"Boom" was first launched on May 1, 2003 as a network of
French-language oldies stations, and originally included
CFEI-FM and
CHRD-FM.
CFVM-FM and
CFZZ-FM joined the network in 2005 after these stations were acquired by
Astral Media from
Corus Entertainment. All four stations previously had an
adult contemporary format. Since Astral Media already has two
FM stations in each of Quebec's larger markets, it is impossible for them under current
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulations to launch Boom FM stations in these markets without dumping either the
Énergie or the
Rouge FM format, both of which are very successful according to
Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM) ratings. On December 26, 2009, "Boom" added its first
English-language affiliate,
CHBM-FM in
Toronto,
Ontario, which flipped from its longtime
adult contemporary EZ Rock format (as CJEZ-FM) to
adult hits under the
Boom 97.3 name. It was the only Boom FM station not using the
classic hits format, though its logo uses the same lettering and
45 RPM plastic insert device as its Quebec counterparts. Owner
Stingray Radio, however, currently markets the station's format as classic hits. On June 30, 2011, "Boom" added its second
English-language affiliate,
CJOT-FM in
Ottawa which flipped from the very same
adult contemporary of the former CJEZ-FM Toronto as
EZ Rock to the classic hits format as
Boom 99.7. Following Bell Media's approval in 2013 to acquire Astral Media, a condition was placed in which that it must divest itself of several television services and radio stations, including CHBM and CJOT, which were placed in a
blind trust pending its eventual sales. CJOT would be sold
Corus Radio in March 2013, while CHBM was sold to
Stingray Radio in August 2013. Corus' acquisition of CJOT-FM was approved on January 31, 2014, while Stingray's acquisition of CHBM-FM was approved on March 19, 2014. Despite differing ownership, both stations continue to use the Boom FM name and logo. On August 25, 2014, Corus'
CJSS-FM in
Cornwall became the newest station in Ontario to be affiliated with the network. In 2017, Stingray Radio gained permission from Bell Media to begin using the Boom brand and its content in
Alberta. In July 2017, several of Stingray's rural Alberta stations took on the Boom format. In May 2018, Boom 104.1
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Boom 106.5
Saint-Hyacinthe has changed to an
adult contemporary format. On February 8, 2024, Bell announced a restructuring that included the sale of 45 of its 103 radio stations to seven buyers, subject to approval by the CRTC, including
CFZZ and
CFEI, which was to be sold to Arsenal Media. On March 11, 2025 the CRTC approved the sale to
Arsenal Media. On April 22, 2025, all of the French Boom affiliates have disbanded to affiliate with the O network by Arsenal Media, this means that the original Boom affiliates are gone and now the English Boom affiliates are whats left of Boom FM. ==Stations==