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ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2000-261

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Decision CRTC 2000-261
Ottawa, 12 July 2000
Joel Virtanen, on behalf of a company to be incorporated and to be known as JR Radio
New Liskeard; and North Bay, Ontario
– 199913976 – 199912019
9 May 2000 Public Hearing
in Kingston
Summary
The Commission denies the applications for broadcasting licences for two English-language low-power FM radio programming undertakings, one at New Liskeard and the other at North Bay. The applicant proposed to offer a country music format on each station. The Commission considers that the programming budgets and staff levels proposed would not be sufficient to produce high quality local programming that would be commensurate with the size and needs of the communities of New Liskeard and North Bay.

1.

New Liskeard is currently served by one local commercial station, CJTT-FM. Connelly Communications Corporation owns and operates this station.

2.

For its part, North Bay is currently served by three commercial radio stations: CKAT, CKFX-FM and CHUR-FM. Telemedia Radio Inc. owns and operates all three stations.

3.

The Commission's local programming policy for radio set out in Public Notice CRTC 1998-41 is intended to ensure that commercial stations provide adequate and high quality local programming that corresponds to the size and needs of the communities they serve.If they wish to solicit or accept local advertising, licensees of commercial FM stations in markets served by more than one private commercial radio station generally must devote at least one-third of the station's weekly programming to local programming. This requirement is imposed as a condition of licence.

4.

The policy also requires that, as part of their local programming, licensees should provide spoken word material of direct and particular relevance to the community served, such as local news, weather and sports, and the promotion of local events and activities.

5.

As part of the application process, the Commission asked the applicant to describe how each proposed station would comply with the policy. In response, the applicant confirmed that it would adhere to the standard condition of licence requiring it to broadcast at least 42 hours of local programming on each station every week in order to accept or solicit local advertising. The applicant stated that each station would offer free public service announcements and promote community events. They would also broadcast local news, weather and sports, daily. The applicant, however, did not provide specific details describing the frequency, length or depth of coverage of these proposed information packages.

6.

The applicant proposed limited financial budgets for each station to produce local programming. It also indicated that only two full-time staff would be assigned to the production of local programming for the proposed station at New Liskeard, and only three full-time staff for the proposed station at North Bay.

7.

The Commission notes that the applicant's proposed programming staff levels and projected programming expenditures are much lower than the programming budgets and staff of other commercial stations serving New Liskeard and North Bay, as well as those of stations serving other small and medium-sized markets.
Interventions

8.

In an opposing intervention, Connelly argued that the proposed station at New Liskeard would cause significant revenue losses for CJTT-FM that would impede its ability to offer quality local service. Noting that CJTT-FM currently broadcasts 30% country music as part of its adult contemporary music format, including a three-hour country music countdown each week, Connelly claimed that the proposed station would not add diversity to the radio services available in New Liskeard. Connelly also submitted that the New Liskeard radio market cannot support more than one commercial music service.

9.

CJBB 103.1 Englehart, licensee of CJBB, which serves the neighbouring community of Englehart, also opposed the proposed station at New Liskeard. The intervener expressed concern that the 103.5 MHz frequency requested by the applicant could cause interference with CJBB's 103.1 MHz frequency. It also argued that another station would have a negative impact on existing stations targeting the New Liskeard/Tri-Town area, particularly CJBB, because it is a small station that has been in operation for only a short time.

10.

In response to Connelly, the applicant stated that it does not plan to undermine CJTT-FM. Rather, it intends to improve the choice of radio services available in New Liskeard. In response to CJBB, the applicant stated that its proposed station would not reach the Englehart area.

11.

Telemedia filed an intervention opposing the proposed station at North Bay on the grounds that it would negatively affect the existing stations in that market, particularly CKAT that already offers a country music format. The intervener further argued that the application should be denied because the proposed staff levels and financial investments are significantly lower that those of other stations in the North Bay market or in markets of similar size. Telemedia also stated that the applicant proposed to sell advertising at lower rates than currently exist in the North Bay market.

12.

In response to Telemedia, the applicant disagreed that its proposed station would harm the radio stations currently operating in North Bay.
The Commission's decision

13.

The applicant is seeking licences to operate commercial low-power FM stations in competitive markets. The Commission has, in the past, licensed popular music stations that proposed to operate on a reduced scale. The applicants in those cases were seeking to serve very small communities that could not support larger operations. In the present cases, however, the Commission considers that the minimal programming budgets and staff levels proposed in the applications would not be adequate to fulfil the requirement that each station produce an amount of high-quality local programming commensurate with the size and needs of the communities of New Liskeard and North Bay, respectively.

14.

Based on all of the foregoing, the Commission has denied these applications.
Related CRTC document
  • Public Notice 1998-41– Commercial Radio Policy 1998
Secretary General
This decision is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca
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