ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 99-554

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Decision CRTC 99-554

Ottawa, 22 December 1999

WIC Radio Ltd.
North York, Ontario – 199810148

Application processed byPublic Notice CRTC 1999-100
dated 21 June 1999

Licence renewal for CILQ-FM

1. The Commission renews the broadcasting licence for CILQ-FM North York from 1 January 2000 to 31 August 2006, subject to the conditions specified in the licence to be issued.
2. In its opposing intervention, MediaWatch expressed concern that CILQ-FM broadcasts the Howard Stern Show. MediaWatch claimed that this program contains offensive material that contravenes Canadian broadcast standards and suggests that the "timing of the program also makes it more accessible to children and youth, who are clearly not appropriate audience members for Stern." MediaWatch is of the view that the editing of the show by the licensee is "minimal" and stated that "the continuation of The Howard Stern Show allows sexism, racism, hate mongering, child pornography etc. to be elicited on the airwaves."
3. The Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) also submitted an opposing intervention noting, among other things, that The Howard Stern Show was the subject of numerous complaints to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).
4. In response, the licensee stated that it now edits the Howard Stern Show to ensure that it complies with the Broadcasting Act (the Act) and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ codes. The licensee noted that, in a letter dated 25 February 1999 to MediaWatch, the CBSC stated that the program is "edited to conform to Canadian standards."
5. Mindful of the concerns expressed by MediaWatch and CRARR, the Commission anticipates that the CBSC’s self-regulatory mechanism will continue to be an effective one. While the Commission does not intend to intervene at this time, it notes the concerns of the interveners and will continue to monitor the situation.
6. The Commission notes that this licensee is subject to the Employment Equity Act that came into effect on 24 October 1996 (1996 EEA), and therefore files reports concerning employment equity with Human Resources Development Canada. As a result of a consequential amendment to the Act, the Commission no longer has the authority to apply its employment equity policy to any undertaking that is subject to the 1996 EEA.

Related CRTC document

• Public Notice CRTC 1999-137New licence form for commercial radio stations

Secretary General

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