ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 98-502

Decision

Ottawa, 24 November 1998

Decision CRTC 98-502

Genex Communications inc.

Public Hearing held on 8 October 1998
National Capital Region

Acquisition of the assets of CKNU-FM and its transmitter CKNU-FM-1

1. The Commission approves the application for authority to acquire the assets of CKNU-FM Donnacona and its transmitter CKNU-FM-1 Sainte-Croix-de-Lotbinière from Radiodiffusion de Portneuf inc., and for a broadcasting licence to continue the operation of this undertaking.

2. The Commission will issue a licence to Genex Communications inc. (Genex), expiring 31 August 2005, upon surrender of the current licence.

3. Although the applicant did not propose any tangible benefits, the Commission notes that it has already approved a transaction involving the transfer of Radiodiffusion de Portneuf inc. to Genex Communications inc. (Letter of Authority A98-0076 dated 25 June 1998). The current transaction therefore represents a corporate reorganization.

4. The public was invited to participate in the review process for this application and the Commission has considered the interventions submitted.

5. In reply to an intervention citing the need for CKNU-FM to reflect the day-to-day cultural and economic reality of Portneuf, Genex made a commitment to respond to the needs of the Portneuf region, and, as a condition of licence, will continue to broadcast a minimum of 42 hours of local programming per week.

Conditions of licence

6. The licence is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the licence to be issued. Further, as conditions of licence, the licensee must:

· broadcast a minimum of 42 hours of local programming per week consisting of news and public affairs as well as community service programming;

· solicit no advertising from outside the Portneuf area;

· not operate this station within the Specialty format as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1995-60, or as amended from time to time;

· make payments to third parties involved in Canadian talent development at the level identified for it in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Distribution Guidelines for Canadian Talent Development, as set out in Public Notice CRTC 1995-196 or as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission, and report the names of the third parties associated with Canadian talent development, together with the amounts paid to each, concurrently with its annual return. The payments required under this condition of licence are over and above any outstanding commitments offered by the previous licensee as benefits in an
application to acquire ownership or control of the undertaking above;

· 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 approved by the Commission. The application of this condition of licence will be suspended as long as the licensee remains a member in good standing of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council;

· adhere to the provisions of the CAB's Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

Other matters

7. 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. In this regard, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.
This document is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be viewed at the following Internet site:www.crtc.gc.ca