City | Quebec City, Quebec |
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Branding | CHOI 98,1 Radio X |
Frequency | 98.1 MHz (FM) |
Format | talk radio |
ERP | 40 kW |
HAAT | 429 meters (1,407 ft) |
Class | C1 |
Owner | RNC Media |
Sister stations | CHXX-FM |
Website | www.radiox.com |
CHOI-FM is a French language FM radio station that broadcasts on the frequency 98.1 MHz out of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, with a talk radio format (before its takeover by RNC Media, it aired mainly active rock music, and finally to modern rock until becoming a talk radio station in 2010). Locally, it is known as Radio X (a reference to "Generation X", as most of CHOI's listeners consider themselves). It was owned by Genex Communications since July 1996. The Bureau of Broadcast Measurement ratings released in December 2004 revealed that CHOI was the most popular radio station in the city with 443,100 listeners, up from 380,500 earlier in the year. The station is well known for airing controversial ideas and populist opinions. The station has become a target of various groups, notably feminists and gay activists, as well as prominent politicians, for some controversial political statements.
Following a ruling by the CRTC, the station's licence lapsed, with its renewal application denied, in 2004 for failing "to comply with the Radio Regulations 1986 (the Regulations) as well as CHOI-FM's Code of Ethics, adherence to which is required by one of its conditions of licence". Pending a court challenge, the station was permitted to stay on-air without a licence.
On May 8, 2006, Genex announced it would sell the station to RNC Media. The transaction – strictly speaking, the issuing of a new licence to RNC Media on the same frequency rather than a simple transfer of ownership – was approved by the CRTC on October 20.
Jeff Fillion was the most popular host at the station. He was the morning man, hosting with his staff Le monde parallèle de Jeff (Jeff's Parallel World) every weekday morning. Over the years, his ideas and opinions made him the city's most controversial radio host. He teamed up for a time with longtime morning man André Arthur. Fillion was sued numerous times by many well-known people around the province because of his controversial comments. The station's problems with the CRTC are mostly attributed to him and his comments.