CHOU (AM)
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| City | Montreal, Quebec |
|---|---|
| Branding | CRMO Radio Middle East |
| Frequency | 1450 kHz (AM) & 104.5 (FM) |
| Format |
multilingual Predominantly Arabic |
| Power | 2,000 watts daytime 1,000 watts nighttime |
| ERP | 49 watts (FM) |
| Class | B (AM) |
| Callsign meaning | Chou (شو) means "What?" in Arabic |
| Owner | Radio Moyen-Orient |
| Website | www.1450am.ca - CHOU 1450 AM |
CHOU (Arabic: إذاعة الشرق الأوسط Idhā‘at ash-Sharq al-’Awsaṭ ; French: Radio Moyen-Orient ; English: Middle East Radio) is a multilingual Canadian radio station broadcasting in Montreal, Quebec on 1450 AM and retransmitted on 104.5 FM. The main programming is in Arabic language and caters for various Arab and Middle Eastern communities in Greater Montreal and vicinity in Arabic including Lebanese, Syrian, Egyptian and Maghrebi dialects. CHOU also runs a two-hour weekly show in Armenian. It is also offered online and on various applications.
In 2016, Middle East Radio also launched its radio transmissions in Halifax, Nova Scotia on CHHU-FM on 99.1 FM with a multicultural / multilingual programming licence, with main programming in Arabic language in addition to various multilingual programming in 10 different languages.
The station started its Arabic programming in 1996. For almost 10 years, and until early 2007, the station used SCMO (Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operations) service located under the main carrier of CISM-FM. Subscribing listeners would have to buy special receiving devices to be able to tune in to the broadcasts.
Radio Moyen-Orient / Middle East Radio received approval to broadcast on 1450 by the CRTC on March 15, 2006, enabling the station to broadcast starting January 18, 2007 on the newly assigned AM channel without any need for acquiring special devices by listeners. This resulted in a big increase in the listenership of the station. The 1450 kHz frequency had been previously used by CHEF, a station in Granby, approximately 60 km (37 mi) east of Montreal. That station had stopped operations in 1996 and the frequency allocated instead to CHOU-AM.
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