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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2021-390

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References: Part 1 applications posted on 28 June 2021

Ottawa, 24 November 2021

Télé Inter-Rives ltée
Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec

Télévision MBS inc.
Rivière-du-Loup and Carleton-sur-Mer, Quebec

Public records for these applications: 2021-0419-9, 2021-0364-6 and 2021-0414-9

CIMT-DT Rivière-du-Loup and its transmitter CIMT-DT-6 Rivière-du-Loup; CFTF-DT Rivière-du-Loup and its transmitter CFTF-DT-11 Carleton-sur-Mer – Technical changes

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue 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 subsection 3(1) of the Act, as well as to amend those conditions on application by the licensee.

Application 2021-0419-9

  1. Télé Inter-Rives ltée (Télé Inter-Rives) filed an application to replace the transmitter CIMT-DT-6 Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec broadcasting on channel 41, a rebroadcasting transmitter of the French-language television station CIMT-DT Rivière-du-Loup, with the transmitter of CKRT-DT-3 Rivière-du-Loup, formerly broadcasting on channel 13.Footnote 1 Specifically, the licensee proposed to change the channel of CIMT-DT-6 from 41 to 13, decrease the average effective radiated power (ERP) from 90 to 48 watts (maximum ERP from 150 to 114 watts), decrease the effective height of the antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 50.7 to 49.2 metres, and update the coordinates of the transmitter site. All other technical parameters would remain the same as those previously authorized for CKRT-DT-3.
  2. Télé Inter-Rives stated that the changes would not alter the dynamics of the Rivière-du-Loup market and would provide the people living in this mountainous region with better over-the-air reception. The licensee also stated that the very high frequency (VHF) transmitter formerly used by CKRT-DT-3 is less expensive to operate than the ultra high frequency (UHF) transmitter used by CIMT-DT-6, consumes less power and is less prone to failure.
  3. The Commission notes that these technical changes would have no impact on the number of viewers in the local and regional service areas.
  4. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
  5. In light of the above, the Commission approves the application by Télé Inter-Rives ltée to replace the transmitter CIMT-DT-6 Rivière-du-Loup, a rebroadcasting transmitter of the French-language television programming undertaking CIMT-DT Rivière-du-Loup currently operating on channel 41, with the transmitter CKRT-DT-3 Rivière-du-Loup, formerly broadcasting on channel 13.

Application 2021-0364-6

  1. Télévision MBS inc. (Télévision MBS) filed an application to replace the transmitter of the French-language television station CFTF-DT Rivière-du-Loup broadcasting on channel 29, by the transmitter of CKRT-DT Rivière-du-Loup, previously broadcasting on channel 7. Specifically, the licensee proposed to change the channel of CFTF-DT from 29 to 7, decrease the average ERP from 26,200 to 7,000 watts (maximum ERP from 44,000 to 7,000 watts), increase the EHAAT from 341.1 to 345.1 metres, and update the coordinates of the transmitter site. All other technical parameters would remain the same as those previously authorized for CKRT­DT.
  2. Télévision MBS noted that the technical changes would not alter the dynamics of the Rivière-du-Loup market and would provide the people living in this mountainous region with better over-the-air reception. The licensee also stated that the VHF transmitter formerly used by CKRT-DT is less expensive to operate than the UHF transmitter used by CFTF-DT, consumes less power and is less prone to failure.
  3. The Commission noted that these technical changes would have a significant positive impact on the potential number of viewers in the local service area, where viewership would increase from 39,878 to 65,301 (a 64% increase), and in the regional service area, where it would increase from 53,989 to 132,831 (a 146% increase).
  4. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
  5. In light of the above, the Commission approves the application by Télévision MBS inc. to replace the transmitter of the French-language television programming undertaking CFTF-DT Rivière-du-Loup, currently broadcasting on channel 29, with the transmitter of CKRT-DT Rivière-du-Loup, formerly broadcasting on channel 7.

Application 2021-0414-9

  1. Télévision MBS also filed an application to change the parameters of CFTF-DT-11 Carleton-sur-Mer, Quebec, a rebroadcasting transmitter of the French-language television station CFTF-DT. The licensee stated that the Department of Industry’s (the Department) plan for repurposing the spectrum for use of the 600 MHz band calls for the transmitter of CFTF-DT-11 to migrate from channel 44 to channel 26. More specifically, the licensee is requesting a change to the allotment plan so that CFTF-DT-11 operates on channel 29 instead. Approval of this application would have the impact of decreasing the average ERP from 10,350 to 10,281 watts (maximum ERP from 26,000 to 19,500 watts). All other technical parameters would remain the same. The licensee stated that these changes would result in substantial savings.
  2. The Commission notes that these technical changes would have a significant positive impact on the number of potential viewers in the local service area, where viewership would increase from 33,335 to 56,614 (a 70% increase), and in the regional service area, where it would increase from 69,666 to 93,296 (a 34% increase).
  3. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
  4. In light of the above, the Commission approves the application by Télévision MBS inc. to change the operating parameters of CFTF-DT-11 Carleton-sur-Mer, a rebroadcasting transmitter of the French-language television programming undertaking CFTF-DT Rivière-du-Loup.

Condition prior to the implementation of technical changes

  1. Pursuant to subsection 22(1) of the Act, these authorizations will be effective only when the Department notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that broadcasting licences will be issued.

Launch

  1. The licensees must implement the technical changes no later than 24 November 2023. To request an extension, the licensees must submit a written request to the Commission at least 60 days before that date, using the form available on the Commission’s website.

Reprogramming the alert broadcast decoder

  1. As set out in section 18 of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987 (the Regulations), licensees have obligations regarding the broadcasting of emergency alert messages received from the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System. In regard to the changes to CIMT-DT’s and CFTF-DT’s authorized contours approved in this decision, the Commission reminds the licensees that continued compliance with section 18 of the Regulations may require that any alert broadcast decoders (e.g., ENDEC) used for the purposes of broadcasting emergency alert messages on CIMT-DT and CFTF-DT, or on any rebroadcasting transmitters that may appear on the broadcasting licences for those stations, be reprogrammed to properly account for the new authorized contours.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

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