Search

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-164

PDF version

References: Part 1 licence renewal applications posted on 3 December 2019

Ottawa, 25 May 2020

Rogers Media Inc.
Various locations in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario

Public record for these applications: 2019-0901-1, 2019-0903-7, 2019-0906-1, 2019-0907-9, 2019-0910-3, 2019-0911-0, 2019-0913-6, 2019-0915-2, 2019-0919-4, 2019-0920-2, 2019-0923-5, 2019-0926-9, 2019-0927-7, 2019-0929-3, 2019-0935-0 and 2019-0936-8

Various commercial radio stations – Licence renewals

  1. The Commission renews the broadcasting licences for the commercial radio programming undertakings listed below from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2027. The terms and conditions of licence for these stations are set out in the appendix to this decision.Footnote 1
    Commercial radio programming undertakings
    Call sign and location Application
    CFGP-FM Grande Prairie, Alberta and its transmitters CFGP-FM-1 Peace River, Alberta, and CFGP-FM-2 Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia 2019-0901-1
    CHTT-FM Victoria, British Columbia 2019-0927-7
    CISQ-FM Squamish, British Columbia 2019-0923-5
    CISW-FM Whistler, British Columbia, and its transmitter CISP-FM Pemberton 2019-0926-9
    CJAX-FM Vancouver, British Columbia, and its transmitter CJAX-FM-1 Whistler Footnote 2 2019-0929-3
    CKSR-FM Chilliwack, British Columbia 2019-0936-8
    CKWX Vancouver, British Columbia 2019-0935-0
    CKMH-FM Medicine Hat, Alberta 2019-0903-7
    CFTR Toronto, Ontario 2019-0906-1
    CHFI-FM Toronto, Ontario 2019-0907-9
    CHUR-FM North Bay, Ontario 2019-0919-4
    CIKR-FM Kingston, Ontario 2019-0910-3
    CISS-FM Ottawa, Ontario 2019-0913-6
    CIWW Ottawa, Ontario 2019-0915-2
    CKAT North Bay, Ontario 2019-0920-2
    CKXC-FM Kingston, Ontario 2019-0911-0
  2. The Commission received an intervention in regard to the present applications from the Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC). In its intervention, the FRPC expressed its support for each of the applications, provided that the licensee submits more information to the Commission on specific requirements, such as those relating to the offer of international news for certain stations, airplay and promotion of the works of Canadian emerging artists, and how the licensee’s use of online distribution platforms complements the programming of its conventional radio station’s programming, to enable the Commission to evaluate the licensee’s compliance with these requirements. The FRPC also provided comments in regard to the Commission’s licence renewal process as it relates to the broadcasting licences for the above services, to which the licensee replied.
  3. In Broadcasting Circular 2002-448, the Commission introduced streamlining initiatives that serve to reduce the administrative burden that many radio licensees face at the time of their licence renewals. Although it adopted these new initiatives, the Commission continues to carry out its supervisory role through its ongoing compliance review of licensees’ regulatory obligations, specific conditions of licence and monitoring activities. The Commission considers that the stations for which the broadcasting licences are renewed in this decision are in compliance with Commission policies and regulations. Further, the Commission notes that the licensee filed the appropriate radio renewal forms for this proceeding. Consequently, the Commission finds that the FRPC’s comments lie outside the scope of this licence renewal proceeding, and would be more appropriately addressed in the context of the upcoming review of the commercial radio policy framework.Footnote 3

Reminders

Local programming – CFGP-FM Grande Prairie, CHFI-FM Toronto, CHTT-FM Victoria, CHUR-FM North Bay, CIKR-FM Kingston, CISQ-FM Squamish, CISS-FM Ottawa, CISW-FM Whistler, CJAX-FM Vancouver, CKMH-FM Medicine Hat, CKSR‑FM Chilliwack and CKXC-FM Kingston

  1. Local radio stations are an important daily source of local news and information for communities. Holding a broadcasting licence comes with conditions, regulatory obligations and responsibilities, which include contributing to the Canadian broadcasting system by ensuring that Canadians have access to local programming that reflects their needs and interests and informs them of important current issues.
  2. The licensee proposed for the following stations to broadcast the following weekly levels of news:
    • CFGP-FM Grande Prairie, Alberta, and its transmitters CFGP-FM-1 Peace River, Alberta, and CFGP-FM-2 Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia – 1 hour, 10 minutes;
    • CHFI-FM Toronto, Ontario – 1 hour, 1 minute;
    • CHTT-FM Victoria, British Columbia – 38 minutes;
    • CHUR-FM North Bay, Ontario – 1 hour;
    • CIKR-FM Kingston, Ontario – 45 minutes;
    • CISQ-FM Squamish, British Columbia – 53 minutes;
    • CISS-FM Ottawa, Ontario – 40 minutes;
    • CISW-FM Whistler, British Columbia, and its transmitter CISP-FM Pemberton – 53 minutes;
    • CJAX-FM Vancouver, British Columbia, and its transmitter CJAX-FM-1 Whistler – 36 minutes;
    • CKMH-FM Medicine Hat, Alberta – 1 hour, 10 minutes;
    • CKSR-FM Chilliwack, British Columbia – 53 minutes;
    • CKXC-FM Kingston, Ontario – 1 hour.
  3. Although Broadcasting Public Notice 2006-158 does not specify a minimum level of weekly news to be broadcast, it does specify the type of spoken word material that must be included as part of a station’s local programming. In accordance with that public notice, the Commission reminds the licensee that the above-noted stations, in their local programming, must incorporate spoken word material of direct and particular relevance to the communities served, and that this programming must include local news, weather, sports coverage, and the promotion of local events and activities. In addition, the Commission encourages the licensee to ensure that a reasonable amount of daily local news and information is made available to those communities.

Force and effect of broadcasting certificates

  1. Pursuant to section 22 of the Broadcasting Act, the broadcasting licences renewed in this decision will cease to have any force or effect if the broadcasting certificates issued by the Department of Industry lapse.

Employment equity

  1. Because this licensee is subject to the Employment Equity Act and files reports concerning employment equity with the Department of Employment and Social Development, its employment equity practices are not examined by the Commission.

Secretary General

Related documents

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-164

Terms, conditions of licence, expectation and encouragement for the commercial radio programming undertakings for which the broadcasting licences are renewed in this decision

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2027.

Conditions of licence for all of the stations

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of licence 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.

Additional conditions of licence applicable to CISQ-FM Squamish, and to CISW‑FM Whistler and its transmitter CISP-FM Pemberton

  1. The licensee shall ensure that during each broadcast week, the undertaking broadcasts not less than 30 hours of local station-produced programming.
  2. The undertaking is exempt from the requirement set out in Local programming policy for FM radio – Definition of a single-station market, Public Notice CRTC 1993-121, 17 August 1993, that, in order to solicit or accept local advertising, at least one-third of its programming must be local programming.

Additional condition of licence applicable to CIWW Ottawa

  1. The licensee shall, as an exception to the percentage of Canadian musical selections set out in sections 2.2(8) and 2.2(9) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations) in any broadcast week where at least 90% of musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) that it broadcasts are selections released before 1 January 1981:
    1. in that broadcast week, devote 30% or more of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety; and
    2. between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., in the period beginning on Monday of that week and ending on Friday of the same broadcast week, devote 30% or more of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety.

The licensee will also be responsible for specifying, on the music lists it provides to the Commission, the year of release for all musical selections it broadcasts.

For purposes of this condition of licence:

Additional condition of licence applicable to CKXC-FM Kingston

  1. The licensee shall, as an exception to the percentage of Canadian musical selections set out in sections 2.2(8) and 2.2(9) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations) devote:
    1. in each broadcast week, at least 37% of its musical selections from content category 2 (Popular music) to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety; and
    2. between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., in the period from Monday to Friday of each broadcast week, at least 37% of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety.

For the purposes of this condition, “broadcast week,” “Canadian selection,” “content category” and “musical selection” shall have the same meanings as set out in the Regulations.

Expectation applicable to all stations

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

Encouragement applicable to CFGP-FM Grande Prairie, CHFI-FM Toronto, CHTT‑FM Victoria, CHUR-FM North Bay, CIKR-FM Kingston, CISQ-FM Squamish, CISS-FM Ottawa, CISW-FM Whistler, CJAX-FM Vancouver, CKMH-FM Medicine Hat, CKSR-FM Chilliwack and CKXC-FM Kingston

The Commission encourages the licensee to ensure that a reasonable amount of daily local news and information is made available to the communities served by the station.

Date modified: