ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2001-530

Decision CRTC 2001-530

Ottawa, 31 August 2001

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Across Canada

Applications processed by
Public Notice CRTC 2001-45
dated 20 April 2001

Licence renewal for CBC stations affiliated to the Radio Two network

1.

The Commission renews the broadcasting licences for the radio programming undertakings and their transmitters listed in Appendix II, from 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2007, subject to the conditions specified in Appendix I to this decision and in the licences to be issued. This six-year term will enable the Commission to review the performance of the individual CBC stations and that of the Radio Two network together.

2.

These regional stations broadcast programming received from the CBC's national Radio Two network. Most of them also originate some regional and local (subregional) programming. Appendix II to this decision sets out the amount of local programming broadcast by each station.

3.

In March 1999, the Commission held a series of public consultations across Canada to provide Canadians an opportunity to express their views on Canada's public broadcaster. These consultations formed part of a public process that included a public hearing in May 1999 for consideration of the CBC's network and television licence renewals.

4.

Participants in the public consultations overwhelmingly indicated that they wanted to see themselves reflected in the CBC's programming. Many considered that the CBC did not adequately reflect the concerns of Canadians from across the country. They also expressed the view that budget cuts had led to a decrease in the quality of the CBC's English-language radio services, particularly in the area of local programming.

5.

In Decision CRTC 2000-1 that renewed the licence for the Radio Two network, the Commission expressed concern about the reduction in quality of the regional services and CBC English-language radio programming as a whole. The Commission expected the CBC to re-allocate adequate resources to its regional programming and its core services. The Commission also expected the Corporation to ensure that local issues and concerns are covered during regional programs.

6.

The Commission reaffirms the particular importance it attaches to the CBC's responsibilities to provide regional programming on its individual stations. Accordingly, the Commission expects the CBC to maintain the levels of regional and subregional programming currently broadcast on each of these stations. The Commission also strongly encourages the licensee to surpass these levels during the new licence term.

Canadian content

7.

Radio Two and each of the regional stations affiliated to the network are subject to conditions of licence requiring that 50% or more of the category 2 (general popular) musical selections broadcast each week, and 20% or more of the category 3 (special interest) musical selections broadcast each week be Canadian. The category 3 selections must also be scheduled in a reasonable manner throughout the broadcast day (6 a.m. to 12 midnight). The Commission determines compliance with these conditions by monitoring a random week of broadcasts.

8.

At the time of Radio Two's last licence renewal, the Commission found that the network had been operating in compliance with these conditions of licence. As part of the present regional licence renewal process, the Commission requested the logger tapes and other material related to the programming broadcast by each regional station during specific time periods. The Commission found that most stations were in compliance with the conditions of licence. In the case of CBM-FM Montréal, however, the Commission's analysis revealed that the station had failed to comply with the condition of licence requiring that 50% or more of the popular (category 2) musical selections broadcast each week be Canadian.

9.

The Commission reiterates that the licensee must ensure that it is in compliance at all times with its conditions of licence. As stated in Decision CRTC 2000-1, the Commission considers that the CBC has an extremely important role to play in promoting and exposing Canadian artists and that the Canadian content levels that the CBC commits to maintain are minimum amounts to be achieved.

Interventions

10.

The Commission acknowledges the interventions submitted regarding the licence renewal of these stations and the licensee's response.

Related CRTC documents

. Decision 2000-1- Licences for CBC English-language television and radio renewed for a seven-year term

. Public Notice 2000-1 - A distinctive voice for all Canadians: Renewal of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's licences

Secretary General

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

Appendix I to Decision CRTC 2001-530

Terms and conditions of licence

The licences for the stations and their transmitters listed in Appendix II are renewed from 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2007.

Section 22 of the Broadcasting Act states that the Commission may not renew a licence unless the Department of Industry has certified that the licensee has been or will be issued a broadcasting certificate. Accordingly, this renewal is subject to the issuance of technical certification by the Department of Industry.

Conditions of licence

By conditions of each licence:

· The Corporation must not broadcast any commercial message of Category 5 (Advertising) except:

a) during programs that are available to the licensee only on a sponsored basis, or

b) as required to fulfil the requirements of the legislation of the Parliament of Canada pertaining to elections.

· 50% or more of the category 2 music selections broadcast each broadcast week must be Canadian.

· 20% or more of the category 3 music selections broadcast each broadcast week must be Canadian and these selections must be scheduled in a reasonable manner throughout the broadcast day.

· the licensee must adhere to its self-regulatory guidelines on sex-role portrayal as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission, and, as a minimum, to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Sex-role portrayal code for television and radio programming, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

Appendix II to Decision CRTC 2001-530

CBC stations affiliated to the Radio Two Network

(Labrador) Newfoundland

CBN-FM St. John's and its transmitter (2001-0185-8)

CBN-FM-1 Grand Falls

CBN-FM broadcasts approximately 2 hours of local arts-oriented programming each week on Sundays. The station also airs arts billboard information.

Nova Scotia

CBI-FM Sydney (2001-0172-5)

Most of CBI-FM's programming originates with the Radio Two network. The station also broadcasts local arts billboard information.

CBH-FM Halifax and its transmitters (2001-0173-3)

CBH-FM-1 Middleton
CBCH-FM Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
CBZ-FM Fredericton/Saint John, New Brunswick
CBA-FM Moncton, New Brunswick

Most of CBH-FM's programming originates with the Radio Two network.

Quebec

CBM-FM Montréal and its transmitter (2001-0191-5)

CBM-FM-1 Sherbrooke

Most of CBM-FM's programming originates with the Radio Two network. The station also broadcasts local arts billboard information.

Ontario

CBE-FM Windsor (2001-0111-3)

Most of CBE-FM's programming originates with the Radio Two network. The station also broadcasts local arts billboard information.

CBOQ-FM Ottawa (2001-0108-0)

Most of CBOQ-FM's programming originates with the Radio Two network. The station also broadcasts local arts billboard information.

CBL-FM Toronto (2001-0110-6)

CBBK-FM Kingston
CBBL-FM London
CBL-FM-2 Paris
CBBP-FM Peterborough

Most of CBL-FM's programming originates with the Radio Two network. The station also broadcasts local arts billboard information.

CBQ-FM Thunder Bay (2001-0109-8)

Most of CBQ-FM's programming originates with the Radio Two network. The station also broadcasts local arts billboard information.

Manitoba

CBW-FM Winnipeg and its transmitter (2001-0165-0)

CBWS-FM Brandon

CBW-FM broadcasts approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes of local programming each week from Winnipeg.

Saskatchewan

CBK-FM Regina and its transmitters (2001-0148-6)

CBK-FM-1 Prince Albert
CBKS-FM Saskatoon

CBK-FM broadcasts approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes of local programming each week from Regina.

Alberta

CBX-FM Edmonton (2001-0134-5)

CBX-FM broadcasts approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes of local programming each week. It is jointly produced in Edmonton and Calgary.

CBR-FM Calgary and its transmitter (2001-0128-8)

CBBC-FM Lethbridge

CBR-FM broadcasts approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes of local programming each week from Calgary.

British Columbia

CBU-FM Vancouver and its transmitters (2001-0118-9)

CBU-FM-1 Victoria
CBU-FM-4 Kamloops
CBU-FM-3 Kelowna
CBU-FM-2 Metchosin/Sooke

CBU-FM broadcasts approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes of local programming each week from Vancouver.