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Ottawa, 26 June 1986
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Decision CRTC 86-609
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Radio Centre-Ville Saint-Louis
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Montreal, Quebec - 853153500
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Following a Public Hearing in Montreal on 18 March 1986, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for CINQ-FM Montreal from 1 October 1986 to 30 September 1990, subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.
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In accordance with the licensee's proposal and the Commission's policy statement on The Review of Community Radio (Public Notice CRTC 1985-194 dated 26 August 1985), the Commission will issue a special FM licence for community radio, Type B, to this station.
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A self-assessment of CINQ-FM's programming from 16 to 22 September 1985, indicated that, overall, CINQ-FM's programming was in compliance with its commitments and with the Commission's expectations with respect to community radio. The Commission commends the licensee on the quality of CINQ-FM's performance as a genuine community station, not only in terms of ownership and operation but also with respect to programming.
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The Commission invited the licensee to the 18 March 1986 Public Hearing to discuss its proposal to increase the number of programs broadcast in ethnic languages from 33.6% to 43.4%. This proposal is contrary to Public Notice CRTC 1985-139 entitled "A Broadcasting Policy Reflecting Canada's Linguistic and Cultural Diversity" as well as the provisions stipulated in Section 26 of the Radio (F.M.) Broadcasting Regulations, which states "an ethnic station shall devote not less than 60 per cent of its broadcast week to ethnic programs". Moreover, a station other than ethnic "shall not devote more than 15 per cent of its broadcast week to ethnic programs". However, under subsection 26(3) of these Regulations, "The Commission may, by condition of licence, authorize a licensee to devote up to 40 per cent of its broadcast week to ethnic programs."
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In light of the above, no station may be authorized to broadcast between 40% and 60% ethnic programming, contrary to the licensee's proposal to broadcast 43.4%. In reply to questions by the Commission regarding the licensee's objectives and orientation, the licensee stated at the hearing [TRANSLATION]:
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We are first and foremost a multi-ethnic community radio station. We are not necessarily an ethnic station by definition.
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Therefore, in accordance with the policy noted above and subsection 26(3) of the Radio (F.M.) Broadcasting Regulations, it is a condition of licence that the licensee devote no more than 40% of its weekly broadcast time between 6 a.m. and midnight to ethnic programs of Types A, B, C or D, as defined in Schedule I C. of the Regulations, or any combination thereof. In addition, as specified by policy and following discussion of the matter at the hearing, it is also a condition of licence that at least 50% of these ethnic programs be devoted to programs of Types A and B.
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The licensee stated at the hearing that it could achieve a level of 7% Canadian musical content during its periods of ethnic programming. In light of this, and in accordance with Public Notice CRTC 1985-241 dated 13 November 1985, it is a condition of licence that the licensee broadcast at least 7% Canadian musical content during the periods that it broadcasts ethnic programs of Types A, B, C and D.
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In addition to French and English, CINQ-FM broadcasts in Portuguese, Greek, Spanish, Chinese and Creole. The licensee stated at the hearing that it was impossible for it to serve all of the 80 ethnic groups in Montreal and that its aim was to serve the communities within its coverage area by offering a minimum consistent service in each language in which it broadcasts. Moreover, it pointed out that [TRANSLATION] "really, any language group can participate in Radio Centre-Ville", and that Italian, Arab, Jewish and African groups were currently participating in program production, even though these programs were not broadcast in their own language.
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The new Promise of Performance proposed by the licensee meets and even exceeds the Commission's expectations for a community radio station in a number of areas, with levels of 57.9% spoken word programming, 40% foreground programming and 58.6% combined foreground/mosaic programming. The licensee has stated that due to its multilingual nature it intends to present and promote, through its music, a variety of different cultures.
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In addition, the Commission notes that the programs of CINQ-FM are produced almost entirely by volunteers, who are given both theoretical and practical training sessions. Its listening audience is consulted on a regular basis, and each of the seven production teams has its own programming committee to ensure that the programming truly reflects the needs and interests of each cultural community served.
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In accordance with the licensee's proposal, it is a condition of licence that the licensee broadcast no more than 4 minutes per hour of restricted advertising, as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1983-43.
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The Commission notes the written intervention submitted by the Association des radiodiffuseurs communautaires du Québec in support of the renewal of this licence.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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