|
Decision
|
|
Ottawa, 6 April 1989
|
|
Decision CRTC 89-108
|
|
CKPG Television Ltd.
|
|
Prince George, Hixon, Mackenzie and Quesnel, British Columbia - 881103600
|
|
Following a Public Hearing in Vancouver on 25 October 1988, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for CKPG-TV Prince George and its rebroadcasters at Hixon, Mackenzie and Quesnel from 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1994, subject to the conditions specified in the appendix to this decision and in the licences to be issued.
|
|
CKPG Television Ltd. (CKPG Television) is ultimately controlled by Q Broadcasting Ltd. which, directly and indirectly, operates radio stations CKPG and CIOI-FM Prince George, CHQM and CHQM-FM Vancouver and CKMK Mackenzie, and a background music service.
|
|
CKPG-TV is affiliated with the CBC English-language television network. The licensee has committed to broadcast during the new licence term, 14 hours 45 minutes per week of locally-produced news and information programming on CKPG-TV. In this regard, the Commission notes that the station's current program schedule includes news inserts for "Midday", "Northwest Today", evening and weekend newscasts and "53 North", a weekly documentary magazine. The Commission expects CKPG-TV to broadcast, at a minimum throughout the new licence term, the weekly amount of original local productions set out in its Promise of Performance.
|
|
According to the financial projections provided with its renewal application, CKPG Television will spend $427,800 on Canadian programming for CKPG-TV in the first year of the new licence term.
|
|
In considering applications for licence renewal, the Commission needs to be assured that applicants will bring about clear improvements to the service they provide, taking into account their financial resources. As specified in the Public Notice introducing this and other television renewal decisions released today, inasmuch as the total advertising revenue of this station in 1987/88 was less than $10 million, the Commission will expect CKPG Television to invest a minimum of $427,800 on Canadian programming expenditures for CKPG-TV for the year ending 31 August 1990, and to adjust such expenditures in subsequent years in accordance with the prescribed formula linked to the station's advertising revenues. The Commission is satisfied that this approach offers a reasonable and fair means of ensuring that the Canadian programming expenditures of each station keep pace with changes in its annual revenue.
|
|
In addition, the licensee has proposed to spend $5,000 a year for local children's dramatic productions and to produce a minimum of two music specials per year showcasing local and regional talent. CKPG-TV also committed to continue its contribution to CFTK-TV Terrace's dramatic productions "Northwest Playhouse" and to air these programs in the evening broadcast period. The Commission commends the licensee in this regard and encourages it to continue such initiatives during the new licence term.
|
|
With respect to program development CKPG-TV has projected to spend some $6,000 per year to develop new concepts for program specials and limited series. In this regard, the Commission refers the licensee to the guidelines for program development set out in the Public Notice introducing this and other renewal decisions.
|
In renewing these licences, the Commission also authorizes CKPG Television to make use of the Vertical Blanking Interval. The Commission expects CKPG Television to adhere to the guidelines set out in Appendix A to Public Notice CRTC 1989-23 dated 23 March 1989 entitled "Services Using the Vertical Blanking Interval (Television) or Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation (FM)".
|
|
With respect to the provision of closed captioning for the deaf and hearing impaired, the Commission notes that CKPG Television committed to provide a minimum of 1,020 hours per year of network-originated and station-acquired captioned programming. For this purpose, it has allocated amounts ranging from $5,000 to $7,000 which represent the incremental costs of acquiring captioned versions of programs. The Commission encourages CKPG Television to continue its efforts in this regard and, at a minimum, to provide its deaf and hearing-impaired viewers with access to local news headlines through captions (open or closed) or signing during the new licence term.
|
|
The Commission also expects CKPG-TV, during the first year of the new licence term, to acquire a telephone device for the deaf (TDD) and install it wherever is most appropriate, such as in the master control room, to ensure access to the station by deaf and hearing-impaired viewers over the entire broadcast day.
|
|
The Commission acknowledges the 51 interventions in support received from elected officials, organizations, local businesses and residents. The Commission also notes the intervention received from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters expressing support for the community service role of this local broadcaster and commenting on its contributions to the objectives of the Broadcasting Act.
|
|
Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
|
|
APPENDIX
|
|
Conditions of licence for CKPG-TV Prince George and its rebroadcasters CKPG-TV-1 Hixon, CKPG-TV-4 Mackenzie and CKPG-TV-5 Quesnel
|
|
1. The licensee shall operate this broadcasting undertaking as part of the English-language television network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
|
|
2. The licensee shall adhere to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' self-regulatory guidelines on sex-role stereotyping, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
|
|
3. The licensee shall adhere to the provisions of The Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children published by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
|
|
|