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Decision
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Ottawa, 26 August 1993
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Decision CRTC 93-519
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High-Line Broadcasting Inc.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - 920982600
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Licence renewal for CHSN-FM
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Pursuant to Public Notice CRTC 1993-28 dated 31 March 1993, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for CHSN-FM Saskatoon, from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1995, subject to the conditions in effect under the current licence, as well as to those conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.
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This term will enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at the same time as that of other radio stations in the area.
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The Commission approves the application submitted by High-Line Broadcasting Inc. (High-Line) to amend the Promise of Performance for CHSN-FM Saskatoon, by reducing the level of instrumental musical selections from at least 50% of all musical selections played each week to less than 35% of all musical selections played each week.
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The Commission notes that, in accordance with the Radio Regulations, 1986, the minimum amount of Canadian content in popular music that must be broadcast on CHSN-FM following this approval will increase to 30% on a weekly basis from the current level of 15%.
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CHSN-FM was licensed in Decision CRTC 89-389 dated 28 June 1989, following a competitive process. High-Line made a commitment as part of its proposals for Canadian talent development to spend $25,000 in its first year of operation to establish a scholarship program for music students. High-Line also made a commitment to increase its contribution to this scholarship by $5,000 each year until the scholarship would total at least $50,000 annually.
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In its present renewal application, High-Line advised the Commission that, because of the station's financial difficulties during its first licence term, it has not implemented the scholarship plan. The Commission notes that High-Line's failure to implement this program represents a shortfall of $130,000 in the licensee's contributions to Canadian talent development over the current licence term.
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The Commission considers that any applicant who is successful in its pursuit of a broadcasting licence has a responsibility to respect the commitments made at the time it obtained its licence. The Commission considers that such responsibility is essential in order to safeguard the integrity of the licensing process, particularly when a licence has been granted as the result of a competitive process, as in the case of CHSN-FM. The Commission places particular importance on an applicant's commitments to Canadian talent development and considers such commitments to be essential undertakings in the first licence term.
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The Commission is also concerned with High-Line's failure to advise the Commission earlier of the licensee's difficulties in meeting all its commitments in this area.
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In view of all of the above, the Commission expects High-Line to submit a report, within six months of the date of this decision, specifying its precise plans to make up the $130,000 shortfall in expenditures on Canadian talent development. The Commission relieves the licensee of its Promise of Performance commitment to a minimum level of local production. Accordingly, it is a condition of licence that the licensee refrain from soliciting or accepting local advertising for broadcast during any broadcast week when less than one-third of the programming aired is local. The definition of local programming shall be as set out on page 8 of Public Notice CRTC 1993-38, or as amended from time to time by the Commission.
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Pursuant to Public Notice CRTC 1993-38 wherein the Commission announced that it would no longer require licensees to make commitments for minimum levels of news and spoken word programming and maximum amounts of advertising, the Commission hereby relieves the licensee of the above-noted commitments with respect to the forthcoming term of licence.
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In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 dated 1 September 1992 and entitled "Implementation of an Employment Equity Policy", the Commission announced that the employment equity practices of broadcasters would be subject to examination by the Commission. It encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.
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The Commission acknowledges the opposing intervention submitted by Richard G. Buzik and is satisfied with the licensee's reply thereto.
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Allan J. Darling
Secretary General
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