|
|
|
Ottawa, 10 March 1986
|
|
Decision CRTC 86-191
|
|
Eastern Ontario Broadcasting Company Limited
|
|
Brockville, Ontario - 782184600
|
Following a Public Hearing in Toronto on 8 October 1985, the Commission denies the application by Eastern Ontario Broadcasting Company Limited (Eastern) for a broadcasting licence to carry on an English-language FM radio station at Brockville. The applicant proposed to operate on the frequency 103.7 MHz (channel 297) with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. The proposed FM undertaking was to offer a "Group I" music format service, as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1984-151 on the Review of Radio, to a young adult audience between the ages of 18 and 35.
|
|
The applicant currently holds an AM licence for Brockville's only local radio station, CFJR. In support of its application, Eastern described CFJR's competitive environment wherein WPAC-FM Ogdensburg, New York, with its contemporary hit format, garners a large share of Brockville and area radio tuning and revenues. However, it expressed confidence that the strong local orientation of the proposed FM programming would attract young adult listeners.
|
|
The Commission encourages the repatriation of listeners and advertising revenue and considers that Eastern's proposal to provide significant amounts of locally-oriented news and information programming, including 9 hours and 30 minutes of public affairs foreground per week, would have offered listeners a viable local alternative. However, the Commission is not convinced that the applicant had made adequate provision for the resources necessary to produce these programs.
|
|
Furthermore, the Commission is not convinced that the application contained a coherent music programming plan or had fully taken into account the requirements of the FM policy and regulations.
|
|
Though the applicant intended to operate the new station in the "Group I" music format, the Commission considers that many of its proposals, including the target audience and the sample playlist submitted with the application, are not typical of "Group I" stations. Furthermore, the size of the weekly music list proposed and the lack of commitment to untried musical material are inconsistent with the FM policy's objective of musical diversity. Commitments for the support of Canadian talent fall short of those made by licensees in communities of similar size and there are no plans to produce local live or tape-delayed musical broadcasts. Finally, in the Commission's view, Eastern's commitment to Enrichment material is marginal in view of the ambitious plans for public affairs programming, noted earlier.
|
|
Although the Commission has determined that Eastern's application does not meet the requirements of the FM policy, it encourages the provision of local FM service to Brockville and the surrounding area. The Commission therefore invites all interested parties, including the applicant, to respond to the call for applications for an FM radio undertaking to serve Brockville which is being issued in a separate public notice.
|
|
Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
|
|
|
|