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Decision
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Ottawa, 6 April 1989
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Decision CRTC 89-133
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Monarch Broadcasting Ltd.
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Medicine Hat and Pivot, Alberta; Maple Creek, Saskatchewan - 881032700
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Following a Public Hearing in Edmonton on 14 November 1988, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for CHAT-TV Medicine Hat and its rebroadcasters at Pivot and Maple Creek 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.
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Monarch Broadcasting Ltd. (Monarch) is ultimately controlled by Willard H. Yuill who indirectly through Monarch Cable T.V. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, also operates three cable systems in Alberta, including one serving Medicine Hat. Monarch is also the licensee of radio stations CHAT and CJMH Medicine Hat, CKRD Red Deer, CJXX Grande Prairie, Alberta and CKXY Vancouver. In Decision CRTC 89-121 released today, the Commission has approved applications by Allarcom Limited which will result in the sale by Monarch of its interest in CKRD-TV Red Deer and its two rebroadcasters as well as Monarch's interest in the third television service in Red Deer (to be known as CITA-TV).
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CHAT-TV is affiliated with the CBC English-language television network. The licensee has committed to broadcast during the new licence term, 13 hours 6 minutes per week of locally-produced news, information and sports programming on CHAT-TV. In this regard, the Commission notes that the station's current program schedule includes evening newscasts, the "Talk of the Town" interview program, a half-hour cooking program, a student quiz show, community announcements and religious messages. The Commission expects CHAT-TV to broadcast, at a minimum throughout the new licence term, the amount of original local productions set out in its Promise of Performance.
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According to the financial projections provided with its renewal application, Monarch will spend $753,042 on Canadian programming for CHAT-TV in the first year of the new licence term.
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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. Accordingly, 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 Monarch to invest a minimum of $753,042 on Canadian programming expenditures for CHAT-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.
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With respect to program development, CHAT-TV has committed to spend some $30,000 over five years, most of which is to be allocated to the development of variety programs and documentaries. 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.
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In renewing these licences, the Commission also authorizes Monarch to make use of the Vertical Blanking Interval. The Commission expects Monarch 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)".
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While CHAT-TV's renewal application made no specific commitments to close caption local productions, the Commission encourages Monarch as 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.
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The Commission also expects CHAT-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.
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The Commission acknowledges the 32 interventions in support received from elected officials, organizations, local businesses and residents. The intervention received from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters expressed support for the community service role of this local broadcaster and commented on its contributions to the objectives of the Broadcasting Act.
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With respect to CHAT-TV-2 Maple Creek, in accordance with paragraph 13(1)(b) of the Broadcasting Act, the licence will only be renewed at such time as written notification is received from the Department of Communications that it will issue a Technical Construction and Operating Certificate.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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APPENDIX
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Conditions of licence for CHAT-TV Medicine Hat and its rebroadcasters CHAT-TV-1 Pivot and CHAT-TV-2 Maple Creek
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1. The licensee shall operate this broadcasting undertaking as part of the English-language television network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
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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.
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3. The licensee shall adhere to the provisions of the 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.
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