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ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-406

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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-406

  Ottawa, 10 September 2004
  Blackburn Radio Inc.
Wingham, Ontario
  Application 2003-0795-1
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
7 June 2004
 

English-language FM radio station in Wingham

  In this decision, the Commission approves an application to operate a new English-language FM radio station in Wingham, Ontario.
 

The application

1. The Commission received an application by Blackburn Radio Inc. (Blackburn) to operate an English-language FM radio programming undertaking in Wingham, Ontario. The station would operate at 94.5 MHz (channel 233C1) with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 21,200 watts.
2. Blackburn currently operates CKNX and CKNX-FM in Wingham. The applicant indicated that the proposed FM station would offer a hybrid Adult Rock format blending Classic Rock and New Rock music that would complement the Country and Adult Contemporary formats currently offered on CKNX and CKNX-FM respectively.
3. The applicant indicated that all of the proposed station's programming would be locally produced with the exception of up to 4.5 hours per week of specialty and syndicated programming. Spoken word programming would consist of regularly scheduled local news and information packages focussing on local and regional stories of interest to the communities of mid-western Ontario.
4. Under the plan developed by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) for contributions by radio licensees to Canadian talent development, a radio licensee serving a community the size of Wingham would normally be expected to contribute a minimum of $400 in each broadcast year to eligible third parties for the development of Canadian musical and other artistic talent. The applicant confirmed that it would participate in the CAB plan.
5. In addition, the applicant made a commitment to contribute $7,500 in each broadcast year to the direct funding of Canadian talent development that would be over and above the amount required under the CAB plan. Of that amount, the applicant proposed to contribute $5,000 annually to FACTOR and $2,500 to support the Ontario Open Country Singing Contest.
 

Interventions

6. The Commission received five interventions in support of this application. Two of the supporting interventions included a total of 74 letters supporting Blackburn's proposal.
 

The Commission's analysis and determination

7. The Commission notes that approval of this application would provide residents of Wingham and a large surrounding area with access to a third local radio service. While the new station would share news gathering resources with Blackburn's existing radio stations CKNX and CKNX-FM, the Commission notes the applicant's assurances that the new FM station would have its own dedicated news editor and that all newscasts produced by the new FM station would be different from those broadcast on CKNX and CKNX-FM.
8. In light of the above, the Commission approves the application Blackburn Radio Inc. to operate an English-language FM radio programming undertaking in Wingham, Ontario. The station will operate at 94.5 MHz (channel 233C1) with an ERP of 21,200 watts.
9. The licence will expire on 31 August 2011, and will be subject to the conditions set outin New licence form for commercial radio stations, Public Notice CRTC  1999-137, 24 August 1999. The licence will also be subject to the following condition of licence:
 

In addition to the contributions required under the Canadian Association of Broadcaster's Distribution Guidelines for Canadian Talent Development, the licensee shall contribute a minimum of $5,000 in each broadcast year to FACTOR and a minimum of $2,500 in each broadcast year to other eligible Canadian talent development initiatives.

10. The Commission reminds the applicant that all direct cost expenditures related to Canadian talent development must comply with the criteria set out in An FM policy for the nineties, Public Notice CRTC 1990-111, 17 December 1990, which describes initiatives generally accepted by the Commission.
 

Issuance of the licence

11. The Department of Industry (the Department) has advised the Commission that, while this application is conditionally technically acceptable, it will only issue a broadcasting certificate when it has determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.
12. The Commission reminds the applicant that, pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, no licence may be issued until the Department notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.

13.

Furthermore, the licence for this undertaking will be issued once the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 10 September 2006. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before this date.
 

Employment equity

14.

Because the applicant is subject to the Employment Equity Act and files reports concerning employment equity with the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development, its employment equity practices are not examined by the Commission.
  Secretary General
  This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca 

Date Modified: 2004-09-10

Date modified: