Broadcasting - Staff Letter addressed to Karen Gifford (Corus)
Ottawa, 24 January 2023
Reference(s): 2022-0653-1, 2022-0657-3
BY E-MAIL
Karen Gifford
CORUS
25, Dockside Drive
Toronto, Ontario, M5A 0B5
Karen.gifford@corusent.com
Subject: Applications 2022-0653-1 and 2022-0657-3 – Licence Renewals – CFGQ-FM Calgary and CFGQ-FM-1 Calgary and CHQR Calgary
The Commission is in receipt of the above-noted applications to renew the broadcasting licences for the English-language commercial radio stations CFGQ-FM Calgary and its transmitter and CFGQ-FM-1 Calgary, and CHQR Calgary. To pursue the analysis of these applications, please respond to the questions set out in this letter.
The information requested herein should be received by the Commission no later than 3 February 2023.
Considering the above request, once the applications are completed with this additional information the Commission will republish the applications for additional comments.
The timelines for the proceeding will be as follows:
- The deadline for the filing of additional interventions is 13 Feb 2023.
- The deadline for the filing of replies to the interventions by the applicant is 20 Feb 2023.
It was recently brought to Commission staff’s attention that CFGQ-FM Calgary is currently rebroadcasting CHQR Calgary, which offers a News talk format.
As set out in the Radio Regulations, 1986, (Regulations) an A.M. station is defined as a station that broadcasts in the A.M. frequency band of 525 kHz to 1605 kHz, but does not include a transmitter that only rebroadcasts the radiocommunications of a licensee. Similarly, an F.M. station is defined as a station that broadcasts in the F.M. frequency band of 88 MHz to 108 MHz, but does not include a transmitter that only rebroadcasts the radiocommunications of a licensee.
As set out in subsection 14(1) of the Regulations, an F.M. licensee that is also an A.M. licensee shall not, during the broadcast day, broadcast simultaneously on its F.M. station the same matter that is being broadcast on its A.M. station if any part of the F.M. station’s 3 mV/m contour or the digital radio station’s digital service area overlaps with any part of the A.M. station’s daytime 15 mV/m contour. Pursuant to subsection 14(3), notwithstanding subsection (1), a licensee may broadcast simultaneously for a maximum of 42 hours during any broadcast week. Appendix A displays the contours of CFGQ-FM 3 mV/m and CHQR 15 mV/m daytime.
According to Commission records, as well as Broadcasting Decision 2014-147 and broadcasting licence 2014-0147-003-2021, there are no rebroadcasting transmitters authorized to simulcast the programming of the commercial AM station CHQR Calgary. CHQR’s licence authorizes Corus Radio Inc. to carry an English-language A.M. radio programming undertaking on the frequency 770 kHz in Calgary.
According to Commission records, as well as Broadcasting Decision 2014-147 and broadcasting licence 2014-0147-002-2021, CFGQ-FM-1 Banff is the only transmitter authorized to broadcast, in its entirety, the programming of the CFGQ-FM Calgary.
CFGQ-FM is subject to condition of licence 7 as set out in the appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-62,Footnote1 which states that an F.M. station shall not be operated within the Specialty format, unless specified in the conditions of licence. According to Public Notice CRTC 1995-60, a commercial F.M. station is operating in the Specialty format if it meets one or more of certain criteria, one of which being that the station devotes more than 50% of the broadcast week to Spoken Word.
In light of the above, please respond to the questions below:
- Please explain the current situation and what programming, including format, is broadcast on CFGQ-FM and CHQR.
- Is it the licensee’s intention to use CFGQ-FM to simulcast programming originating from CHQR? If so, how many hours each broadcast week will CFGQ-FM simulcast from CHQR?
- Does the licensee intend to keep both stations in operation? Please refer to the definition of A.M. station and F.M. station set out in the Regulations when answering this question.
- The Commission has not received an application nor made a determination authorizing CFGQ-FM Calgary to be added as a rebroadcasting transmitter on CHQR Calgary’s broadcasting licence. Does the licensee intend to file a licence amendment application in this respect?
- The licensee has not applied for a licence amendment to request that CFGQ-FM be authorized to operate in the Specialty format. Does the licensee intend to file a licence amendment application in this respect?
- For each station, please specify the amount (hours:minutes) of local programming that you currently broadcast in each broadcast week.
- Please specify the minimum amount (hours:minutes) of local programming that you propose to broadcast in each broadcast week over the next licence term.
- For each station, please refer to the Appendix of Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-819 for the definition of News (see Content Subcategory 11: News)
- Specify how many hours: minutes per broadcast week will be devoted to news in each broadcast week over the next licence term.
- Please provide a breakdown of the number of hours: minutes per broadcast week to be dedicated to local, national and international news.
| Type of newscast | Hours: minutes / broadcast week |
|---|---|
| i. Local and regional news | |
| ii. National news | |
| iii. International news |
Note: The sum of the hours in i), ii) and iii) must be equal the total number of hours: minutes dedicated to news indicated in a.
In the absence of a response on your part by the specified deadline, the licensee will be in a situation of apparent non-compliance with section 9(4) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 which requires licensees to respond to Commission requests for information relating to adherence to their regulatory obligations.
A copy of this letter and all related correspondence will be added to the public record of the proceeding.
Your response or other documents be submitted electronically by using the secured service “My CRTC Account” (Partner Log In or GCKey) and filling the “Broadcasting Cover Page” or the “Broadcasting Online Form and Cover Page” located on this web page. Also on this web page you will find information on the submission of applications to the Commission “Filing Broadcasting and Canadian Program Certification documents with the CRTC: Privacy and Security”.
Should you need further information concerningthis letter, please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at 819-271-9404 or by e-mail at Laurent.Robillard-Cardinal@crtc.gc.ca
Yours sincerely,
Laurent Robillard-Cardinal
Senior Radio Analyst
- Date modified: