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Decision
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Ottawa, 25 October 1988
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Decision CRTC 88-770
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CKCK Broadcasting Limited Partnership
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Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan -880169800
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Following a Public Hearing in Calgary on 1 June 1988, the Commission approves the application for a licence for an English-language television broadcasting transmitting undertaking at Golden Prairie, on channel 10 with an effective radiated power of 106,000 watts to rebroadcast the programs of CKCK-TV Regina via CKMC-TV Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
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The Commission will issue a licence expiring 30 June 1991, subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued. This term will enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at the same time as that of the originating station, CKCK-TV.
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In assessing the application, the Commission has taken into consideration an intervention received from Monarch Broadcasting Ltd. (Monarch), licensee of CHAT-TV Medicine Hat and of CKRD-TV Red Deer, Alberta and the licensee's reply thereto. The intervener indicated that, while it does not oppose the new rebroadcaster, it is concerned that the operation as proposed will negatively affect Monarch's stations.
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The intervener stated that approval of the rebroadcaster would limit future power increases for the intervener's rebroadcaster CKRD-TV-1 Coronation, Alberta, and that its low-power undertaking in Maple Creek, which is a rebroadcaster of the CBC-affiliated station in Medicine Hat may have to change channel at significant cost to the intervener or cease operation. Further, the intervener is concerned by the fact that Saskatchewan-originated CTV network programming will be available one hour earlier than the Alberta programming and that the addition of the new rebroadcast service to the Medicine Hat cable system would result in a serious loss of market revenue for the intervener.
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The Commission notes that Golden Prairie's application is technically acceptable to the Department of Communications (DOC). Moreover, in its reply to the intervention, the licensee indicated that the Coronation undertaking, CKRD-TV-1, operates within a protected contour which cannot be extended through a power increase. With respect to Monarch's CBC-affiliated operation in Maple Creek, the licensee stated that the programming of the CBC English-language television network service is presently provided to residents of the Maple Creek area through CBCP-TV-2 Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan and that alternative channels are available for the distribution of CHAT-TV-2. With regard to the intervener's concern about possible loss of revenue, the Commission notes that Monarch has not provided financial evidence to support its contention.
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Also, the licensee, which is effectively controlled by Baton Broadcasting Incorporated (Baton), noted that the present application is in line with the commitments made by Baton at the time it acquired a number of television stations in Saskatchewan (Decision CRTC 86-642 dated 4 July 1986). In that decision, Baton undertook to "permit the establishment of new rebroadcasting stations and power increases at a number of existing stations, thereby improving and extending service to Saskatchewan residents".
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In light of all the foregoing, the Commission does not consider the intervener's concerns to be justified. The Commission is satisfied that the approval of the application will provide Saskatchewan-originated CTV network service to an area which has long awaited such programming.
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The Commission acknowledges the numerous interventions in support of the application.
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It is a condition of licence that the authority granted herein be implemented within twelve months of the date of receipt of this decision or, where the applicant applies to the Commission and satisfies the Commission that it cannot implement its authority before the expiry of this twelve-month period and that an extension of this period is in the public interest, within such further period of time as is approved in writing by the Commission.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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