ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 96-784

Decision

Ottawa, 16 December 1996

Decision CRTC 96-784

Shaw Radio Ltd.

Calgary, Alberta - 199608436

Acquisition of assets

Following a Public Hearing in Vancouver beginning on 23 September 1996, the Commission approves the application for authority to acquire the assets of CKRY-FM Calgary, from Redmond Broadcasting Inc., and for a broadcasting licence to continue the operation of this undertaking.

The Commission will issue a licence to Shaw Radio Ltd., expiring 31 August 2000, the current expiry date, upon surrender of the current licence. The licence will be subject to the same conditions as those in effect under the current licence, as well as to any other condition specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.

The price of the transaction is $16,000,000. Based on the evidence filed with the application, the Commission has no concerns with respect to the availability or the adequacy of the required financing.

Because the Commission does not solicit competing applications for authority to transfer effective control of broadcasting undertakings, the onus is on the applicant to demonstrate to the Commission that the application filed is the best possible proposal under the circumstances, taking into account the Commission's general concerns with respect to transactions of this nature. As a first test, the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed transfer will yield significant and unequivocal benefits to the community served by the broadcasting undertaking and to the Canadian broadcasting system as a whole, and that it is in the public interest.

The Commission has assessed the benefits package identified by the applicant as flowing from this transaction, which amounts to $1,550,000 over the next five years. The Commission is satisfied that the benefits package proposed by the applicant is significant and unequivocal, and that approval of this application is in the public interest.

The Commission reminds the licensee, that, according to the provisions of Public Notice CRTC 1995-60, commercial FM stations in markets served by more than one private commercial station must devote at least one-third of the broadcast week to local programming if they solicit or accept local advetising.

It is a condition of licence that this station not be operated within the Specialty format as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1995-60, or as amended from time to time by the Commission.

It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the CAB's "Sex-Role Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming", as amended from time to time and accepted by the Commission. The application of the foregoing condition of licence will be suspended as long as the licensee remains a member in good standing of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.

In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, the Commission announced implementation of its employment equity policy. It advised licensees that, at the time of licence renewal or upon considering applications for authority to transfer ownership or control, it would review with applicants their practices and plans to ensure equitable employment. In keeping with the Commission's policy, it encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Allan J. Darling
Secretary General