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Decision
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Ottawa, 22 January 1987 |
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Decision CRTC 87-59 |
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New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. Limited
Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton, New Brunswick -
853091700 - 853093300 - 853094100 - 853092500 |
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Following a Public Hearing in Saint John on 9
September 1986, the Commission approves, by majority vote, the applications
by New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. Limited (NBB) for broadcasting licences for
new English-language television stations at Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton
and Moncton, operating under the following technical parameters: |
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Channel |
Effective Radiated Power |
| Halifax |
20 |
128,200 watts |
| Saint John |
23 |
134,000 watts |
| Fredericton |
41 |
53,600 watts |
| Moncton |
27 |
108,000 watts |
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The Commission will issue licences expiring 31
August 1990, subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the
licences to be issued. |
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Introduction
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On 10 January 1986, the Commission announced
that it had received applications for licences to carry on broadcasting
transmitting undertakings to provide an English-language television service
to serve Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton (Public Notice CRTC
1986-5). The applicant, NBB, proposed the establishment of a third,
over-the-air, local television service at a projected total capital cost of
$6.1 million. In keeping with its usual procedure in such cases, the
Commission called for applications from other parties wishing to operate a
television service in the above-mentioned localities. No other applications
were submitted in response to the call. |
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The applicant is the licensee of CHSJ and
CHSJ-TV Saint John. CHSJ-TV has operated as an affiliate of the CBC
English-language television network for over thirty years, and is Canada's
second oldest privately-owned television station. Today, the applicant
operates rebroadcasters of CHSJ-TV at Bon Accord, Moncton, Newcastle/Chatham,
Campbellton, Boiestown, Doaktown and Parker Ridge, New Brunswick. NBB is
controlled by New Brunswick Publishing Company Limited, which is ultimately
owned and controlled by members of the Irving family. Irving family members
also control directly and indirectly four New Brunswick newspapers, two in
Saint John and one in each of Moncton and Fredericton. |
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At the 9 September 1986 hearing, the Commission
discussed a number of matters with the applicant, including the issues of
concentration of ownership and media cross-ownership raised by the holdings
of the Irving family in broadcasting and newspaper publishing in New
Brunswick. The Commission also discussed the implications of these proposals
with respect to the provision of a complete CBC English-language television
service in New Brunswick, the size of the market that exists for a new
television service in Halifax, Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton, the
impact of this new service on existing broadcasting services in the region,
and the applicant's programming proposals and implementation schedule. |
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The Commission heard divergent views from
several interveners regarding the NBB applications, including strong
arguments in support of the extension of full CBC Englishlanguage television
network service in New Brunswick by the Honourable Richard Hatfield, Premier
of New Brunswick, by Her Worship Mayor Elsie E. Wayne of Saint John, by Mr.
Robert T. Colpitts, and by the CBC itself. In addition to the general
concerns raised by the Atlantic Independent Film and Video Association,
interventions strongly opposed to the introduction of this new service were
received from the Office of Educational Communication - Association of
Atlantic Universities, and from CHUM Limited, licensee of the CTV-affiliated
stations CJCH-TV Halifax, CJCB-TV Sydney, CKLT-TV Saint John, and CKCW-TV
Moncton, radio stations CJCH and CIOO-FM Halifax, and the Atlantic Satellite
Network (ASN), the satellite service serving the Atlantic region and the
Eastern Arctic. |
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The Commission acknowledges the views of these
appearing interveners, as well as those of the many groups and individuals
who submitted written interventions, including more than 30 letters in
support. All have been taken into account by the Commission in its
deliberations. |
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Concentration of ownership and media cross-ownership
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The Commission notes that this approval will
expand the broadcasting holdings of the Irving family in New Brunswick. In
this regard, the Commission reiterates the view that concentration of
ownership in the broadcasting industry is not necessarily of concern provided
there continues to be an effective degree of diversity of ownership and of
programming sources to ensure that the objectives of the Broadcasting Act are
met. Similarly, with respect to media cross-ownership, the Commission's
central concern is that, in any given region, there continues to be available
a diversity of information, opinion and broadcasting sources to provide the
communities served with differing points of view on matters of public
concern. |
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As stated in various recent decisions, in its
examination of applications involving these issues, the Commission must be
fully satisfied that the potential benefits to the communities concerned, and
to the Canadian broadcasting system as a whole, clearly outweigh any
potential disadvantages and that approval is in the public interest. |
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The Commission has considered the financial
strength of broadcasters operating in the communities in question and the
diversity of programming sources they offer. It has also taken into account
the ability of the market to support the proposed new service and the fact
that NBB has submitted viable proposals to provide the communities with an
alternative local service oriented to their needs and interests. |
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The benefits which will accrue to Maritime
residents through the introduction of a third, locally-oriented, over-the-air
television service in Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton, Moncton and,
ultimately, throughout the region, were also considered and particular weight
was given to the provision of the long-awaited full CBC English-language
television service in New Brunswick. |
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Diversity of Services in New Brunswick
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The Commission notes that residents of Saint
John, Fredericton and Moncton have access to the French-and English-language
radio and television network services of the CBC, as well as to the CTV
network service. Student FM stations operate at both Moncton and Fredericton.
In addition, there are a total of eight privately-owned radio stations
currently serving these communities, including three at each of Saint John
and Fredericton and two at Moncton. |
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The diversity of broadcasting sources licensed
to serve these Maritime communities has expanded in recent years with the
introduction on cable in 1983 of the alternative regional programming and
educational programming distributed via satellite to cable by CHUM Limited's
ASN service. Moreover, new FM stations in Moncton and Saint John are expected
to commence operation within the next several months. |
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The market
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In Decision CRTC 82-324 dated 20 April 1982, the
Commission denied three applications, including one by NBB and another by
CHUM Limited, to establish a third English-language television service at
Halifax. The Commission stated at that time that it was not convinced that
the Halifax market could support an additional private commercial television
service. |
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In its current applications, NBB submitted the
results of independent market analyses as evidence that the markets to be
served in New Brunswick, combined with the Halifax/ Dartmouth market, can
support the operation of the proposed television service without creating
undue harm or hardship for existing Canadian broadcasting services operating
in those markets. |
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NBB acknowledged that the proposed service would
likely attract some advertising revenues away from existing stations, but
also suggested that the total amount of advertising revenues in the Maritimes
would increase upon the introduction of the proposed service, as has happened
in other Canadian markets when a television service is introduced. In this
context, NBB submitted that the proposed service would provide an attractive
new option to local businesses for the placement of commercial messages.
Further, it argued that, by taking advantage of the simultaneous signal
substitution provisions of the cable television regulations, it would be able
to repatriate substantial audiences and revenues now flowing to U.S. stations
whose signals are distributed on Maritime cable systems. |
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The applicant also argued that the Maritime
economy has shown some steady growth since 1982 and presented evidence
indicating that the amount of total television advertising revenues in the
Halifax/ Dartmouth market has grown significantly in recent years. However,
the Commission notes that although the Saint John/Moncton television market
has exhibited some growth over the past decade, it has not been nearly as
significant as in Halifax and shows signs of levelling off. |
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When questioned regarding whether its proposals
could be approved separately, NBB stressed that the Saint John/ Moncton
market, by itself, would not be sufficient to support the proposed service
and that the viability of its overall proposal hinged on gaining approval for
the Halifax station: |
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Without a Halifax station, we would not be able to acquire the
programming that is necessary to make this a viable entity from a business
point of view. For many years, we have had the experience in New Brunswick
that because of the extra services that our colleagues in broadcasting
[CHUM Limited] have, that whatever program they want that we have
introduced in the markets, they simply acquire from the distributors
because they have the extra service and can afford to pay more for these
programs.
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The applicant further argued that the only
practical method of introducing a new, over-the-air, local service to New
Brunswick residents and, coincidentally, the only realistic opportunity to
make full CBC television network service available throughout the province is
by implementation of the proposals contained in its applications. |
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In support of its claim that it is the only
party capable of bringing these things about, NBB emphasized the fact that no
other applicants had come forward in response to the Commission's call of 10
January 1986. It also noted that, apart from CHUM Limited, no broadcaster in
the region had intervened to express opposition to its proposals. |
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In its intervention opposing the applications by
NBB, CHUM Limited argued that its own satellite service, ASN, effectively
constitutes a third service for the Atlantic region and submitted that the
use of UHF frequencies, as proposed by the applicant, was a restrictive means
of transmission for the proposed new service. It suggested that NBB would
have to rely on the cable carriage of its programming to provide a reliable
service and, even at that, would reach only 37% of the total population of
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. CHUM Limited claimed that there were serious
doubts, based on the developing economic picture in New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia, that the markets which the applicant is proposing to serve could
support a new television service without having a negative impact on the
ability of ASN to attract advertising revenues. |
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The Commission has carefully considered the
extensive evidence and arguments presented by all parties to this proceeding.
Based on all of the information available, the Commission is satisfied that
the markets to be served by the new television stations in Halifax, Saint
John, Moncton and Fredericton can support the service proposed by NBB without
causing undue harm to existing broadcasters. |
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With specific reference to CHUM Limited, given
the resources available to this large and highly successful broadcaster, and
in particular the strong financial performance of its operational division in
the Maritimes (the Atlantic Television System), the Commission considers that
CHUM Limited is more than capable of competing effectively with the proposed
service without compromising the quality of service provided by its various
broadcasting undertakings in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. While recognizing
the concerns expressed by CHUM Limited, particularly with respect to the
viability of CJCB-TV Sydney and ASN, the Commission does not expect the level
of these important services to diminish as a consequence of the introduction
of this new local service. |
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Regarding the intervener's contention that the
service proposed by NBB should be considered as the fourth English-language
television service in the Maritimes after ASN, the Commission notes that the
applicant's proposal is for a new, over-the-air, locally-oriented service,
whereas ASN is licensed as an alternative, satellite-to-cable, regional
service. |
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With respect to the technical limitations of UHF
transmission referred to by CHUM Limited, the Commission notes that there are
no VHF frequencies available for use by NBB in the communities to be served.
It also notes that the applicant has allocated a substantial budget for an
advertising campaign to familiarize viewers who do not have access to cable
with the appropriate method of tuning to UHF channels. Regarding the number
of Maritime residents that will be able to receive the proposed service, as
stated elsewhere in this decision, it is the Commission's expectation that
NBB extend the third service licensed herein throughout the provinces of New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island at the earliest possible
date. |
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Impact on CBC English-language television service in New Brunswick
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The Commission has expressed its serious concern
in a number of earlier notices and decisions regarding the fact that New
Brunswick remains the only province in which the CBC does not own or operate
English-language television broadcasting facilities. Given the CBC's current
budgetary constraints, there appears to be little likelihood that any such
facilities will be established in the near future. Although CHSJ-TV has
earned a solid reputation for the service it has provided during more than 30
years as a CBC affiliate, as such it broadcasts considerably less CBC network
programming than do CBC owned-and-operated stations. The lack of full CBC
service has been a source of long-standing dissatisfaction to the people of
New Brunswick, as has been made clear to the Commission on frequent occasions
through representations at public hearings by various municipal and
provincial politicians. |
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In Decision CRTC 82-324 denying applications by
NBB and others for licences for a third television service in Halifax, the
Commission made the following specific comment regarding the NBB proposal: |
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Further, this applicant ... advised that it envisaged a situation where,
at some point in the future, the combined operation of the proposed station
and of CHSJ-TV could have favourable implications for future plans for the
disaffiliation of CHSJ-TV from the CBC and the potential introduction of
full CBC service in New Brunswick. Notwithstanding the merits of such a
possibility, the applicant failed to demonstrate to the Commission that
these plans were sufficiently developed, or that an economically viable
solution could be arrived at.
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At the 9 September 1986 hearing, NBB submitted
that the current proposals for a new television service respond to the
Commission's concern by ensuring, at the same time, the introduction of a
substantially increased amount of CBC English-language television network
programming to viewers in New Brunswick. It also emphasized that this would
be accomplished at no cost to the CBC. |
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Although the CBC had originally been scheduled
to appear at the hearing as an opposing intervener to NBB's applications, NBB
announced during the proceeding that the two parties had reached an agreement
whereby CHSJ-TV and its rebroadcasters will continue to operate as CBC
affiliates for a further period of at least ten years. Under the terms of the
agreement, which was placed on the public file at the hearing, the amount of
CBC programming broadcast by its affiliated stations in New Brunswick will
increase by approximately 30 hours per week over the current level. The
Commission notes that the new level will be equal to, or greater than, the
amount of CBC network programming broadcast by many CBC owned and operated
stations. |
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The agreement between NBB and the CBC is
contingent upon approval by the Commission of these applications and takes
effect upon implementation of all the undertakings authorized in this
decision. |
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NBB confirmed that the current level of 9 hours
55 minutes of programming produced locally by CHSJ-TV will continue to be
produced each week, including 3 hours 30 minutes of programming directed to
viewers in northeastern New Brunswick which will continue to be split fed and
broadcast on CHCR-TV Campbellton and CHCN-TV Newcastle/Chatham. |
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The CBC expressed satisfaction with the terms of
its agreement with NBB and withdrew its opposing intervention at the hearing.
It noted that the introduction of the proposed service would likely have some
impact on its audiences and revenues but stated that the benefits associated
with implementation of these proposals outweigh any CBC concerns regarding
audience fragmentation and decreasing revenues. The CBC recommended to the
Commission that adherence to the terms of the agreement be made a condition
of CHSJ-TV's licence. |
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In the Commission's view, the longawaited
introduction of full CBC English-language television network service in New
Brunswick is a major benefit to be derived from the current applications; the
Commission commends NBB on its initiative and efforts to date in bringing
this about. |
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The Commission considers it desirable that the
CBC have control of the scheduling of its programs, and notes in this regard
that, under the agreement between NBB and the CBC, the 30 hours of additional
CBC programming will be broadcast by NBB over CHSJ-TV and its rebroadcasters
in accordance with the schedule proposed by the CBC. |
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With respect to the condition of licence
recommended by the CBC, the Commission considers that such a condition would
be appropriate, but notes that the licence for CHSJ-TV does not expire until
30 September 1987. Accordingly, the Commission advises the applicant that
this condition will be dealt with at the time of licence renewal, and that it
intends to impose a requirement that NBB adhere to the terms of its agreement
with the CBC, as a condition of the CHSJ-TV licence. In the in-terim, it
expects the licensee to adhere to its commitment in this regard. Moreover,
should the CBC choose to terminate its agreement with NBB at some future
point and establish CBC owned-and-operated facilities in New Brunswick, the
Commission would not envisage renewing the licences for CHSJ-TV and its
rebroadcasters for a further term and would, moreover, strongly expect NBB to
surrender its licences for these services. |
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Implementation schedule and programming plans
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The service proposed by NBB will be known as
Maritime Independent Television, or MITV-NS in Nova Scotia and MITV-NB in New
Brunswick. It will be received by viewers in the Maritimes through UHF
television transmitters at Halifax, Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton and,
where applicable, through its priority carriage on cable television. For the
most part, the new service will originate in Halifax and will be delivered
via microwave for simulcast on the New Brunswick stations. The Commission
also notes and approves the applicant's proposal for the simulcast of a
certain limited number of programs on CHSJ-TV and on MITV-NB. |
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Furthermore, with respect to NBB's proposed
implementation schedule, and in light of the importance placed by the
Commission on the earliest possible introduction of the full CBC
English-language television service in New Brunswick, the Commission strongly
expects that this new television service be launched simultaneously both in
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, at the earliest feasible date. |
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Accordingly it is a condition of each licence
that the four new stations approved herein be completed and that they all be
in operation within twelve months of the date of this decision or such
further period as the Commission may, upon receipt of a request for extension
before the expiry of the said twelve months, deem appropriate under the
circumstances. |
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The Commission notes the applicant's statements
at the hearing confirming its intention to extend the MITV service to other
areas of New Brunswick and elsewhere in the Maritimes as soon as it is
feasible. Specifically, the applicant stated: |
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... eventually we would extend the service to as many other people in
the Province of New Brunswick and in fact in Nova Scotia as possible ... we
expect that as we are able to make this work, that we will be able to
extend it to more Maritime communities. One of them that is missing ... is
Prince Edward Island. Summerside and Charlottetown should be able to have a
third off-air service.
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The Commission strongly expects NBB to implement
these plans and further to submit applications at the earliest feasible time
for extension of the proposed service throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
and Prince Edward Island. The Commission also requires NBB, within six months
of commencing the MITV service, to submit a report containing a proposed
timetable for completing this extension of service. |
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At the hearing NBB noted that, although no firm
agreement has been reached, it has held discussions with CANCOM regarding the
possibility of adding the MITV service to the package of Canadian services
distributed by CANCOM to remote and underserved areas. Such distribution
would be consistent with CANCOM's commitment "to add an Atlantic service as
part of its network operation as soon as such a service becomes available";
this commitment was noted by the Commission in Decision CRTC 81-252
originally granting CANCOM its licence. Accordingly, the Commission
encourages NBB to continue its negotiations with CANCOM in this regard. |
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As for the applicant's specific programming
plans, NBB intends to offer a programming service on the Halifax station
consisting of 116 hours 30 minutes per week. This will include 21 hours
weekly of new local production featuring news, public affairs, community
affairs, arts, variety, quiz programs and sports: |
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In planning our schedule, we have tried to find special niches not
filled by other services. Examples include an Atlantic business program, a
weekly sports wrap-up show, a daily noon-hour news and community affairs
program, fuller coverage of regional sports and the presentation of amateur
theatre productions.
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The Commission expects the applicant to adhere
to its commitment to schedule Canadian programming equitably throughout the
broadcast year. |
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Local productions such as "Variety" (a half-hour
entertainment program featuring local and regional talent), "Reach for the
Top", and coverage of local and regional sporting events, will be
complemented by an attractive mix of acquired Canadian and foreign
programming not otherwise available from a Canadian source in the markets to
be served. |
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With respect to news and community affairs
programming, NBB emphasized that it would focus on "local news, and on
matters that affect people in the coverage area." News programs will be
broadcast Monday to Friday at noon, every day at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday
at 11:00 p.m., and at 1:00 a.m. on Monday. NBB will also broadcast
"Newscope", a weekly digest of the news, on Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. |
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The applicant proposed to follow its own weekday
early evening news with the "Global National News" which it proposes to
acquire from Global Communications Limited. In this regard, the applicant is
reminded that, should it propose to rebroadcast any such programming "live",
CRTC prior approval would be required of applications to be filed by the
program originator for a network licence and by NBB for affiliation. |
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The programming to be broadcast by the proposed
stations in New Brunswick will be essentially identical to that contained in
the Halifax service, with the exception of 8 hours 45 minutes per week of
programming, all in the domain of news and community affairs oriented to a
New Brunswick audience, which will be produced at the applicant's existing
studios in Saint John and broadcast at times when the Halifax station is
airing local and regional news programming. |
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The Commission considers that the 21 hours per
week of local production proposed for the Halifax station is an acceptable
level, and notes that it is in line with the amounts proposed by third
service licensees authorized by the Commission in recent years to serve
communities elsewhere in the country. In the Commission's view, however, the
8 hours 45 minutes per week of local production proposed for the New
Brunswick stations is a minimal amount which should be expanded, as resources
permit, to encompass programming in categories other than just news and
community affairs. |
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In this context, the Commission notes NBB's
statement at the hearing that it will initiate the production of at least
some New Brunswick sports programming within its first licence term. The
Commission also notes the applicant's plans to work towards developing a
drama production capability in Halifax: |
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What we have proposed in our application is to, in the initial licence
period, involve ourselves in the learning curve as a drama producer, and to
make available to the artistic community in the Halifax area the tools that
would allow them to embrace that same learning curve.
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The Commission encourages the applicant to adopt
the same approach in Saint John. |
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The Commission expects to be kept informed by
NBB of its efforts to expand the amount of local New Brunswick production,
and intends to review this particular matter at licence renewal time. |
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As stated in Public Notice CRTC 1986-351 dated
22 December 1986 entitled Policy on Sex-Role Stereotyping in the Broadcast
Media, the Commission intends to require all television and radio licensees
to abide by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) self-regulatory
code on sex-role stereotyping by condition of licence. Accordingly, it is a
condition of licence that NBB adhere to the CAB self-regulatory guidelines on
this subject, as amended from time to time and accepted by lhe Commission. |
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The Commission also expects the applicant to
adhere to its commitment to make use of local talent in the communities it is
licensed to serve, in particular to make use of independent producers in Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick, thereby encouraging the growth of a strong
independent production industry in the Maritimes. The importance attached to
NBB's involvement with independent producers was the theme of a number of
interventions received by the Commission, including those by the Atlantic
Independent Film and Video Association, and Carota Films Ltd. In this regard,
the Commission notes the following statement by NBB: |
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Any programs that have been done in the Maritimes up to this point have
basically been done by the broadcasters because there was no other way.
There was not an independent production industry. One is beginning to grow,
and we are delighted to see that, and we would like to be at the very least
a catalyst in that process.
|
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The Commission strongly encourages NBB to pursue
this objective and to increase its involvement with independent producers in
the Maritimes. |
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Conclusion
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As noted earlier, the Atlantic region is the
only one in southern Canada not served by an over-the-air third television
service. In considering the benefits to be derived by the provision of the
locally-originated third service, the Commission has also placed considerable
importance on the fact that, as a consequence of this approval, New
Brunswickers will now finally receive the full CBC English-language network
television service. In its deliberations, it has weighed carefully all of the
evidence presented, including the market surveys, and has determined that the
new service will not affect the existing broadcasters' ability to continue to
meet their important programming commitments. |
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The Commission is also satisfied that there will
continue to be strong alternative broadcast voices providing a diversity of
information and opinion in each of the New Brunswick communities of Saint
John, Moncton and Fredericton, and that such diversity will neither be
diminished nor threatened by the introduction of the proposed service. The
Commission notes in this regard NBB's plans to acquire the national news
package from Global Communications Limited so as to complement its own
evening news broadcasts. |
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In light of all of the foregoing, the Commission
is convinced that the advantages accruing from the introduction of this third
local over-the-air television service, combined with the provision of full
CBC English-language television network service in New Brunswick, clearly
outweigh any of the disadvantages with respect to concentration or
cross-media ownership, that this approval will yield clear and unequivocal
benefits to the Maritime region, and that it is in the public interest. |
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General |
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Minority Opinion
|
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Commissioners Rosalie Gower and Paul McRae
dissent for the following reasons: |
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1) In no other province is CBC service provided
through this kind of an arrangement. Except for the province of British
Columbia, where CBC television provides service through an owned-and-operated
station in Vancouver, rather than the provincial capital of Victoria, all
provincial capitals have fully owned-and-operated CBC stations except for New
Brunswick. |
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2) If CBC, because of budgetary constraints,
cannot provide an owned-and-operated service to New Brunswick at this time,
then implementation should be delayed until it can. The arrangement proposed
cannot be seen as temporary since there will no longer be any pressure on CBC
to own the station in New Brunswick. |
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3) Because local news and public affairs will
still be provided by New Brunswick Broadcasting for the CHSJ-TV service, even
though the 5 hours of local CBC production from Fredericton will continue,
the advantages of a full professional CBC team will be lost both as a
standard for excellence and for a more competitive environment. |
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4) The other major concern is the issue of media
concentration in New Brunswick and the lost opportunity for a new voice in
these markets. |
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The Irving interests presently own the two Saint
John daily newspapers, the one daily in Moncton and the one daily in
Fredericton. These are the only local English-language dailies in the
province. |
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Irving interests also own 100% of the local CBC
affiliate in Saint John, CHSJ-TV, and its rebroadcasters throughout the
province. |
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Radio is only an issue in Saint John where
Irving interests own a local AM station. |
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In the present application, the Irving interests
will continue to own CHSJ-TV and its rebroadcasters. The local input of 13
hours will continue to be provided by New Brunswick Broadcasting and not by
CBC staff. |
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The new network, which this decision licences,
will originate in Halifax and supply its service via microwave to Saint John
where it will be transmitted off-air in Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton.
This will be a new service supplied by the Irving interests but the 8 hours
of local news and public affairs inserted in Saint John, to be broadcast in
New Brunswick only, will also be provided by New Brunswick Broadcasting. In
our opinion, although this decision may seem to meet many of the long-term
goals for the provision of CBC service to the province of New Brunswick and
also provides a third television service to add to that of CHSJ-TV, ATV
(CTV), and ASN (provided on cable only), the awarding of this licence to the
Irving interests will permanently eliminate the opportunity for a new
alternative voice to provide over-the-air television service to the people of
New Brunswick. Indeed CHUM's intervention was based on the fragility of the
market to support new services. |
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For the above reasons, we are of the opinion
that the price is too high for an additional 30 hours of CBC programming. |