ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-75

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-75

See also: 2002-75-1

Ottawa, 28 March 2002

Rock 95 Broadcasting (Barrie-Orillia) Ltd.
Barrie-Orillia, Ontario

Application 2001-0835-9
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
14 January 2002

Decrease in power for CFJB-FM and relocation of its transmitter

1.

The Commission approves the application by Rock 95 Broadcasting (Barrie-Orillia) Ltd. (Rock 95) to amend the licence for CFJB-FM Barrie-Orillia by decreasing the effective radiated power from 96,300 watts to 70,000 watts.

2.

Rock 95 plans to move CFJB-FM's transmitter 10 kilometres from its current location to the site currently used by CKMB-FM, the licensee's other station serving the Barrie-Orillia market. The two stations will share the existing transmitting antenna. The licensee requested a decrease in CFJB-FM's power in order to maintain the station's authorized technical parameters at its new transmitter site, which is approximately 100 metres higher than the present location. According to Rock 95, the proposed changes will not significantly alter CFJB-FM's service contours, but will enable it to reduce its operating expenses by about $20,000 each year.

3.

In its evaluation of this application, the Commission has taken into consideration the concerns expressed by Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation (Bayshore), licensee of three radio stations in Owen Sound: CFOS, CIXK-FM and CKYC-FM. Bayshore argued that the proposed technical changes would give CFJB-FM a good 0.5  millivolt per metre (mV/m) contour signal into much of the Owen Sound radio market and would, therefore, have an adverse effect on the intervener's share of audiences and revenues.

4.

Rock 95 responded that neither the proposed 3 mV/m contour nor the proposed 0.5 mV/m contour of CFJB-FM would cover Owen Sound. The licensee maintained that, since Bayshore operates three radio stations in Owen Sound, sales efforts in that market on the part of CFJB-FM would be "almost impossible." Finally, the licensee stated that local news, weather and traffic reports carried on CFJB-FM would be of little interest to listeners in Owen Sound which is located almost 100 kilometres from Barrie.

5.

The Commission acknowledges that approval of this application will result in a slight increase in both the 3 mV/m and 0.5 mV/m contour coverage of CFJB-FM in the Owen Sound central market. Since listeners in this market represent only 5% of total tuning to CFJB-FM, the Commission considers that Rock 95 would be able to derive only a minimal amount of advertising revenue from that area. Furthermore, the Commission is convinced that Bayshore's dominant position in the market will enable it to retain most of the radio advertising revenues in its authorized service area. Accordingly, the Commission is satisfied that technical changes authorized in this decision should not have a significant negative impact upon Bayshore.

6.

Durham Radio Inc., licensee of CJKX-FM Ajax, also opposed the application, claiming that the proposed technical changes would significantly increase interference by CFJB-FM to CJKX-FM. The Commission notes that, in responding to this intervention, Rock 95 attached a letter from the Department of Industry (the Department) dated 19 November 2001 indicating that its analysis found that the proposal will actually reduce the potential interference to CJKX-FM.

7.

The Commission authorizes the licensee to operate the undertaking on the basis of the contours and particulars resulting from the above-mentioned changes.

8.

The Department has advised the Commission that, while this application is conditionally technically acceptable, it will only issue a broadcasting certificate once it has determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.

9.

In accordance with section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission will only issue the licence when it receives notification from the Department that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.

Secretary General

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