Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-2

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Reference: 2017-89

Ottawa, 4 January 2018

Klondike Broadcasting Company Limited
Whitehorse, Yukon

Application 2017-0192-0, received 13 March 2017
Public hearing in Gatineau, Quebec
7 September 2017

CKRW Whitehorse – Conversion to the FM band

1. The Commission approves the application by Klondike Broadcasting Company Limited (Klondike) for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Whitehorse, Yukon, to replace its English-language commercial AM radio programming undertaking CKRW Whitehorse. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision. The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding this application.
2. Klondike is a qualified corporation, pursuant to the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of Non-Canadians), owned by 42740 Yukon Inc., and is controlled by its board of directors.
3. In CKRW Whitehorse – Licence amendment, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-89, 5 April 2017, the Commission temporarily authorized Klondike to originate programming from its rebroadcasting transmitter CKRW-FM Whitehorse under its existing technical parameters until 5 April 2018.
4. Klondike submitted that its existing AM transmission facility is in need of extensive repairs and argued that the cost of restoring the facility and equipment would be unreasonably high.
5. The new FM station will operate at 96.1 MHz (channel 241B) with an effective radiated power of 4,400 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of the antenna above average terrain of 359 metres).
6. The remaining rebroadcasting transmitters currently associated with CKRW will be reassigned as rebroadcasting transmitters of the new FM station.
7. The new FM station will maintain the Adult Contemporary music format currently offered on the AM station. It will broadcast 126 hours of programming per broadcast week, including 100 hours of local programming. Of this, 6 hours and 30 minutes will be dedicated to local, national and international news.

Canadian content development

8. The applicant proposed to exceed the minimum contribution to Canadian content development (CCD) required by section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986. Specifically, Klondike proposed to devote, by condition of licence, $1,000 annually ($7,000 over seven consecutive broadcast years) to CCD.

Revocation of AM licence

9. Pursuant to sections 9(1)(e) and 24(1) of the Broadcasting Act and consistent with the licensee’s request, the Commission revokes the licence for CKRW Whitehorse once the licence for the new service has been issued. The new licence will be issued when the Department of Industry confirms that its technical requirements have been met and a broadcasting certificate will be issued, and when the applicant informs the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations according to the station’s new technical parameters.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2024.

The station will operate at 96.1 MHz (channel 241B) with an effective radiated power of 4,400 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of the antenna above average terrain of 359 metres).

The following rebroadcasting transmitters currently associated with CKRW Whitehorse will be reassigned to the new FM station:

• CKRW-FM-2 Inuvik, Northwest Territories
• VF2143 Watson Lake, Yukon
• VF2063 Faro, Yukon
• VF2266 Carcross, Yukon
• VF2267 Carmacks, Yukon
• VF2268 Mayo, Yukon
• VF2269 Haines Junction, Yukon
• VF2270 Teslin, Yukon

Pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, no licence may be issued until the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.

Further, the Commission will only issue a licence for this undertaking once the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 4 January 2020. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before this date.

Conditions of licence

1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions set out in Conditions of licence for commercial AM and FM radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-62, 11 February 2009, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.
2. In addition to the basic annual contribution to Canadian content development set out in section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986, the licensee shall make an annual contribution of $1,000 ($7,000 over seven consecutive broadcast years) to the promotion and development of Canadian content. Of this amount, at least 20% per broadcast year shall be devoted to FACTOR or MUSICACTION. The remainder shall be allocated to parties and initiatives fulfilling the definition of eligible initiatives set out in paragraph 108 of Commercial Radio Policy 2006, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-158, 15 December 2006.

Expectation

The Commission expects the licensee to reflect the cultural diversity of Canada in its programming and employment practices.

Encouragement

In accordance with Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

Date modified:

2018-01-04