98.5 FM Live Stream: Listen to 98.5 Montréal Online

98.5 FM — known to insiders as CHMP — has been Montréal’s dominant French-language talk radio voice since 2004, and tuning in has never been easier thanks to a handful of free streaming options. Whether you’re after morning opinion, live hockey, or just want to feel connected to the city from anywhere, here’s exactly how to get 98.5 FM on your device right now.

Frequency: 98.5 FM · City: Montréal · Owner: Cogeco Media · Format: News/Talk · Team Coverage: Canadiens hockey

How do I listen to 98.5 FM live?

Getting 98.5 FM on your device takes less than two minutes if you know where to click. The official site offers the most reliable stream, but a few third-party aggregators provide convenient alternatives when you want something quick and app-based.

Official website player

• Visit www.985fm.ca — the station’s official website run by Cogeco Media
• Look for the “Écouter en direct” (Listen Live) button near the top of the page
• The player loads directly in your browser without needing any plugin or account

Mobile apps and aggregators

• myTuner Radio — available on Google Play, search for “CHMP 98.5 FM” and add to your favorites for instant access
• Radio.fr — open Radio.net’s 98.5 FM page and hit play; works in any browser on mobile or desktop
• Radio.net app — download from your app store, search “98.5 Montréal,” and the stream is ready 24/7
• Radioplayer — Canadian station aggregator offering direct access to 98.5 FM among hundreds of local stations

All these options stream the same audio content from Cogeco’s servers — you’re not getting a different version from a third party. The main difference is convenience: radio.net and myTuner let you save the station alongside others for quick switching, while the official site gives you the cleanest interface and earliest access to new features.

Alternative streaming sites

• Online Radio Box — lists the official stream link alongside contact details and social media handles
• myTuner Radio website — play the station directly from the web portal without installing anything
• Orange Radios — European aggregator carrying the Montreal stream for diaspora listeners

The implication: as long as you can open a web browser or install a free radio app, you’re never more than a few taps away from 98.5 FM. No subscription, no sign-up form, no fees — Cogeco Media makes the stream freely accessible because that’s how the station builds its daily audience.

What is 98.5 FM Montréal?

98.5 FM — legally known as CHMP-FM — is a French-language talk radio station broadcasting from Montréal, Quebec. The station has operated under Cogeco Média’s ownership since it launched its current format, and its studios sit at 800 Rue de la Gauchetière Ouest, Bureau 1100, in downtown Montréal.

Station overview

• Frequency: 98.5 MHz — picked up across Greater Montréal, the South Shore, and into parts of the Laurentians
• Power: 100,000 watts effective radiated power — strong enough to cover the entire metropolitan area and beyond
• Antenna: Omnidirectional at 298.9 metres height above average terrain on Mount Royal, giving clean reception across the island of Montréal
• License: Officially licensed to Longueuil but serves the Greater Montréal market
• Slogan: “Parce que vous voulez tout savoir” — a tagline that has run since the talk format launched

The pattern: 98.5 FM carved out a distinct identity by going all-in on talk at a time when most Montreal stations still mixed music into their schedules. Two decades later, that bet has paid off — the station routinely posts the highest listenership numbers in Quebec’s French radio market.

Programming format

The station runs a news and talk format from early morning to late afternoon, covering politics, economics, social issues, and culture through a rotating cast of Quebec’s most recognizable radio personalities. Weekend programming shifts to music blocks, breaking the weekday talk rhythm.

• Morning (6h–9h): Paul Arcand hosts “Puisqu’il faut se lever” — the station’s flagship program and a major driver of its audience
• Midday: Benoît Dutrizac anchors “Puisqu’il faut se lever” midday segment
• Afternoon: Paul Houde takes over for sports talk and commentary
• Regular shows: “L’effet Normandeau” with Nathalie Normandeau, “Signé Lévesque” with Denis Lévesque at 7h, “Classiques 80-90” at 11h
• Sports block: “Les amateurs de sports” at 15h with Mario Langlois covers hockey, football, and soccer

Ownership details

Cogeco Média operates the station as part of its Quebec radio cluster — one of the largest French-language radio groups in Canada. The company also runs several other Quebec stations, giving 98.5 FM access to shared resources for sports rights, news gathering, and digital infrastructure. Cogeco’s media division sits separately from its telecom operations, which confuse some listeners who associate the Cogeco name with internet and cable services.

Does 98.5 FM cover Montréal Canadiens hockey?

Yes — 98.5 FM broadcasts Montréal Canadiens games live, making the station essential listening for hockey fans who want French-language play-by-play and analysis. The sports coverage extends beyond hockey to football and soccer through dedicated sections on the station’s website.

Hockey broadcasts

• Live Canadiens game coverage runs throughout the NHL season on 98.5 FM
• The station’s sports team provides commentary before and after games, not just during play
• Game day coverage on the 98.5 FM sports page includes schedules, scores, and recaps

Live game streams

When you’re streaming 98.5 FM through the official site or any of the third-party apps listed above, Canadiens games come through automatically — the stream doesn’t switch or require a separate link. You get the live radio broadcast synced to whatever device you’re using.

Schedule integration

• The 98.5 FM emissions page lists full program schedules including sports blocks
• “Les amateurs de sports” at 15h weekday is the main sports show slot, with game broadcasts scheduled around it
• Game day schedules appear on the sports section with match times and opponent information

The trade-off: 98.5 FM’s hockey coverage competes with TSN 690 (English-language) and RDS (French TV) for audience. For French-language radio commentary specifically, 98.5 FM has no direct competitor in the Montreal market, making it the default choice for francophone hockey fans.

What are the best ways to stream Cogeco Radio 98.5 live?

Cogeco Media has invested heavily in digital access, meaning 98.5 FM streams are available across virtually every platform. Here’s the practical breakdown by device type and use case.

Web players

• www.985fm.ca — click the live player icon, no sign-in required
• Radio.net web player — browser-based, saves station to your Radio.net account
• myTuner Radio web portal — one-click playback from any desktop browser

App recommendations

• 98.5 FM / CHMP-FM app — available on Google Play, includes live stream, song/artist info display, and social sharing; best for Android users who want a dedicated icon
• Radio.net — iOS and Android; lets you organize stations by city, runs in the background when you switch apps
• myTuner Radio — available on both platforms; includes sleep timer, alarm function, and the ability to record live moments

Device compatibility

• Smartphones and tablets: All browser-based players and apps work on iOS and Android
• Desktop and laptop: Official site, Radio.net, and myTuner web portals all work in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
• Smart speakers: Radio.net skill works on Alexa devices; myTuner Radio skill available for Google Home
• Car audio: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both support the Radio.net app for hands-free listening while driving

The implication: Cogeco’s streaming infrastructure is solid, but the free access model means the audio quality maxes out at standard streaming bitrates rather than the lossless quality you’d get from a high-end FM receiver. For talk radio, this is fine. For audiophiles who want studio-perfect fidelity, it falls short.

How does 98.5 FM compare to other Montréal radios?

Montreal’s radio landscape is unusually competitive — the city supports multiple news stations, music formats, and cultural channels across English and French frequencies. Here’s how 98.5 FM stacks up against its closest alternatives.

Radio Montréal live options

• Cogeco stations: Beyond 98.5 FM, Cogeco Média runs CHMP, CKAC (traffic), and other Quebec properties — but 98.5 FM remains the flagship talk station
• RDI (CBC/Radio-Canada): French-language news radio on 98.1 FM; more wire-service focused than 98.5 FM’s opinion-driven format
• CHMP vs. CHKM (RDI): 98.5 FM leads in talk personalities and audience size; RDI leads in breaking news speed

Similar stations like Ocean 98.5

Ocean 98.5 (CFQX-FM) operates from Selkirk, Manitoba — a completely separate station serving a rural Manitoba market with a classic hits format. It shares no programming, ownership, or branding with CHMP-FM in Montreal. The “98.5” coincidence is purely numerical and causes confusion in search results. Listeners looking for Montreal Canadiens coverage should ignore Manitoba Ocean 98.5 entirely — it’s a different format, different region, and different audience.

What this means: the shared frequency number creates search confusion, but geographically there’s zero overlap between the two stations.

“98,5 FM is the number 1 station in Montreal, Quebec, and Canada.”

— Online Radio Box (Station Directory)

“One of the few full-time FM talk stations in North America to broadcast in stereo.”

— Wikipedia (Encyclopedia Entry)

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

— 98.5 FM Official (Station Slogan)

Related reading: World Aquatics Championships 2025 Schedule and Watch Live

Streamers of 98.5 FM Montréal’s news and Canadiens hockey often pair official apps with this 98.5 Montreal live stream for additional free access options like myTuner.

Frequently asked questions

For Montréal Canadiens fans who want French-language commentary, the choice is effectively binary: 98.5 FM is the only full-time FM talk station carrying live game broadcasts, and its free streaming removes any barrier to entry. Open the official site, hit play, and you’re in — no account, no credit card, no waiting.