|
Decision
|
|
Ottawa, 5 April 1990
|
|
Decision CRTC 90-356
|
|
Les Communications Matane Inc.
|
|
Matane, Quebec - 882149800Power Broadcasting Inc.Matane, Quebec - 892806100
|
|
Following a Public Hearing in Quebec City beginning on 5 December 1989, the Commission approves the application by Les Communications Matane Inc. for a licence to operate a French-language FM broadcasting transmitting undertaking in Matane, on the frequency 95.3 MHz (channel 237B) with an effective radiated power of 12,730 watts. The Commission will issue a licence expiring on 31 August 1994 subject to the conditions set out in this decision and in the licence to be issued.
|
|
The Commission denies the competing application by Power Broadcasting Inc. to operate a French-language FM broadcasting transmitting undertaking in Matane, on the frequency 95.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 1,380 watts, which would have rebroadcast some local programs from the Matane studios (15 hours weekly) and some CIKI-FM Rimouski programs.
|
|
In approving the application submitted by Les Communications Matane Inc., the Commission took into account the limited resources available in the Matane market and the fact that the proposal to operate the new FM station jointly with the only private local AM station, CHRM Matane, is the best possible option under the circumstances. It will allow the applicant to consolidate its operations in the market and increase the diversity of local radio service.
|
|
The Commission also took into consideration the fact that the applicant proposed to broadcast 126 hours of programming weekly and that much of the programming will be produced locally, apart from a number of syndicated foreground format programs which are to be acquired from Télémédia Communications Inc. (Télémédia). The station's news, enrichment programming and locally-produced foreground programming will focus primarily on topics of concern and interest to the Matane community.
|
|
With regard to news programming, the applicant proposed to broadcast 13 newscasts daily from Monday to Friday, and 6 newscasts daily on Saturday and Sunday. More than 40% of the newscasts will be of a local and regional nature, and national and international news will originate with the Télémédia FM network. The new station will have access to the CHRM news service and a news exchange service involving the region's AM stations and will have its own information director, who will be responsible for ensuring that the news is processed differently for the FM audience.
|
|
With regard to its enrichment material, the station will work with local resource people to broadcast short, pre-recorded capsules on the region's history and topics related to tourism, folklore, shipping and fishing in the region. The applicant will also make use of the resources of a print media group with which it has affiliated in order to produce locally more than half of its enrichment content; the remainder will come from Télémédia.
|
|
The applicant has made a commitment to broadcast at least 17% foreground format programs and 50% combined foreground/mosaic format programs, and to distribute them evenly throughout the entire week. In light of the fact that most syndicated foreground programming acquired from Télémédia will involve a musical theme, the applicant said that it plans to gradually replace some of these programs with local productions and to make them as varied as possible.
|
|
With regard to music format, the applicant proposed a Group I FM station (pop and rock - softer) which will target listeners between 20 and 44 years of age. The sound of the new FM station will complement that of the other radio stations received in Matane, and will serve the audience segment that is currently the least well served by the existing stations. The station will broadcast 20% instrumental music. With a view to enhancing the complementarity of its broadcasting services, the licensee said that, in the future, CHRM's programming will move from its current contemporary MOR format toward a more traditional MOR format. In light of the correction made by the applicant at the hearing, the applicant is required to submit to the Commission, within three months of the date of this decision, a revised Promise of Performance which reflects its commitment to broadcast at least six hours of traditional and special interest music each week (Category 6).
|
|
With regard to its contribution to the development of Canadian talent, the applicant has committed itself to allocating $1,200 annually for recording and broadcasting the annual recital given by the students of the Matane music school and the recital by the teachers of the same institution. The applicant will also offer three $500 bursaries each year to music students at the Polyvalente de Matane who are preparing to enter the conservatory.
|
|
It is a condition of licence that construction of the undertaking be completed and that it be in operation within twelve months of the date of this decision or, where the applicant applies to the Commission within this twelve-month period and satisfies the Commission that it cannot complete the construction and begin the operation of the station before the expiry of this period and that an extension is in the public interest, within such further period of time as is approved in writing by the Commission.
|
|
It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) self-regulatory guidelines on sex-role stereotyping, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. It is also a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the provisions of the CAB's Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
|
The Commission authorizes the licensee to use the Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation. It expects the applicant to adhere to the guidelines set out in Appendix A to Public Notice CRTC 1989-23 dated 23 March 1989 entitled Services Using the Vertical Blanking Interval (Television) or Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation (FM). This authority may only be implemented when the DOC gives the technical approval required by the Radiocommunication Act and regulations made thereunder.
|
|
The Commission acknowledges the written intervention submitted by the Economic Council of the Region of Matane in support of the application by Les Communications Matane Inc.
|
|
Rosemary Chisholm
Acting Secretary General
|
|
|