ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2000-35

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Decision CRTC 2000-35

See also: 2000-35-1

Ottawa, 3 February 2000

Roger de Brabant on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated
Timmins, Ontario - 199905676
16 November 1999 Public Hearing in Saskatoon
The Commission denies the application for a broadcasting licence for an English-language FM low-power radio programming undertaking at Timmins.
1. The applicant proposed to offer a variety (pop, rock, dance, contemporary, country) music format. The applicant currently operates a low-power religious FM radio station (CHIM-FM) in the Timmins market.
2. As indicated in Public Notice CRTC 1998-41, Commercial Radio Policy 1998, "in their local programming, licensees must include 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". As part of the application process, the Commission asked the applicant to explain how the proposed station's local programming would address that aspect of the policy. The Commission also questioned the applicant regarding the number of staff that the proposed station would have and their duties particularly in the area of programming.
3. In its response, the applicant provided few details on how it planned to meet the Commission's concerns, particularly in the area of spoken word material. The applicant's response indicated that only two full-time staff would be involved in the production of all local programming and made no commitments regarding local news programming or for the production of spoken-word programming normally associated with a commercial radio undertaking. The station would have relied very heavily on automated programming.
4. The Commission considers that this minimal staff level would not be adequate to fulfil the requirement that the station produce an amount of high quality local programming commensurate with the size and needs of the Timmins community. In addition, the applicant's proposal calls into question the fairness of permitting a licensee to draw significant revenues in a competitive market based on a business plan offering a popular music service but predicated on minimal programming resources, particularly when compared to the staff levels and expenditures of other market players.
5. Based on all of the foregoing, the Commission has denied this application.
6. The Commission acknowledges the 15 interventions filed in support of this application.
Secretary General
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