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Decision
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Ottawa, 6 April 1989
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Decision CRTC 89-120
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Swift Current Telecasting Co. Ltd.
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Swift Current, Eastend, Val Marie and Riverhurst, Saskatchewan -881117800
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Following a Public Hearing in Winnipeg on 12 October 1988, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for CJFB-TV Swift Current and its rebroadcasters at Eastend, Val Marie and Riverhurst 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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Swift Current Telecasting Co. Ltd. (Swift Current Telecasting) is a private company controlled by Mr. William D. Forst of Saskatchewan.
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CJFB-TV is affiliated with the CBC English-language television network. The licensee has committed to broadcast during the new licence term, 8 hours 50 minutes per week of locally-produced news and information programming on CJFB-TV. In this regard, the Commission notes that the station's current program schedule includes the regularly scheduled "Farming Today" and the interview program "Meet the Guest", as well as a weekly Kinsmen bingo program. In addition, the station provides special coverage of local and regional recreational, cultural and sporting events. The Commission expects CJFB-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.
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According to the financial projections provided with its renewal application, Swift Current Telecasting will spend $432,200 on Canadian programming for CJFB-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 Swift Current Telecasting to invest a minimum of $432,200 on Canadian programming expenditures for CJFB-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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In renewing these licences, the Commission also authorizes Swift Current Telecasting to make use of the Vertical Blanking Interval. The Commission expects Swift Current Telecasting 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 CJFB-TV's renewal application made no specific commitments to close caption local productions, the Commission encourages Swift Current Telecasting, as a minimum, to provide its deaf and hearing-impaired viewers with access to local news and headlines through captions (open or closed) or signing during the new licence term.
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The Commission also expects CJFB-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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Interventions were received from the national and Saskatchewan branches of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). Both interveners expressed concerns about the mandate of CBC regional stations, as addressed in the Public Notice released today introducing this and other renewal decisions.
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The Commission also acknowledges the intervention from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters expressing support for the community service role of this local broadcaster and commenting on its contribution to the objectives of the Broadcasting Act.
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With respect to the Eastend and Val Marie undertakings, the Department of Communications has advised the Commission that it is prepared to renew the Technical Construction and Operating Certificate for a period of one year only, expiring 31 August 1990. With respect to the operation of these undertakings beyond this period, the Commission draws the licensee's attention to paragraph 13(1)(b) of the Broadcasting Act pertaining to the technical certification of broadcasting undertakings and to subsection 13(2) which provides that any broadcasting licence issued, amended or renewed in contravention of section 13 is of no force or effect.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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APPENDIX
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Conditions of licence for CJFB-TV Swift Current and its rebroadcasters, CJFB-TV-1 Eastend, CJFB-TV-2 Val Marie and CJFB-TV-3 Riverhurst
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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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