ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-223

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Ottawa, 18 April 2012

Call for applications – Radio stations to serve Winnipeg

1.       The Commission announces that it has received an application by Nostalgia Broadcasting Cooperative Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a new radio station to serve Winnipeg, Manitoba. Given the scarcity of FM frequencies in the Winnipeg market, the Commission calls for applications from other parties wishing to obtain a radio licence to serve this area.

2.       Persons interested in responding to this call must submit a duly completed application to the Commission by 9 July 2012, 8 p.m. Ottawa time, using the appropriate application form for a licence to operate a new radio station. Applicants are also required to submit all necessary technical documentation to the Department of Industry (the Department) by the same date.

3.       It should be noted that, in making this call, the Commission has not reached any conclusion on the licensing of any service at this time.

4.       Applicants will be required to provide evidence giving clear indication that there is demand and a market for the station and the proposed service.

Factors for evaluation of applications

5.       In assessing applications for new commercial radio services in a market, the Commission will consider the following factors, which were first set out in Introductory statement – Licensing of new radio stations, Decision CRTC 1999-480, 28 October 1999.

Quality of the application

6.       In its analysis, the Commission will evaluate the applicant’s programming proposal and commitments in a number of areas. These will include the manner in which the applicant will reflect the local community, including the community’s diversity and distinct nature. Accordingly, the Commission will consider commitments related to local programming and the benefits that such programming will bring to the community.

7.       The Commission will also consider commitments regarding the percentage of Canadian content of musical selections, contributions to Canadian content development (CCD) and, where applicable, the percentage of French-language vocal music.

8.       The Commission does not regulate the format of AM or FM stations that base their programming on popular music. The Commission will however assess the applicant’s business plan in light of the proposed format since the two are interrelated. The business plan should clearly demonstrate the applicant’s ability to fulfill its proposed programming plans and commitments. Further, the Commission will examine the programming proposals submitted by the applicants to determine which overall proposal best suits the market.

Diversity of news voices in the market

9.       This factor relates to concerns regarding concentration of ownership and cross media ownership. The Commission has stated that it seeks to strike a balance between its concerns for preserving a diversity of news voices in a market and the benefits of permitting increased consolidation of ownership within the radio industry.

10.     The Commission will therefore assess how approval of the application would add to or serve to maintain the diversity of voices available in the market and how approval of the application would increase the diversity of programming available to listeners.

Market impact

11.     The possibility that licensing too many stations in a market could lead to a reduction in the quality of service to the local community remains of concern to the Commission. The economic condition of the market and the likely financial impact of the proposed station on existing stations in the market will therefore be relevant.

12.     The Commission will therefore evaluate how the proposed station’s programming, general and core target audience and projected audience share overlaps stations already present in the market. While the Commission may also consider the profitability of existing station groups in the market in its assessment of the proposed station on existing ones, this will be only one factor in its evaluation.

Competitive state of the market

13.     In markets with fewer than eight commercial stations operating in a given language, the Commission’s common ownership policy permits a person to own a maximum of three stations, with a maximum of two in any one frequency band. In markets with eight commercial stations or more, a person may own a maximum of two FM and two AM stations in any given language. The concentration of ownership resulting from this policy may increase the possibility of competitive imbalance in a radio market.

14.     The Commission will therefore consider factors such as the number of radio stations that an applicant already owns in the market, the profitability of its station(s) and the concentration of ownership in that market in making its licensing decision.

Importance of factors

15.     The relative importance of each of the factors set out above will vary in each case, depending on the specific circumstances of the market.

Financial summary for the Winnipeg market

16.     For the convenience of interested parties, the financial summary for the Winnipeg radio market is available on the Commission’s website.

Technical approval from the Department of Industry

17.     The Commission intends to consider the applications at a public hearing. However, the Commission advises applicants that it will withdraw any application from the public hearing if it is not advised by the Department that the application is technically acceptable at least twenty days prior to the first day of the hearing. The Commission must also be advised by the Department that any alternative frequencies proposed by the applicant are technically acceptable at least twenty days prior to the first day of the hearing. Otherwise those frequencies shall not be considered as part of the proceeding.

Eligibility of applicant

18.     The Commission also reminds applicants that they must comply with the eligibility requirements set out in the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of Non-Canadians) and the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility to Hold Broadcasting Licences).

Update of application

19.     Nostalgia Broadcasting Cooperative Inc. will be given the opportunity to update its application and to provide the essential information set out below within the same period provided for the submission of applications by other parties.

Essential information that applicants must provide

20.     To assist it in the assessment of applications, the Commission requires each applicant to provide all the information requested in the appendices to this document for the type of service that it proposes to operate. An applicant must clearly demonstrate that its application includes the required information and submit the appropriate completed application. Requests for information by Commission staff will seek to clarify specific facts or to resolve minor discrepancies in the applicants’ proposals.

21.     The Commission will return any application that fails to provide the required information and that application will not be considered as part of this process.

22.     At a later date, the Commission will announce the public process for considering applications and how the applications may be examined by the public. As part of that process, the public will be given the opportunity to comment on any application by submitting written interventions to the Commission.

23.     Notice of each application will also be published in newspapers of general circulation within the area to be served.

24.     Applications filed in response to this call must be submitted in electronic form using Access Key. For instructions on how to file applications using Access Key, consult the Commission website. Applicants who are unable to file their applications using Access Key should contact the Commission at 1-877-249-CRTC (2782).

25.     The new Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure (the Rules of Procedure) set out, among other things, the rules for filing, content and format of applications, as well as the procedure for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure. Accordingly, the procedure set out in the notice of consultation announcing the public hearing must be read in conjunction with the Rules of Procedure and its accompanying documents, which can be found on the Commission’s website under “CRTC Rules of Practice and Procedure.”

Secretary General

Appendix 1 to Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-223

Requirements for new commercial radio licences

The Commission requires applicants to provide the information set out below.

Programming information

Musical content

Contributions to Canadian content development

Local programming

In addition, applicants for new ethnic commercial radio licences should provide the following information so that the application can be evaluated according to the Ethnic Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1999-117, 16 July 1999:

Commitments as conditions of licence

Applicants are required to provide their views on the possibility of the Commission imposing any or all of the above commitments as conditions of licence.

Technical information

Applicants are required to provide the following information:

Financial information

Applicants must provide an overall business plan that includes the following information:

Ownership information

Appendix 2A to the application form

All of the information requested below must be provided:

Important: In addition to the information requested in Table 2.2 (Shareholding) of Appendix 2A to the application form, the following information must be filed in the event of the situation below:

  • If the total of the voting shares or of the votes held collectively by the group of shareholders holding less than 10% of the voting shares or of the votes represents 20% or more of the total of the voting shares or of the votes of the entity to which Table 2.2 pertains, the applicant must identify each shareholder of this group, up to a total that will demonstrate that at least 80% of the voting shares and of the votes are held by Canadians and that this entity meets the definition of “qualified corporation” as defined in the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of non-Canadians).

Important: In addition to the information requested in Table 2.2 of Appendix 2A to the application form, the following information must be filed in the event of the situation below:

  • if the total of the voting shares or of the votes held collectively by the group of shareholders holding less than 10% of the voting shares or of the votes represents 33 1/3% or more of the total of the voting shares or of the votes of the entity for which Table 2.2 pertains, the applicant must identify each shareholder of this group, up to a total that will demonstrate that at least 66 2/3% of the voting shares and of the votes are held by Canadians and that this entity meets the definition of “qualified corporation” as defined in the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of non-Canadians).

Appendix 2B to the application form

The applicant must provide a statement regarding who controls/will control the licensee and by what means. If the control is to be held by a shareholder corporation, a statement regarding who controls/will control the shareholder corporation and by what means must be provided.

Appendix 2C to the application form

The applicant must provide a copy of the constituting documents (certificate and articles of incorporation or amendment, amalgamation documents, by-laws, partnership agreements, etc.) that are not already on file with the Commission, for:

Appendix 2 to Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-223

Requirements for new community or campus radio licences

Applicants should provide the information set out below so that the Commission may evaluate their applications in light of the Campus and community radio policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499, 22 July 2010.

Community support

Programming information

Musical content

Local programming

Commitments as conditions of licence

Applicants are required to provide their views on the possibility of the Commission imposing any or all of the above commitments as conditions of licence.

Technical information

Applicants are required to provide the following information:

Financial information

Applicants must provide:

Ownership information

Directors and officers, and corporate documents

Appendix 3 to Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-223

Application for a native Type B service

Applicants should provide the information set out below so that the Commission may evaluate their applications in light of the Native Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1990-89, 20 September 1990.

Native community support

Programming information

Musical content

Aboriginal talent development

Programming orientation

Commitments as conditions of licence

Applicants are required to provide their views on the possibility of the Commission imposing any or all of the above commitments as conditions of licence.

Technical information

Financial information

Applicants must provide:

Ownership information

All information requested in sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 of the application form must be provided. This includes identifying in Table 2.1 of the application form the chief executive officer or the person performing functions that are similar to the functions performed by a chief executive officer, and the citizenship and complete home address (post office boxes will not be accepted) of each individual.

A copy of all of the applicant’s constituting documents (e.g.: letters patent, certificate and articles of incorporation or amendment, by-laws, etc.) must be filed with the application.

If the corporation is not yet incorporated, a list of proposed directors and officers, as well as draft documents must be provided.


Appendix 4 to Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-223

Application for technical amendment

Applicants wishing to file a technical amendment application as part of this call for applications must complete application form 303. All of the information required in form 303 must be included.

Date modified: