit. A Montreal craft brewery that partners with the station.
• Mont Saint-SauveurminorOthersPrivate partner listed in CISM's media kit. A ski resort and recreation destination.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CITR 101.9 FM: CITR is the campus radio station of the University of British Columbia (UBC). It is one of Canada's most prominent university broadcasters, running a comparable volunteer-driven model with CMJ-affiliated programming, alternative music charts, and a strong podcast/streaming presence, paralleling CISM's format and audience approach.
• CKDU 88.1 FM: CKDU is the campus radio station of Dalhousie University in Halifax. It operates under the same CRTC campus-community framework as CISM, with a non-commercial, volunteer-driven format covering alternative music, spoken word, and community affairs for an Atlantic-Canadian student/youth audience.
• CHUO 89.1 FM: CHUO is the French-language campus radio station of the University of Ottawa. It is the closest geographic and linguistic analogue to CISM outside Québec, operating under the same CRTC campus-radio framework with volunteer hosts, alternative programming, and a university-affiliated governance model.
• CJAM 99.1 FM: CJAM is the campus/community radio station of the University of Windsor. It is a CRTC-licensed campus broadcaster with a volunteer-driven programming model, alternative/independent music focus, and community-coverage mandate that mirrors CISM's operating approach, albeit serving a different city and anglophone audience.
• CJLO 1690 AM: CJLO is the campus radio station of Concordia University in Montréal. Like CISM, it is a non-profit, volunteer-driven community broadcaster with a CRTC campus license, alternative/independent music programming, and coverage of the Montréal cultural scene, serving a comparable student-youth demographic.
• CKUT 90.3 FM: CKUT is the campus/community radio station of McGill University, also based in Montréal. It operates as a volunteer-driven, non-profit broadcaster with the same CRTC campus-radio license category and similar programming mix (alternative music, spoken word, community coverage), making it the most direct English-language counterpart to CISM in the same city.
• CFRC 101.9 FM: CFRC is the campus radio station of Queen's University in Kingston. It shares CISM's CRTC campus-radio licensing, volunteer-host programming model, and emphasis on independent music and community journalism, making it a comparable Canadian university broadcaster.
• CKIA 88.3 FM: CKIA is a French-language community radio station based in Québec City. Like CISM, it is a non-profit, volunteer-driven broadcaster focused on alternative and independent music not represented on commercial radio, making it a natural francophone community-radio peer in the same province.

Others

• Ferarock: Ferarock is a French federation of associative/community radio stations dedicated to broadcasting emerging music. CISM participates as a 'sister station' member, making Ferarock an ecosystem counterpart that aggregates content and amplifies the same alternative-music mission across France and the francophone world.

Broad incumbents

• Radio-Canada (CBC/Radio-Canada): Radio-Canada is Canada's national French-language public broadcaster. While CISM and Radio-Canada operate under different mandates (community/campus vs. national public), both serve francophone Canadian audiences with music, news, and cultural programming, and they compete indirectly for advertising and listener attention in the same Montréal market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CISM893
• Facebookfacebook.com/cism893
• Instagraminstagram.com/cism_89.3
• TikToktiktok.com/@cism893
• Xx.com/cism893
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cism-89-3-fm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 CISM 89,3 FM