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Ottawa, 26 August 1991
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Decision CRTC 91-639
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Radio 1540 Limited
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Toronto, Ontario - 903191500
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Pursuant to Public Notice CRTC 1991-25 dated 25 February 1991, the Commission denies the application by Radio 1540 Limited to amend the broadcasting licence for CHIN-FM Toronto, by using the subsidiary communications multiplex operation (SCMO) channel to distribute predominately South Asian-language programming including Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. The operator of the proposed SCMO service would have been South Asian Radio Services Inc.
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In its assessment of this application, the Commission has taken into account the interest in the proposed programming oriented to the South Asian community expressed in the supporting interventions received from the multicultural community of Toronto and from CIAO Brampton, an ethnic radio station.
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Furthermore, the Commission has considered the arguments contained in the opposing interventions submitted by the licensees of CIRV-FM Toronto, CHWO Oakville and CJMR Mississauga, as well as those concerns raised by independent producers of programming targeted to the South Asian audience. These opposing interveners noted the limited advertising revenues that can be drawn from the area's South Asian community and expressed serious concerns for the continued financial viability of their respective operations, should this application be approved.
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The Commission's policy regarding SCMO services, as stated in CRTC Public Notice 1989-23 dated 23 March 1989 entitled "Services Using the Vertical Blanking Interval (Television) or Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation (FM)" specifies that an SCMO service should not be approved, if it is possible that such a service would "cause undue negative impact on existing local broadcasting services".
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While the Commission acknowledges that the proposed service could enhance the range of programming in the Toronto market, it considers that the SCMO service could have an undue negative effect on the viability of licensed radio stations in the area.
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Allan J. Darling
Secretary General
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