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Radio Parallèle

Radio Parallèle
SportPlus
Broadcast area Canada
United States
Branding RadioParallelefr
Frequency XM172(Until May 3, 2011)
XM156(Start May 4, 2011)[1]
First air date November 17, 2005
April 17, 2006 as SportPlus
April 8, 2007 as Radio Parallèle
Format Talk Radio (in French)
Class Satellite Radio Station
Affiliations Radio Pirate.com
Owner XM Radio Canada
Website Radio Parallèle

Radio Parallèle was XM Satellite Radio's French-language men's talk radio channel, located on XM channel 156. The channel was produced by XM Radio Canada, though the programming, as well as the near-totality of the shows aired, were done from the Radio Pirate.com studios out of Quebec City, Quebec, owned by morning-man Jeff Fillion.

After a one-season hiatus in 2009-2010, live French-language broadcasts of the Montreal Canadiens (both home and away) games are back on this channel. The regular programming is then suspended to air the matches, from CKAC's feed. On August 15, 2011, this channel was replaced by Voices Radio, a coast-to-coast showcase of Canadian music of various styles.

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 in Montreal. (XM Radio owns the rights to broadcast National Hockey League games and had already been airing most Canadiens 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 Canadiens 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.


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