Radio Parallèle

Infobox Radio Station
name = Radio Parallèle


area = CAN
USA
branding = RadioParallelefr
slogan =
airdate = 2005-11-17
2006-04-17 as SportPlus
2007-04-06 as Radio Parallèle
frequency = XM172
format = Talk Radio for men and Play-by-Play fr icon
affiliations = Senators Radio Network
Canadiens Radio Network
class = Satellite Radio Station
owner = XM Radio Canada|
website = [http://www.xmradio.com/programming/channel_page.jsp?ch=172 Radio Parallèle]

Radio Parallèle is XM Satellite Radio's French language men's talk radio channel, located on XM channel 172. Radio Parallèle is also the home for select french play-by-play of the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators hockey teams .

Franc Parler and SportPlus (2005-11-17 - 2007-04-06)

The French language channel debuted as Franc Parler on XM Satellite radio (It was an XM Radio Canada startup offering. XM Canada stations also air on XM's main USA service). Franc Parler began as a men's lifestyle and sports talk channel. It soon evolved into a sports format and the channel was renamed SportsPlus to reflect the obvious.

SportsPlus added a new dimension when it began airing the French over-the-air broadcasts of National Hockey League play-by-play of the Montreal Canadiens games from flagship station CKAC Radio Montreal. (XM Radio owns the rights to broadcast National Hockey League games and had already been airing most Canadien games in English within the NHL XM channel range. XM Canada/SportsPlus actually had made an unsuccessful bid to be the flagship station to grab exclusive radio rights to the Canadiens.)

XM172 quickly developed into full time sports talk format, with original programming of three programs: a morning, noon, and afternoon show, as well as some original weekend programs. It continued to evolve and later added a live show to wrap around Canadien nighttime hockey games. That show, aired live until midnight Eastern time and would take phone calls emanating from Canada and the U.S. Former Canadien player Benoît Brunet became a primary hockey analyst for the station. Additionally, more live sports were added, including QUFL, & USL, as well as the Ottawa Senators NHL French broadcasts.

On August 11, 2006, XM signed controversial shock jock Jeff Fillion, formerly involved in the CHOI-FM license renewal controversy, to host a daily morning program on SportPlus. [cite press release |publisher=CNW Telbec |date=2006-08-11 |url=http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/August2006/11/c5263.html |title="Le Pirate" Jeff Fillion comes to XM Canada |accessdate=2007-09-18]

However, due to budget issues, XM Radio Canada decided to release the sporting staff at SportPlus. [cite news |first=Pierre |last=Trudel |title=Les stations francophones de XM dissoutes... ou presque |language=French Canadian |url=http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070322/CPSPORTS/703220698/5157/CPSPORTS |date=2007-03-22 |accessdate=2007-09-19 ] A two week notice was given to the entire air staff. The station was rebranded as Radio Parallèle during that layoff period.

Programming

* "Le pirate" with Jeff Fillion - Weekdays 7 AM ET/ 4 AM PT
* "Sans comrpomis" with Stéphane Gendron - Weekday 12PM ET / 9AM PT
* "Truck Stop Quebec" with Benoit Therrien, Jean-Claude Richard, Guylaine Brule, Simon Roy, Yvan Therrien - Sunday 2PM ET / 6PM Wednesday 10PM ET / 12AM PT
* "Radio SHOCK" with Smart, Duff and Witness - Friday 10PM ET / 12AM PT

This channel, The Verge, ATN-Asian Radio, and/or Laugh Attack will be preempted by XM Radio Canada in order to air extra NHL play-by-play on channels 235-239.

References

External links

* [http://www.xmradio.ca/onxm/channelpage.cfm?lang=en&ch=172 Radio Parallèle on XM Canada site]
* [http://www.xmradio.ca/onxm/channelpage.cfm?lang=fr&ch=172 Radio Parallèle on XM Canada site fr icon]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/programming/channel_page.jsp?ch=172 Radio Parallèle on XM US site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ToEPws446I SportPlus XM Commercial fr icon]