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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-435

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Reference: Part 1 applications posted on 20 September 2019

Ottawa, 20 December 2019

Rogers Media Inc.
Toronto, Ontario

Public record for these applications: 2019-0965-7 and 2019-0967-3

CITY-DT Toronto and CFMT-DT Toronto – Technical changes

The Commission approves the applications by Rogers Media Inc. to change the authorized contours of the English-language television programming undertakings CITY-DT Toronto and CFMT-DT Toronto by exchanging the channels on which their respective transmitters are assigned to operate. Going forward, CITY-DT will operate its transmitter on channel 18 and CFMT-DT will operate its transmitter on channel 30.

The Commission also approves the request to increase the effective radiated power of CITY-DT Toronto from 16,000 to 49,000 watts.

Applications

  1. Rogers Media Inc. (Rogers) filed applications to change the authorized contours of the English-language television stations CITY-DT Toronto and CFMT-DT Toronto by exchanging the designated channels on which each transmitter has been assigned to operate. The transmitter for CITY-DT currently operates on channel 44, whereas the transmitter for CFMT-DT currently operates on channel 47. As part of the 600 MHz spectrum repacking initiative, the transmitter for CITY-DT has been assigned to operate on channel 30 and CFMT-DT has been assigned to operate on channel 18. As a result of the proposed exchange, the transmitter for CITY-DT would operate on channel 18 and the transmitter for CFMT-DT would operate on channel 30.
  2. Rogers also requested authorization to increase the effective radiated power (ERP) of CITY‑DT from 16,000 to 49,000 watts. All other technical parameters for both stations would remain unchanged. The licensee indicated that this power increase is necessary in order to mitigate reception issues that may occur as a result of the 600 MHz repacking. It added that the proposed technical changes would increase the available viewership by 11.5% within CITY-DT’s local service area and 7.7% within its regional service area.
  3. Given that the applicant proposes to exchange channels between the respective stations, the applications are non-severable.

Interventions and reply

  1. The Commission received interventions from individuals opposing both applications. They expressed concern over the possibility that reception of CFMT-DT would be degraded as a result of operating on channel 30 instead of channel 18. In its reply, Rogers noted that the allocation plan parameters would provide for an ERP of 16,000 watts for CFMT-DT on channel 30, which is a higher transmitter power than the allocation plan parameter of 12,200 watts on channel 18. As a result, there would be no change to CFMT-DT’s coverage if it uses channel 30 rather than channel 18.
  2. One of the interveners also opposed the proposed change to channel 18 for CITY-DT as it could result in a loss of service from CICO-DT-18 London (operated by TVO) due to increased interference. In its reply, Rogers stated that it expects the impact on CICO-DT-18 to be minimal and that TVO is not opposed to the application.

Commission’s analysis and decision

  1. The proposed technical changes are intended to maintain coverage of CFMT-DT and to mitigate the risk of potential first-adjacency interference to CITY-DT due to the channel changes required by the 600 MHz repack initiative. In the Commission’s view, the technical changes would address these issues and would not cause noticeable changes in coverage or reception.
  2. The Commission also notes that is it the responsibility of the Department of Industry (the Department) to ensure that the procedures and rules regarding interference analysis are followed according to BPR-11 — Broadcasting Television Application Procedures During the 600 MHz Transition. An indication of conditional technical acceptability has been received from the Department.
  3. In light of the above, the Commission approves the applications by Rogers Media Inc. to change the authorized contours of the English-language television programming undertakings CITY-DT Toronto and CFMT-DT Toronto by exchanging the channels on which their respective transmitters operate.
  4. In addition, the Commission approves the request to increase the effective radiated power of CITY-DT Toronto from 16,000 to 49,000 watts.
  5. Pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
  6. The licensee must implement the technical changes by no later than 20 December 2021. To request an extension, the licensee must submit a written request to the Commission at least 60 days before that date, using the form available on the Commission’s website.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

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