ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 97-671

Decision

Ottawa, 10 December 1997

Decision CRTC 97-671

The Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc.

Bracebridge, Ontario - 199707220

Acquisition of assets

1. Following a Public Hearing in the National Capital Region beginning on 15 October 1997, the Commission approves the application for authority to acquire the assets of CFBG-FM Bracebridge, from Telemedia Communications Inc., and for a broadcasting licence to continue the operation of this undertaking.

2. The Commission will issue a licence to The Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc., expiring 31 August 2003, the current expiry date, upon surrender of the current licence. The licence will be subject to the same conditions as those in effect under the current licence, as well as to any other condition specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.

3. The price of the transaction is $295,000. Based on the evidence filed with the application, the Commission has no concerns with respect to the availability or the adequacy of the required financing.

4. The Commission notes that, although the applicant did not propose any tangible benefits, CFBG-FM Bracebridge has been unprofitable over the three years preceding filing of this application. Accordingly, the Commission is satisfied that the application meets the criteria set out in Public Notice CRTC 1993-68 entitled Application of the Benefits Test at the Time of Transfers of Ownership or Control of Broadcasting Undertakings. The Commission notes the important benefit associated with this transaction, that being the maintenance of CFBG-FM as a viable, local radio service to Bracebridge. Accordingly, the Commission is of the view that approval of this application is in the public interest.

5. Consistent with Decision CRTC 94-169 dated 21 April 1994, the licensee is authorized to continue to broadcast a weekly maximum level of hits of 100%.

6. It is a condition of licence that this station not be operated within the Specialty format as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1995-60, or as amended from time to time by the Commission.

7. The licensee is required, by condition of licence, to make payments to third parties involved in Canadian talent development at the level identified for it in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Distribution Guidelines For Canadian Talent Development, as set out in Public Notice CRTC 1995-196 or as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission, and to report the names of the third parties associated with Canadian talent development, together with the amounts paid to each, on its annual return. The payments required under this condition of licence are over and above any outstanding commitments to Canadian talent development offered as benefits in an application to acquire ownership or control of the undertaking.

8. It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the CAB's Sex-Role Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming, as amended from time to time and accepted by the Commission. The application of the foregoing condition of licence will be suspended as long as the licensee remains a member in good standing of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.

9. In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, the Commission announced implementation of its employment equity policy. It advised licensees that, at the time of licence renewal or upon considering applications for authority to transfer ownership or control, it would review with applicants their practices and plans to ensure equitable employment. In keeping with its policy, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General

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