Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-409

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References: Part 1 licence renewal applications posted on 30 October 2020

Ottawa, 22 December 2020

Rogers Media Inc.
Richmond, British Columbia; Toronto and Tillsonburg, Ontario

Public record for these applications: 2019-0904-5, 2019-0909-5 and 2019-0928-5

Various commercial radio stations – Licence renewals

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to section 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act, to issue and renew licences for such terms not exceeding seven years and subject to such conditions related to the circumstances of the licensee as it deems appropriate for the implementation of the broadcasting policy set out in section 3(1) of the Broadcasting Act.
  2. Consistent with that authority, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for the English-language commercial radio programming undertakings listed below from 1 March 2021 to 31 August 2027.Footnote 1 The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to these applications. The terms and conditions of licence for these stations are set out in the appendix to this decision.
    Call sign and Locality Application
    CISL Richmond, British Columbia 2019-0928-5
    CJCL Toronto, Ontario 2019-0909-5
    CJDL-FM Tillsonburg, Ontario 2019-0904-5

Reminders

Tangible benefits – CISL Richmond

  1. Rogers Media Inc. (Rogers) must pay any remaining tangible benefits stemming from the ownership transaction approved on 26 May 2017 in a letter decision.Footnote 2

Tangible benefits – CJDL-FM Tillsonburg

  1. Rogers must pay any remaining tangible benefits stemming from the ownership transaction approved in Broadcasting Decision 2017-251.

Local news and information – CISL Richmond and CJCL Toronto

  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:
    • CISL Richmond: 0 hours, 15 minutes
    • CJCL Toronto: 0 hours, 0 minutesFootnote 3
  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 licences

  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 the 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 2020-409

Terms, conditions of licence and expectation for the English-language commercial radio programming undertakings for which the broadcasting licences have been renewed in this decision

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2027.

Condition of licence applicable to all 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 condition of licence applicable to CISL Richmond

  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:
    • in that broadcast week, devote 30% or more of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian musical selections broadcast in their entirety; and
    • 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 shall specify, on the music lists it provides to the Commission, the year of release for all musical selections it broadcasts.

For the purposes of this condition of licence, the terms “broadcast week,” “content category” and “musical selection” shall have the same meanings as those 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.

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