
If you’re a Montreal Canadiens fan who happens to live outside Quebec—or an expat who can’t quit your favorite French-language station—finding a live 98.5 FM stream online used to mean digging through French-only sites and hoping for the best. Here’s the practical guide that actually works: step-by-step ways to tune into 98.5 FM Montréal from anywhere in the world, with the platforms that reliably deliver the signal.
Frequency: 98.5 MHz · Primary City: Montréal, Canada · Format: News and Talk · Owner: Cogeco Media · Notable Coverage: Canadiens hockey matches
Quick snapshot
- Primary broadcast in Montréal at 98.5 MHz FM (Online Radio Canada)
- News/talk format owned by Cogeco Media (Online Radio Canada)
- Montreal Canadiens games broadcast live (Online Radio Canada)
- Exact launch date beyond year 1977
- Current listener ratings or BBM data
- Stream quality specs such as bitrate
- Live stream accessible via official site and aggregators (Official 98.5 FM)
- Third-party platforms expanding global reach (myTuner Radio)
- French-language content remains primary offering (Online Radio Box)
Key station identifiers and broadcast parameters are summarized in the table below.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.5 MHz FM |
| Location | Montréal, Quebec, Canada |
| Owner | Cogeco Media |
| Language | French |
| Key Shows | Patrick Lagacé, Canadiens games |
How to Listen to 98.5 FM Montréal Live Online?
Getting the 98.5 FM live signal from outside Quebec is easier than most English speakers expect—you just need to know which doors to knock on.
Official Website Stream
The most direct path runs through Official 98.5 FM website, which carries both live audio and on-demand replays. The site updates continuously with news segments and talk show archives. No account is required for live listening—just click play and the stream fires up in your browser.
Third-Party Streaming Sites
Several international aggregators carry the CHMP-FM signal without requiring registration. Radio.net and myTuner Radio offer free global streaming with mobile-friendly interfaces. Online Radio Box and TuneIn round out the options, giving you multiple backup paths if one platform experiences downtime.
Mobile App Options
For Android devices, dedicated apps are available on Google Play for 24/7 live streaming. These apps aggregate the 98.5 FM feed alongside other Montreal stations, giving you quick-access tiles rather than hunting for the right URL each time.
What is 98.5 FM Radio Station?
CHMP-FM operates as a French-language talk radio station broadcasting on 98.5 MHz FM from Longueuil, Quebec, serving the Greater Montréal area with news, opinions, and cultural commentary. The station is owned by Cogeco Media and has maintained a full-time talk format on weekdays since its inception.
Station History and Ownership
The station reportedly launched in 1977 under founder Stephane Venne before being acquired by Cogeco Media in the decades that followed. Power output reaches 100,000 watts from the Mount Royal transmission site, making it one of the stronger signals in the Quebec broadcast landscape. The station’s slogan, “Parce que vous voulez tout savoir” (Because you want to know everything), reflects its editorial mission.
Programming Focus
Weekday programming centers on politics, economics, social issues, and culture, with the morning show Puisqu’il faut se lever hosted by Paul Arcand airing at 5:30am. Other notable personalities include Nathalie Normandeau, Isabelle Maréchal, Bernard Drainville, Patrick Lagacé, Paul Houde, and Benoît Dutrizac. Weekend blocks incorporate music alongside continued talk content.
The station broadcasts exclusively in French with no dedicated English programming, which limits direct appeal for non-French speakers despite strong content in Canadiens coverage and talk radio.
Where Does 98.5 FM Broadcast?
The primary broadcast footprint covers the Greater Montréal region and surrounding areas, with the transmission originating from Longueuil across the Saint Lawrence River from downtown Montreal.
Montréal Coverage
The 98.5 MHz signal blankets the Montréal metropolitan area at 100,000 watts of power, reaching listeners across the Island of Montréal, Laval, and the South Shore suburbs. The broadcast address is 800 rue de la Gauchetière Ouest, bureau 1100, Montréal H5A 1M1.
Other Locations like Ottawa and Victoria
Online streaming effectively makes 98.5 FM a global station—the physical FM frequency 98.5 MHz also exists in other Canadian markets, but these are separate stations with different programming. When searching for “98.5 FM Victoria” or “98.5 FM Ottawa,” you’re finding local variants, not the Montréal CHMP-FM stream. The Cogeco 98.5 FM signal for Canadiens hockey remains exclusive to the Montréal station.
Online Radio Canada provides detailed station specifications and regional broadcast information.
How to Stream Cogeco 98.5 Radio Live?
Streaming the Cogeco-owned 98.5 FM station requires either visiting the official web presence directly or using one of several third-party platforms that have licensed the feed. Both routes are free and work without creating an account.
Step-by-Step Web Access
For desktop or laptop listening, open the official 98.5 FM website and look for the live audio player—typically positioned near the top of the homepage. Click the play button and allow browser permissions if prompted. On Radio.net, search “985 FM Montréal” and select the CHMP-FM entry to stream directly in-browser or via their mobile site.
App and Device Setup
TuneIn users can search for “Stream Montreal” or the station call letters CHMP-FM within the app to add 98.5 FM to their favorites for quick access. On mobile, myTuner Radio provides a streamlined interface that remembers your last-played station. Android users can install the dedicated Montreal 98.5 FM app from Google Play for one-tap access without opening a browser.
What Canadiens Hockey Coverage on 98.5 Montréal?
The Montreal Canadiens represent one of the station’s most internationally recognized content offerings, drawing hockey fans well beyond the French-speaking Quebec audience.
Live Match Broadcasts
CHMP-FM carries live broadcasts of Canadiens games throughout the NHL season, with play-by-play commentary and post-game analysis. The stream quality through the official site and major aggregators delivers real-time coverage suitable for following games live while commuting or traveling abroad.
Key Hosts
Patrick Lagacé hosts afternoon programming on 98.5 FM and frequently covers Canadiens topics during his show. His segments often include player interviews, game previews, and post-mortem discussions that resonate with dedicated hockey fans regardless of language preference.
For Canadiens fans outside Quebec, streaming 98.5 FM provides French-language commentary that many listeners describe as more passionate and detailed than English-language national broadcasts.
Confirmed
- Primary broadcast in Montréal at 98.5 MHz FM
- News/talk format owned by Cogeco Media
- Montreal Canadiens games broadcast live
- French-language programming with no English-specific shows
Unclear
- Exact launch date beyond year 1977
- Current listener numbers or BBM ratings
- Stream quality specifications (bitrate)
- Official English-language resources
Official 98.5 FM website“L’actualité et les opinions qui comptent dans le grand Montréal sont au 98.5.”
Radio.net“Parce que vous voulez tout savoir” (Because you want to know everything) — the station’s tagline emphasizing its news-first mission.
For Canadiens fans living outside Quebec, the practical path forward involves choosing between the official site for the most reliable feed or aggregators like TuneIn and Radio.net for mobile convenience. The content is French-language only, but the hockey coverage—particularly Patrick Lagacé’s segments and live game broadcasts—offers enough universal appeal to justify the language investment. Streaming is free across all platforms, no subscription required.
Related reading: St. Laurent Shopping Centre
radioly.app, canadaradiostations.com, streema.com, canadaradiostations.com
Listeners catch Montréal’s top French talk radio on 98.5 FM through apps like TuneIn, or via the CHMP-FM Montreal live stream detailing CHMP-FM’s full offerings.
Frequently asked questions
Can I listen to 98.5 FM outside Montréal?
Yes. Online streaming through the official site, Radio.net, myTuner Radio, TuneIn, and Online Radio Box makes 98.5 FM accessible globally. The FM frequency 98.5 MHz in other cities carries different local stations, so online is the only path to the Montréal CHMP-FM signal.
Is 98.5 FM free to stream?
Yes. All listed platforms—official site, Radio.net, myTuner Radio, TuneIn, Online Radio Box, and Streema—offer free streaming without requiring account creation or subscription.
What devices work for 98.5 Montréal live?
Any device with a browser can access the official site or aggregators. Android users have dedicated apps on Google Play. iOS users access streams through the mobile web or TuneIn app. Smart speakers and car systems work through TuneIn integration.
Does 98.5 FM have an app?
Android apps exist on Google Play for dedicated Montreal 98.5 FM streaming. There is no official iOS app, but iOS users access the stream via mobile Safari through the official site or TuneIn.
How often does 98.5 FM update news?
The station updates continuously throughout the day with news segments, talk shows, and live Canadiens coverage. Morning programming begins at 5:30am with Paul Arcand’s show and continues with daytime talk blocks until evening hours.
What time do Canadiens games start on 98.5?
Game start times vary by NHL schedule—most Canadiens home games air at 7:00pm or 7:30pm Eastern time, with pre-game shows beginning 30-60 minutes before puck drop. Check the official 98.5 FM schedule or NHL.com for specific game times.



