Evanov Communications

Evanov Communications is a privately held Canadian radio broadcasting company founded in 1986 and headquartered in Woodbridge, Ontario. The company operates through Evanov Communications Inc. and related entities, including Dufferin Communications Inc., Evanov Radio Group Inc., Halifax Broadcasting Ltd., Ottawa Media Inc., and an ownership interest in CKDX Radio Limited. Its portfolio has included stations serving general-interest, multilingual, French-language, adult contemporary, soft adult contemporary, community-oriented, and LGBTQ-focused audiences. The company expanded through a combination of station acquisitions, applications for new broadcasting licences, and ownership interests in regional radio operators. Its acquisitions included Telephone City Broadcast in Brantford in 2009 and two Winnipeg stations purchased from Newcap Radio in 2011. Evanov also participated in the Rainbow Media Group consortium that received a licence for CIRR-FM in Toronto, a station developed for the city’s LGBTQ community. In Montreal, the company pursued a French-language LGBTQ-oriented service, ultimately launching CHRF, although that station later became defunct. Evanov’s geographic footprint has extended beyond Ontario into Quebec, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. Its Ontario operations have included stations in Brampton, Brantford, Meaford, Newmarket, Orangeville, Ottawa, Clarence-Rockland, and Hawkesbury. Quebec operations have included Montreal and the Hudson–Saint-Lazare area, while Manitoba operations have been concentrated in Winnipeg. Through its interest in Halifax Broadcasting, the group also held Nova Scotia stations before their sale to Acadia Broadcasting. The company’s history reflects the regulatory nature of Canadian broadcasting. Evanov has repeatedly applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for new frequencies, format changes, ownership transfers, and technical amendments. Some applications were approved, while others were denied because of market-impact, interference, or economic concerns. The group joined Bell Media’s iHeartRadio Canada service in 2017, giving its stations access to a national digital audio platform. After the death of founder and chief executive Bill Evanov in February 2020, the company entered a period of portfolio contraction. Acadia Broadcasting announced plans to acquire Evanov’s two Nova Scotia stations in 2020, with the transaction completed in 2021 according to the reference material. Beginning in 2023, Evanov announced closures of selected stations, citing intensified competition, changing listening habits, and economic effects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, stations in Ottawa, Clarence-Rockland, and Hawkesbury were scheduled for closure, but agreements were reached to sell them instead. The proposed transfers were submitted to the CRTC in January 2025 and the stations operated under temporary management arrangements pending approval. Evanov consequently remains a smaller, regionally focused radio group rather than a national broadcasting conglomerate.

Evanov Communications was established in 1986 as a Canadian radio broadcasting company. It developed as a regional operator, building a portfolio through station ownership, licence applications, and affiliated companies rather than through a single national network. The company's corporate structure came to include sole ownership of Dufferin Communications Inc., an 80 percent interest in Halifax Broadcasting Ltd. and Ottawa Media Inc., and a 70 percent interest in CKDX Radio Limited. The ownership structure documented by the CRTC in 2016 identified William Evanov as the principal shareholder of Evanov Communications Inc., with Paul Evanov and the Bill Evanov Family Trust also holding interests. A significant early expansion came in 2006, when Evanov participated in the Rainbow Media Group consortium that received a licence for CIRR-FM in Toronto. The station was designed as an LGBTQ community-oriented service and became one of the most distinctive elements of Evanov's portfolio. In July 2009, Evanov acquired Telephone City Broadcast in Brantford, Ontario, including CKPC. This transaction strengthened the company's presence in southwestern Ontario. The company expanded in Manitoba in 2011. Newcap Radio announced the sale of its Winnipeg stations CKJS and CHNK-FM to Evanov in May, and the transaction received approval in October. The stations subsequently exchanged call signs: CFJL-FM became CHWE-FM, while CHNK-FM became CFJL-FM. Evanov also pursued new licences in several Ontario and Quebec markets during this period. Its application for a new adult contemporary station in Muskoka Lakes was denied by the CRTC in September 2011. Dufferin Communications separately sought the 690 kHz frequency in Montreal for a French-language LGBTQ-oriented station. The regulator instead awarded the company the 990 kHz frequency, which later received the callsign CHRF. Technical and frequency issues led Evanov to request a move to 980 kHz and a delayed launch; CHRF began testing in late 2014. Further applications sought to broaden the company's Ontario and Quebec coverage. In 2012, Dufferin applied for a soft adult contemporary station in Hudson, Quebec, at 106.7 MHz. The station was assigned the callsign CHSV-FM in 2013 and began signal testing in 2014. Dufferin also applied for an adult contemporary station in Clarence-Rockland, Ontario. The CRTC approved that application in February 2013, and the station received the callsign CHRC-FM. An application for a Meaford, Ontario station was approved in January 2014. Evanov also sought a station in Ramara, Ontario, but the CRTC rejected that application in January 2015 because of concerns about an undue negative effect on neighbouring markets. In November 2014, Evanov announced an agreement to acquire CFMB Montreal from CFMB Limited, subject to regulatory approval. The transaction would have connected the Montreal station with Evanov's other multilingual and specialty holdings, including CHRF, CHSV-FM, and CKJS. Evanov's stations later gained an additional digital distribution channel when they joined Bell Media's iHeartRadio Canada service in December 2017. The death of founder and chief executive Bill Evanov in February 2020 marked an important leadership transition. The company subsequently reduced its portfolio. Acadia Broadcasting announced in July 2020 that it intended to acquire CKHZ-FM and CKHY-FM in Nova Scotia; those stations were later listed as sold to Acadia in 2021. Beginning in August 2023, Evanov started shutting down stations, identifying competitive pressure, changes in listener behaviour, and pandemic-related economic conditions as contributing factors. The initial closures included CKPC in Brantford and CIRR-FM in Toronto. In September 2024, the company announced plans to close CJWL-FM in Ottawa, CHRC-FM in Clarence-Rockland, and CKHK-FM in Hawkesbury. Shortly before the planned closure date, Evanov reached agreements to sell all three stations. Radio communautaire Cornwall-Alexandria agreed to acquire CHRC and CKHK, while Torres Media Group agreed to acquire CJWL. The proposed transactions were filed with the CRTC in January 2025 and the stations operated under temporary management agreements while the applications proceeded. In April 2026, Torres Media also announced an intention to acquire CHSV-FM in Hudson and Saint-Lazare. These transactions and closures illustrate the continuing consolidation and economic pressure affecting Canadian local radio. Evanov nevertheless retains a group of stations in Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba, including operations associated with CHLO, CFWC-FM, CJGB-FM, CKDX-FM, CIDC-FM, CFJL-FM, CHWE-FM, CKJS-FM, CHSV-FM, and CFMB.

• 2024

  Three station sales arranged

  [1]Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Planned closures of CJWL-FM, CHRC-FM, and CKHK-FM were replaced by proposed sales to Torres Media Group and Radio communautaire Cornwall-Alexandria.

• 2023

  Station closures begin

  [1]Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Evanov began shutting down selected stations, citing competition, listener changes, and pandemic-related economic conditions.

• 2020

  Bill Evanov dies

  [1]Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Founder and chief executive Vasil William (Bill) Evanov died on February 28.

• 2017

  Stations join iHeartRadio Canada

  [1]Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Evanov stations joined Bell Media's Canadian iHeartRadio service.

• 2014

  CHRF begins signal testing

  [1]Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The Montreal station later known as CHRF began testing on 980 kHz after Evanov sought a technical change from 990 kHz.

• 2011

  Winnipeg stations acquired

  [1]Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Evanov acquired CKJS and CHNK-FM from Newcap Radio after regulatory approval.

• 2009

  Telephone City Broadcast acquired

  [1]Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Evanov acquired Telephone City Broadcast of Brantford, Ontario, including CKPC.

• 2006

  CIRR-FM licence received

  [1]Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Through the Rainbow Media Group consortium, Evanov received a licence for a Toronto LGBTQ community radio station.

• 1986

  Company founded

  [1]Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Evanov Communications was established as a Canadian radio broadcasting company.

A regional Canadian radio operator with a diversified portfolio of local, multilingual, French-language, specialty, and music-format stations.

• Radio broadcasting · 1986

  Local AM and FM radio stations

  Evanov's core offering is a portfolio of terrestrial radio stations serving local and regional audiences. The stations have carried music, news, information, multilingual, French-language, adult contemporary, and community-oriented formats across Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba. Station ownership and operating status have changed over time as the company has acquired, closed, or sold individual licences.

• LGBTQ-focused community radio · 2006

  CIRR-FM

  CIRR-FM was a Toronto radio service developed through the Rainbow Media Group consortium. It was oriented toward the city's LGBTQ community and represented Evanov's participation in specialty and community-focused broadcasting. The station was later listed among the Evanov properties that became defunct during the company's post-2023 contraction.

• French-language specialty radio · 2014

  CHRF

  CHRF was a Montreal station pursued by Dufferin Communications for a French-language format directed toward Montreal's LGBTQ community. The licence history involved a change from the 990 kHz frequency to 980 kHz because of projected reception concerns. The station tested in 2014 and was later listed as defunct.

• Soft adult contemporary radio · 2013

  CHSV-FM

  CHSV-FM was developed for Hudson and the western Montreal area after Dufferin Communications applied for a soft adult contemporary station at 106.7 MHz. The station received its callsign in 2013 and began signal testing in 2014. In 2026, Torres Media announced an intention to acquire the station from Evanov.

• 2017iHeartRadio Canada distribution

  Canada

  Evanov's stations joined Bell Media's iHeartRadio Canada service, extending their availability through a national digital audio platform.

  Outcome. The stations gained an additional digital distribution channel alongside terrestrial broadcasting.

  Source

• 2026

  Proposed sale of CHSV-FMM&A

  Background

  Evanov continued to reduce its holdings in Quebec as part of its broader portfolio contraction.

  Action taken

  Torres Media announced its intention to acquire CHSV-FM in Hudson and Saint-Lazare.

  Source

• 2024

  Replace planned closures with station salesM&A

  Background

  Evanov announced that CJWL-FM, CHRC-FM, and CKHK-FM would close in September 2024.

  Action taken

  The company reached agreements to sell CJWL to Torres Media Group and CHRC and CKHK to Radio communautaire Cornwall-Alexandria.

  Aftermath

  The buyers filed applications with the CRTC in January 2025 and operated the stations under temporary management arrangements pending approval.

  Source

• 2023

  Contract the station portfolioStrategy

  Background

  Evanov cited increased competition, changing listener habits, and economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Action taken

  The company began shutting down selected stations, initially including CKPC in Brantford and CIRR-FM in Toronto.

  Aftermath

  The closures marked a significant contraction of Evanov's operating footprint.

  Source

• 2020

  Sell Nova Scotia stationsM&A

  Background

  Evanov reviewed its regional portfolio after the death of founder Bill Evanov and amid changing radio-market conditions.

  Action taken

  The company agreed to sell CKHZ-FM and CKHY-FM to Acadia Broadcasting.

  Aftermath

  The two Nova Scotia stations were subsequently identified as sold to Acadia in 2021.

  Source

• 2014

  Proceed with Montreal specialty stationStrategy

  Background

  Dufferin Communications pursued a French-language Montreal station aimed at the local LGBTQ community after receiving the 990 kHz frequency.

  Action taken

  Evanov requested a move to 980 kHz and a delayed launch because of expected reception problems, then began signal testing in November 2014.

  Aftermath

  The station operated under the CHRF callsign before later becoming defunct.

  Source

• 2011

  Acquire two Winnipeg stationsM&A

  Background

  Newcap Radio announced the sale of CKJS and CHNK-FM in Winnipeg to Evanov.

  Action taken

  Evanov purchased the two stations after the transaction received regulatory approval.

  Aftermath

  The stations changed call signs and became part of Evanov's Manitoba portfolio.

  Source

• 2011

  Muskoka Lakes licence application deniedOther

  Background

  Evanov applied for a new adult contemporary FM station in Muskoka Lakes at 104.7 MHz.

  Action taken

  The CRTC denied the application on September 27, 2011.

  Aftermath

  Evanov did not launch the proposed Muskoka Lakes station.

  Source

• 2009

  Acquire Telephone City BroadcastM&A

  Background

  Evanov sought to expand its Ontario radio holdings through the purchase of Telephone City Broadcast in Brantford.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Telephone City Broadcast, including CKPC.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition strengthened Evanov's presence in Brantford and southwestern Ontario.

  Source

1. 1Evanov Communicationsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Evanov Communications official websiteevanov.ca