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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-16
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Ottawa, 21 January 2005 |
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Metromedia CMR Broadcasting Inc.
Longueuil, Quebec |
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Application 2003-1818-0
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
7 September 2004 |
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CHMP-FM Longueuil – Licence amendment
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The Commission approves the application
by Metromedia CMR Broadcasting Inc. to amend the broadcasting licence
for the radio programming undertaking CHMP-FM Longueuil authorizing
the licensee to operate the station within the predominantly spoken-word
Specialty format, and to remove the existing condition of licence
regarding the broadcast of English-language vocal musical selections.
This approval is conditional upon written confirmation by Astral Media
Radio inc. and Corus, within 30 days of the date of this decision,
that they will complete the transaction approved in Exchange of
radio assets in Quebec between Astral Media Radio inc. and Corus Entertainment
Inc., Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-15,
issued today, in accordance with the terms and conditions set out
therein. |
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The application
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1. |
The Commission received an application by
Metromedia CMR Broadcasting Inc. (Metromedia) to amend the broadcasting
licence for the radio programming undertaking CHMP-FM (formerly CKOO-FM)
Longueuil authorizing the licensee to operate the station within the
predominantly spoken-word Specialty format, and to remove the existing
condition of licence regarding the broadcast of English-language vocal
musical selections. Metromedia is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Placements Belcand Mont-Royal inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Corus Entertainment Inc. (Corus). |
2. |
Metromedia’s application was announced
in Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-30,
5 May 2004. However, the Commission decided to postpone the hearing
of the application in order to consider it within the context of the
applications submitted by Astral Media Radio inc. and 591991 B.C.
Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Corus, for authority to acquire
several radio undertakings in Quebec as part of an exchange of assets
(the Astral/Corus transaction). Those applications were also scheduled
for consideration at the 7 September 2004 Public Hearing. In
Exchange of radio assets in Quebec between Astral Media Radio inc.
and Corus Entertainment Inc., Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-15
(Decision 2005-15),
also issued today, the Commission has approved the transaction, subject
to written confirmation by the parties, within 30 days of the date
of the decision, that they will complete the approved transaction
in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in Decision 2005-15.
The Commission considered the impact of the applicant’s proposed amendments
within the context of the Astral/Corus transaction. |
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Proposed programming
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3. |
The applicant proposed to operate the
station within the Specialty format by devoting more than 50% of the
broadcast week to spoken-word programming, and thus asked the Commission
to replace the condition of licence regarding the format of the station
with the following condition of licence: |
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The station shall be operated within the
Specialty format as defined in Revised content categories and
subcategories for radio, Public Notice CRTC 2000-14,
28 January 2000 and in A Review of Certain
Matters Concerning Radio, Public Notice
CRTC 1995-60,
21 April 1995, as amended from time to time and approved by the
Commission. The licensee shall devote more than 50% of the broadcast
week to spoken-word programming.
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4. |
In its application, the applicant stated
that programming will focus on spoken-word content for those between the
ages of 18 to 49 years, a younger audience than that served by the
existing predominantly spoken-word stations in this market. Programming
will consist of news, public affairs, interviews, opinion and sports. At
the hearing, the licensee stated that it would not broadcast sports
should the Expos be moved to another city. The station will offer news
packages throughout the day. |
5. |
The applicant specified that its news
programming will be hosted by news and public affairs specialists and
will provide programming interspersed with interviews with figures in
the news, political, financial and other commentary, cultural and social
features, sports commentary, occasional audience reaction, newscasts,
traffic reports and weather updates three times each hour. |
6. |
The applicant committed to broadcast five
hours and 14 minutes of local news per week. Two reporters will be
assigned exclusively to CHMP-FM and will be responsible for
newsgathering. |
7. |
The applicant stated that it will include
in its schedule a daily program devoted entirely to arts and cultural
news. The applicant also committed to broadcast, on weekends, for six
hours per day, programming consisting of musical content only. |
8. |
In support of its application, the
applicant explained that for 30 years, CHMP-FM has been the only FM
radio station in Montréal that has not had significant success. The
applicant expects that the station’s audience share should double during
the first year of operation subsequent to these amendments, that the
station’s revenues will also double, and that its programming expenses
will increase significantly. According to the applicant, CHMP-FM could
become profitable by the fourth year. |
9. |
The applicant also requested the removal of
the existing condition of licence regarding the broadcast of
English-language vocal musical selections. |
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The interventions
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10. |
The Commission received eight
interventions: two supporting the application, two opposing it and four
offering comments. The Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du
Québec (the Fédération) and the Syndicat des employés de CKAC (the
Syndicat) opposed the application. The interventions filed by Genex
Communications inc. (Genex), the Quebec Press Council (the Press
Council), the Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du
spectacle et de la vidéo (ADISQ) and Arisco Communications (Arisco), on
its own behalf and on behalf of 4158695 Canada Inc., offered comments.
The opposing interventions and the comments are addressed below. |
11. |
The Fédération, the Syndicat and the Press
Council expressed concern regarding the future of CKAC given that the
change in CHMP-FM’s programming orientation could put the station in
direct competition with CKAC. |
12. |
The Syndicat was concerned that CHMP-FM’s
proposed programming would be almost identical to CKAC’s programming and
would add very little to existing radio in the Montréal area. The
Syndicat also raised the concern that the changes would only serve to
diminish the value of CKAC’s programming with the goal of enhancing the
value of CHMP-FM’s programming. |
13. |
Genex, Arisco and ADISQ all expressed
concern over the possible disappearance of alternative rock music, and
Arisco was further concerned about the potential impact of this
disappearance on Canada’s music industry. According to Arisco, the
industry will suffer and Francophone listeners will have to tune into
U.S., Ontario or even Montréal English-language stations to hear this
type of music. Genex also stated that this change could threaten its Qué
Rock initiative, which focuses on full sponsorship of developing
alternative rock artists and groups. |
14. |
ADISQ added that CHMP-FM’s programming is
unique because its musical repertoire is not offered by any other
French-language radio station in Montréal. It was also very disappointed
that young people would lose access to this musical format. ADISQ
therefore asked the Commission to impose music programming guidelines on
the applicant. |
15. |
ADISQ suggested that the Commission impose
a condition of licence requiring the applicant to broadcast cultural
features and a three-hour program devoted to arts events, every day. It
also suggested a condition of licence requiring the applicant to
broadcast at least 40% music programming during each broadcast week.
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The applicant’s reply
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16. |
The applicant specified that it has not
broadcast alternative rock since 5 January 2004, and instead has been
offering an adult contemporary and adult light contemporary format aimed
at the 18 to 49 age group. The applicant pointed out that it had offered
an alternative rock format for three years, but that in its opinion, it
was extremely difficult to succeed with that format in a market like
that of Montréal, which is both an English-language and a
French-language market surrounded by other English-language stations. |
17. |
The applicant pointed out that the market
study filed with its application shows that the Montréal market can
accommodate a second French-language predominantly spoken-word
commercial radio station. In the applicant’s opinion, adopting a
predominantly spoken-word format will contribute to programming
diversity in the Montréal market, with no undue impact on existing
stations. Further, the applicant was of the view that with this format,
its station will become profitable. |
18. |
In response to the concerns of the Syndicat,
the applicant stated that it had no intention of diminishing the value
of the news and information services offered by CKAC and that, in any
case, given its large share of the local radio market, CKAC is
completely capable of taking steps it deems appropriate in response to
the proposed amendment in this application. Finally, the applicant
pointed out that, when CBF Montréal moved from the AM to the FM band,
the impact on CKAC was very limited. |
19. |
The applicant expressed
agreement with ADISQ’s position on the importance of including regular
and up-to-date discussion of cultural issues in the programming
broadcast by local predominantly spoken-word radio stations. The
applicant stated that it would be prepared to accept a condition of
licence requiring that it broadcast at least 12 hours per broadcast week
of musical content or programming related to the music industry. |
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The Commission’s analysis and determination
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20. |
In its consideration of the application,
the Commission considered the comments made by the applicant and the
interveners. Specifically, the Commission notes the interveners’
concerns regarding the potential impact that CHMP-FM’s change in format
could have on CKAC. |
21. |
The Commission notes that, as part of the
Astral/Corus transaction, Corus proposed a change in CKAC’s programming
orientation and a reduction in the size of its newsroom. Corus is
planning to create a new information entity pooling all resources,
instead of having three separate newsrooms for CKAC, CHMP-FM and CINF
(Info 690). This new entity, known as "Corus – Nouvelles,"
would include 17 reporters, i.e., 11 at CINF, three at CKAC, two at
CHMP-FM and one at CKOI-FM. As noted in Decision 2005-15,
the Commission is of the view that even if the number of news staff
at CKAC was reduced, listeners in Montréal would continue to enjoy
news produced for the Montréal market by this new information entity.
As a result of the proposed change in CKAC’s programming orientation,
i.e., from that of a general interest station to one primarily oriented
towards sports and health, CKAC’s predominantly spoken-word programming
should complement the programming of CHMP-FM. |
22. |
The Commission is of the view that Montréal
listeners will not see a decrease in the diversity of radio programming
in Montréal following the change in CHMP-FM’s format because the news
and public affairs, interviews, opinion, and arts and cultural news
programs will complement the programming aired by other stations serving
the Montréal market. |
23. |
At the hearing, the applicant stated that
the news aired by CHMP-FM will be different from that aired by other
stations because it will be based on the station’s listenership.
According to the clarifications provided by the applicant, the news
programs broadcast by CHMP-FM will be hosted by news and public affairs
specialists and will offer programming interspersed with interviews with
figures in the news, political, financial and other commentary, cultural
and social features, sports commentary, occasionally audience reaction,
newscasts, traffic reports and weather updates three times each hour.
The Commission is of the view that the applicant’s proposed news format
should thus ensure diversity in the news programming offered to Montréal
listeners. |
24. |
The Commission does not consider it
necessary to impose a condition of licence on CHMP-FM related to the
percentage of programming devoted to arts and cultural news, but notes
the applicant’s commitment and the concerns expressed by ADISQ regarding
musical content and programming related to the music industry. |
25. |
Consequently, in accordance with the
commitment made by the applicant at the hearing, the Commission expects
the applicant to broadcast at least 12 hours of musical content or
programming related to the music industry, over the course of each
broadcast week. |
26. |
With respect to the phone-in shows to be
broadcast on CHMP-FM Longueuil, the Commission notes the applicant’s
commitment to comply with the guidelines on spoken-word content that
Radiomedia inc. submitted to the Commission on 21 December 1994. The
Commission expects the applicant to adhere to this commitment. |
27. |
In light of the above, the Commission
approves the application by Metromedia CMR Broadcasting Inc. to
amend the broadcasting licence for the radio programming undertaking
CHMP-FM authorizing the licensee to operate the station within the
Specialty format. |
28. |
The condition of licence regarding the
station’s format is replaced by the following condition of licence: |
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The station shall be operated within the
Specialty format as defined in Revised content categories and
subcategories for radio, Public Notice CRTC 2000-14,
28 January 2000 and in A Review of Certain Matters Concerning
Radio, Public Notice CRTC 1995-60,
21 April 1995, as amended from time to time and approved by the
Commission. The licensee shall devote more than 50% of the broadcast
week to spoken-word programming.
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29. |
This approval is subject to written confirmation
by Astral Media Radio inc. and Corus, within 30 days of the date of
this decision, that they will complete the Astral/Corus transaction
in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in Decision 2005-15,
also issued today. Failure to provide such confirmation within the
required timeframe shall render this decision null and void. |
30. |
The Commission also approves the
request to remove the existing condition of licence regarding the
broadcast of English-language vocal musical selections. The licensee
will continue to be subject to the Radio Regulations, 1986,
which, among other things, require that in a broadcast week, the
station devote 65% or more of its vocal musical selections from content
category 2 to musical selections in the French language and schedule
them in a reasonable manner throughout each broadcast day. |
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Secretary General |
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This decision is to be appended to the
licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may
also be examined at the following Internet site:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca. |