ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 94-226
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Ottawa, 3 May 1994
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Decision CRTC 94-226
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University of Toronto Community Radio Inc.
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Toronto, Ontario - 920258100
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Denial of SCMO channel to distribute programming in South Asian languages on CIUT-FM
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Pursuant to Public Notice CRTC 1993-140 dated 14 October 1993, the Commission denies the application by University of Toronto Community Radio Inc. to amend the broadcasting licence for CIUT-FM Toronto, by adding a condition of licence authorizing the licensee to use a Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operations (SCMO) channel for the purpose of distributing programming predominantly in South Asian languages including Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu.
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In assessing this application, the Commission has taken into account the 25 supporting interventions received from the multicultural community in the Toronto area. However, the Commission has also considered the arguments set out in the opposing interventions submitted by licensed ethnic radio stations in the Toronto area, namely CKMW Radio Ltd. (licensee of CIAO Brampton), Radio 1540 Limited (licensee of CHIN and CHIN-FM Toronto), CIRC Radio Inc. (licensee of CIRV-FM Toronto) and CJMR 1320 Radio Limited (licensee of CJMR Mississauga). The Commission notes that all these licensees have obligations to offer varying quantities of programming in South Asian languages. A Commission examination of the June 1993 program logs of the Toronto area licensed ethnic radio stations showed that all four broadcasters were offering such programming.
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These obligations to offer programming in South Asian languages are, in part, supported by the advertising revenues associated with the audiences to these programs.
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The opposing interveners expressed concern that an approval would lead to erosion of their South Asian audiences and, consequently, to substantial losses in their advertising revenues.
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In reply, the applicant argued that it planned to deliver a non-commercial service to complement existing services.
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The Commission's policy regarding SCMO services is set out in CRTC Public Notice 1989-23 dated 23 March 1989 entitled "Services Using the Vertical Blanking Interval (Television) or Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation (FM)". In its policy guidelines, the Commission indicated that it would monitor the development of SCMO services and would be concerned if such a service were to cause an undue negative impact on existing local broadcasting services.
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Although the Commission acknowledges that the SCMO service could enhance the range and availability of South Asian language services in the Toronto area market, it considers that such an SCMO service could have an undue negative effect on the audiences and the viability of existing licensed radio stations providing South Asian language programming in the Toronto market. Therefore, in accordance with the Commission's SCMO policy, it has denied the proposed application.
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The Commission also acknowledges the intervention submitted by Mr. Gus Agathos regarding this application.
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Allan J. Darling
Secretary General |
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- Date modified: