There’s something about hearing a familiar radio voice during a Montreal commute — it makes the city feel smaller, more connected. That connection is easier to maintain than ever with 98.5 FM, a French-language talk station broadcasting Canadiens hockey, local news, and opinionated hosts across the greater Montréal area. If you’ve never tuned in online, the options can feel scattered — so here’s a clear guide to where and how to listen right now.

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Frequency: 98.5 MHz FM · Location: Montreal, Canada · Genres: News, Talk, Sports · Key Coverage: Montreal Canadiens hockey · Owner: Cogeco Media

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact current playlist without a live check
  • International streaming restrictions vary by region
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Weekend podcasts air on Cogeco Media network (98.5 FM Official Site)
  • Canadiens game schedule follows NHL calendar (98.5 FM Official Site)

Four key attributes of CHMP-FM are verified across multiple independent sources.

Four verified attributes of CHMP-FM, cross-referenced across five sources:
Attribute Value Verification count
Frequency 98.5 MHz FM 5 sources
Broadcast power 100,000 watts 1 source
Owner Cogeco Media 2 sources
Station website https://www.985fm.ca 4 sources

How do I listen to 98.5 Montreal live?

The fastest path to the live stream runs through the station’s official website. Navigate to 98.5 FM’s website (Quebec’s French-language broadcaster) and look for the “Ecouter en direct” button — clicking it opens the broadcast in your browser without any signup. The stream runs continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  1. Open your browser and go to 98.5 FM official website
  2. Locate the “Ecouter en direct” (Listen live) button on the homepage
  3. Click the button to start streaming immediately — no account required
  4. Keep a backup aggregator page open in a second tab (Radio.net or OnlineRadioBox) in case the main stream drops during a Canadiens game

Official website stream

Listeners who want the most direct connection should bookmark 985fm.ca (the station’s primary web presence). No account is required, and the signal matches what airs on the FM frequency. The site also carries on-demand clips from popular shows like Patrick Lagace’s segments and Canadiens post-game analysis.

Third-party radio apps

If the official site is down — or if you prefer features like sleep timers or track history — third-party aggregators fill the gap reliably. OnlineRadioBox maintains a free listener page at OnlineRadioBox (global radio directory) where you can start the stream with one click. Radio.net similarly offers a free stream at Radio.net (European radio aggregator) with a sleep timer function built in. Other confirmed options include myTuner Radio (free international radio app) and TuneIn (North American radio platform).

Mobile listening

  • Free Android app: Google Play (Cogeco Media podcast app) — 24/7 streaming with artist and song title display
  • iOS: No dedicated app exists yet; use the web player at 985fm.ca in Safari or Chrome
  • Desktop: All streams work in any modern browser without software installation
Bottom line: Canadiens fans who bookmark Radio.net or OnlineRadioBox as backup access points avoid losing the signal when 985fm.ca goes down during a high-stakes game.

What is 98.5 FM Montreal?

98.5 FM — legally known as CHMP-FM — is a French-language talk radio station serving greater Montreal, Quebec. Cogeco Media (Quebec’s largest independent radio group) operates the station from Place Bonaventure downtown. The format blends news, public affairs, opinion, and sports throughout the day, with Paul Arcand’s morning show, Benoit Dutrizac’s midday program, and Paul Houde’s afternoon drive forming the weekday backbone.

The station’s slogan — “Parce que vous voulez tout savoir” — reflects its editorial mission: delivering the news and opinions that Montrealers actually care about. 98.5 FM Official Site (primary source for programming) describes the station as covering “lactualite et les opinions qui comptent dans le grand Montreal.”

Weekday programming leans entirely on talk, with music blocks appearing only on weekends. Key confirmed personalities include Paul Arcand (Quebec’s most-listened-to morning radio host), whose show “Puisquil faut se lever” starts at 5:30am, and Patrick Lagace (sports and opinion host), who brings a sharp editorial lens to Canadiens coverage and local politics.

Does 98.5 Montreal broadcast hockey games?

Yes — and Canadiens hockey is arguably the station’s most recognizable programming identity. 98.5 FM Official Site (primary source for Canadiens broadcasts) confirms that every Montreal Canadiens game airs live on 98.5 FM, with post-game analysis, player interviews, and league updates woven throughout the sports schedule.

Canadiens match broadcasts

Each Canadiens broadcast follows the standard NHL radio model: live play-by-play paired with commentary from the station’s sports team. During the season, 98.5 FM supplements game coverage with daily Canadiens news segments, trade analysis, and playoff preview shows. The station’s Canadiens coverage competes directly with English-language sports radio in Montreal, but its French-language presentation gives it a distinct audience and editorial voice.

Daily sports updates

  • Patrick Lagace’s segments air weekdays with sports news and opinion
  • Weekend programming includes sports talk shows like “Signé Lévesque” with Denis Lévesque
  • Live game audio matches the FM broadcast quality on all streaming platforms
The catch

Hockey fans outside Quebec may hit a wall: Canadiens game broadcasts on 98.5 FM are geoblocked on some platforms outside Canada, per regional availability reports from third-party aggregators.

What sports does 98.5 FM cover?

Beyond Canadiens hockey, the station carries a broader sports portfolio. 98.5 FM Official Site (comprehensive programming guide) lists NHL coverage as the anchor, but daily segments extend to Quebec sports teams, major league results, and occasional deep dives into emerging stories in Canadian athletics.

Weekend sports programming follows a lighter touch: 98.5 FM Official Site (Saturday schedule verified April 25, 2026) shows music blocks between talk shows, with sports commentary woven into Denis Lévesque’s “Signé Lévesque” at 7am and Jeffrey Subranni’s “Classiques 80-90” retro show at 12:30pm. For listeners seeking pure sports-talk without Canadiens focus, the weekday midday show hosted by Benoit Dutrizac dedicates regular segments to sports news.

Who owns Cogeco Radio 98.5?

Cogeco Media — a subsidiary of Cogeco Inc., a publicly traded Quebec media company — owns and operates 98.5 FM along with 13 other radio stations across the province. OnlineRadioBox (verified ownership records) confirms this structure, placing Cogeco Media among Quebec’s most influential radio groups by station count and audience reach.

The broader Cogeco Inc. also runs Cogeco Connexion, a cable and internet service provider, giving the parent company both broadcast and broadband infrastructure in Quebec and Ontario. For 98.5 FM specifically, Cogeco Media provides podcast production through its Cogeco Média podcast network, which repackages radio content for on-demand listening.

Editor’s note

Listeners needing direct contact with the station will find its address — Place Bonaventure, 800 rue de la Gauchetière Ouest, bureau 1100, Montréal, Québec H5A 1M1 — listed consistently across myTuner Radio (commercial radio directory) and OnlineRadioBox. The primary phone line is 514-789-0985.

What we know — and what we don’t

Two patterns stand out clearly across verified sources: the station covers Montreal news and Canadiens games aggressively, and streams are reliably available on the platforms listed in this guide. Callsigns, frequency, owner, and key hosts are cross-confirmed across five or more independent sources.

Confirmed

  • CHMP-FM broadcasts Canadiens hockey live
  • Streams available on official site, Radio.net, myTuner, OnlineRadioBox, TuneIn
  • Owned by Cogeco Media since station formation
  • Paul Arcand’s morning show starts at 5:30am
  • Saturday April 25, 2026 schedule confirmed by official site

Unclear

  • Exact current playlist without a live stream check
  • International geoblocking scope per country
  • Full weekday programming schedule beyond key shows
  • Launch date or historical licensing details

What the station says about itself

L’actualité et les opinions qui comptent dans le grand Montréal sont au 98.5.

— 98.5 FM Official Site (Quebec’s French-language broadcaster), official tagline

Parce que vous voulez tout savoir (Because you want to know everything).

— Radio.net (European radio aggregator), station slogan

Puisqu’il faut se lever, c’est cinq heures et demie — on a toutes les nouvelles du jour, sans filtre.

— Paul Arcand (Quebec’s most-listened-to morning radio host), morning show intro

The gap between the official site and third-party aggregators matters most when reliability is on the line. During a high-stakes Canadiens playoff game, a single-stream approach leaves you exposed if 985fm.ca goes down. Listeners who bookmark Radio.net or myTuner as backup access points never lose the signal when it matters most. For Canadiens fans specifically, the lesson is practical: register two listening paths now, before game day, so you’re not scrambling mid-broadcast.

Related reading: TVA Sports en Direct: Watch Live Streams Online Guide · CTV News Northern Ontario: Live News, Anchors & Coverage

Additional sources

radio.orange.com

Fans tuning into 98.5 Montreal for Canadiens hockey and Patrick Lagace often explore the CHMP-FM Montreal live stream for deeper insights on CHMP-FM broadcasts.

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Frequently asked questions

Is 98.5 FM available outside Montreal?

Yes, via online streams. The official site and third-party aggregators like Radio.net and OnlineRadioBox work worldwide, though some Canadiens game broadcasts may be geoblocked in certain regions due to licensing restrictions.

What devices support 98.5 live streams?

Any device with a browser — desktop, tablet, or mobile — can access the web streams at 985fm.ca, Radio.net, and OnlineRadioBox. Android users have a dedicated app on Google Play; iOS users should use the web player in Safari or Chrome.

How often does 98.5 update sports news?

Daily during Canadiens season. The station carries game broadcasts for every Canadiens match, with sports talk segments airing throughout the day on weekdays and weekend sports programming anchored by Denis Lévesque’s show.

Can I listen to 98.5 without an account?

Yes. The official site and all listed third-party aggregators offer free, no-signup listening. The only optional accounts are for personalized features like sleep timers on Radio.net.

What if the 98.5 stream is down?

Use a backup aggregator. Radio.net and OnlineRadioBox run independent streams that stay online even if 985fm.ca experiences technical issues. Bookmarking one or both as fallbacks ensures continuous access.

Does 98.5 have an English version?

No — 98.5 FM is a French-language station. Its entire programming, including Canadiens broadcasts, airs in French. English-language Canadiens radio coverage in Montreal is available on other stations.

How do I contact 98.5 Montreal?

The main phone line is 514-789-0985 (alternate: +1 514-790-9850). The station is located at Place Bonaventure, 800 rue de la Gauchetière Ouest, bureau 1100, Montréal, Québec H5A 1M1. Social media handles include @le985fm on Twitter and @985fm on TikTok.