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Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2005-64
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Ottawa, 23 June 2005 |
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Introduction to Broadcasting Decisions CRTC 2005-253 to 2005-257 –
Licensing of new radio stations to serve Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau,
Quebec
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At a public hearing in the National
Capital Region beginning on 1 December 2004, the Commission considered
ten applications for new English-language radio services and six
applications for new French-language radio services in Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau,
Quebec (Ottawa/Gatineau). This public notice sets out the criteria that
the Commission has used to evaluate the applications, its determinations
regarding the ability of the Ottawa/Gatineau market to support
additional radio services and a list of the applications that have been
approved. |
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In Broadcasting Decisions CRTC 2005-253
to 2005-256, issued today, the Commission approves applications for
broadcasting licences to operate two new English-language commercial
FM radio stations, one new French-language commercial FM radio station,
and one new English-language low-power tourist information FM radio
station in Ottawa/Gatineau. In Denial of various applications
considered at the 1 December 2004 National Capital Region Public Hearing,
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-257,
(Decision 2005-257),
also issued today, the Commission lists the remaining twelve applications
that have been denied. |
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Introduction
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1. |
In Call for applications for a broadcasting
licence to carry on a radio programming undertaking to serve Ottawa,
Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC
2004-3, 22 January 2004, the
Commission announced that it had received applications for a broadcasting
licence to provide radio services to Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec
(Ottawa/Gatineau). Consistent with the procedures generally followed
by the Commission in such cases, it called for applications from other
parties wishing to obtain a broadcasting licence to serve the Ottawa/Gatineau
radio market. |
2. |
In Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing
CRTC 2004-6-2, 2 September
2004, the Commission announced that it would hold a public hearing
in the National Capital Region commencing on 1 November 2004
to consider ten applications for new English-language radio services
and six applications for new French-language radio services in Ottawa/Gatineau.
The Commission subsequently announced in Broadcasting Notice of Public
Hearing 2004-6-7,
21 October 2004, that, for administrative reasons, the consideration
of these applications would be postponed to a public hearing commencing
on 1 December 2004 in the National Capital Region. |
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Overview of the applications
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3. |
Four of the applicants seeking licences for
new English-language FM commercial radio stations proposed to operate in
similar Adult Standards or Easy Listening formats targeting adults
between the ages of 35 to 64. Two other applicants proposed to operate
in similar Alternative Rock or Youth Contemporary formats targeting
youth and young adults, and two proposed to operate within the Specialty
FM format, one offering a Christian music service targeted to adults
aged 45 years and over, and the other a Smooth Jazz-oriented music
format targeting adults aged 24 to 54 years. The remaining two
applications for new English-language FM radio services were proposals
for low-power tourist information stations. |
4. |
Three of the applicants seeking licences
for new French-language radio services proposed commercial FM stations.
Of these applicants, one proposed to operate in a music format that it
described as blended Pop/Rock and Urban, and one proposed to operate in
an Alternative Rock format. Both of these formats would target youth and
young adults. The other applicant proposed to operate within the
Specialty FM format and offer a Smooth Jazz music format targeted to an
audience of those aged between 25 to 54 years. The remaining
applications for new French-language services included one proposal for
a commercial AM radio station that would operate in a News/Talk format,
one proposal for a Type B community FM radio station, and one proposal
for an FM transmitter that would rebroadcast the predominantly religious
programming of an existing Montréal radio station. |
5. |
The Commission determined that, with the
exception of the application for an AM station, each of the applications
proposing new radio services for the Ottawa/Gatineau region was
competing against one or more of the other applications considered at
the hearing. These determinations were based either on marketing
grounds, i.e., because the applicants proposed to operate in similar
music formats in the same market, or on technical grounds, i.e., because
their applications were predicated on the use of the same or an adjacent
frequency, or on both marketing and technical grounds. |
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Applications for FM frequency 88.5 MHz
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6. |
The Commission considered four
mutually-exclusive applications proposing the use of FM frequency
88.5 MHz. |
7. |
Two of the applicants proposed to operate
English-language commercial FM stations. Newcap Inc. (Newcap) would
offer an Alternative Rock format, targeted to the 12 to 34 age group.
CKMW Radio Ltd., on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, (CKMW)
would offer a format that it described as featuring a broad range of
musical styles, including crooners, standards, ballads, love songs and
contemporary hits drawn from current and past musical eras. Its station
would be targeted to the 35 to 64 age group with a focus on listeners
aged 45 years and over. |
8. |
The other two applicants proposed
French-language stations. 591991 B.C. Ltd., a subsidiary of Corus
Entertainment Inc., proposed a commercial FM station that would operate
in a Specialty FM Smooth Jazz format, targeted to an audience of those
aged between 25 and 54 years. Jean-Jacques Brunelle, on behalf of
corporation to be incorporated, (Jean-Jacques Brunelle) proposed a
French-language Type B community FM radio station. |
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Applications for FM frequencies 96.3 MHz and 96.5 MHz
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9. |
The Commission considered one application
proposing the use of FM frequency 96.3 MHz and six applications
proposing the use of FM frequency 96.5 MHz. Since 96.3 MHz is the first
adjacent frequency to 96.5 MHz, all seven applications were technically
exclusive of one another. |
10. |
Global Communications Limited proposed to
operate an English-language commercial FM station at 96.3 MHz offering a
New Easy Listening format blending new easy-listening favourites with
soft jazz, soft pop, world beat and folk music selections, targeted to
an adult audience of those aged between 35 and 64 years. |
11. |
Of the six applications predicated on the
use of 96.5 MHz, two proposed to operate English-language commercial FM
stations. John Wright & Douglas Kirk, on behalf of a corporation to be
incorporated, would offer what the applicant described as a "Triple S"
format featuring a blend of smooth jazz, soft adult contemporary and
standards, targeted to adults aged 45 to 64 years. Radio 1540 Limited,
on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, would operate within the
Specialty FM format and offer a Smooth Jazz-oriented music format as
well as 36 hours per week of culturally-diverse spoken word programming,
targeted to the 25 to 54 demographic. |
12. |
Three of the remaining four applications
proposing the use of 96.5 MHz were for French-language undertakings.
Genex Communications inc. proposed to operate a French-language
commercial FM station in an Alternative Rock format with a focus on
sports information programming, targeted to men aged 18 to 44 years.
Radio Nord Communications inc. (Radio Nord) proposed a French-language
commercial FM station that would operate in Gatineau at 96.5 MHz with a
transmitter in Gatineau (Buckingham sector) at 107.5 MHz. It would offer
a Pop/Rock and Urban format targeted to youth and young adults aged 18
to 34 years. Radio Ville-Marie requested an FM transmitter in Gatineau
to simulcast the predominantly religious programming of the
French-language station CIRA-FM Montréal. The applicant indicated that
two hours of local programming for Ottawa/Gatineau would be included in
the programming of CIRA-FM. |
13. |
The sixth application proposing the use of
96.5 MHz was filed by 3077457 Nova Scotia Limited, a corporation equally
owned and controlled by Jack McGaw and Robert Stapells. The applicant
proposed an English-language low-power FM tourist information station
that would broadcast pre-recorded messages informing tourists of weather
and highway conditions as well as attractions and services in the Ottawa
area. |
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Applications for FM frequency 98.5 MHz
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14. |
The Commission considered four applications
proposing the use of FM frequency 98.5 MHz. These applications were
technically mutually exclusive. |
15. |
Of these applicants, three proposed to
establish English-language commercial FM stations. CKMW proposed to
offer a Youth Contemporary format drawing predominantly from the
alternative and modern rock music genres, targeted to the 12 to 24 age
group. Astral Media Radio inc. (Astral) would offer a "Comfort Radio"
format featuring a blend of soft adult contemporary and ballad style
musical selections with some world beat music, primarily targeted to
women aged 35 to 54 years. Christian Hit Radio Inc. (Christian Hit)
proposed to operate within the Specialty FM format and offer a Christian
music service that would broadcast religious and non-religious spoken
word programming and Christian music, targeted to listeners aged 45
years and over. |
16. |
Levinson and Associates, on behalf of a
corporation to be incorporated, (Levinson) proposed a low-power
English-language tourist information FM station that would broadcast
"live-to-air" and offer local news and tourist-related spoken word
programming as well as youth-oriented popular music. |
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Application for AM frequency 1630 kHz
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17. |
Radio Rideau Inc. was the only applicant
proposing to use AM frequency 1630 kHz. The applicant proposed a
French-language commercial AM station that would operate in a News/Talk
format and broadcast service and information programming of interest to
the Francophone population of Ottawa and eastern Ontario1. |
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Interventions
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18. |
The Commission received many interventions
that expressed support for one or other of the applications considered
in this public proceeding. Interventions expressing opposition to any
particular application were relatively few. The Commission addresses the
interventions specific to a particular application in the individual
decision dealing with the application concerned. |
19. |
One of the interventions contained a
combined comment by the Canadian Diversity Producers Association, the
Ottawa Chapter of the Chinese Canadian National Council and the National
Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of Canada. These
parties urged the Commission to address the cultural diversity plans and
obligations of any licensed station and to accord particular
consideration to those applicants who "have a record of being positive
forces in their communities." |
20. |
In this regard, the Commission notes that,
consistent with Commercial Radio Policy 1998, Public Notice
CRTC 1998-41, 30 April 1998
(the Commercial Radio Policy), as a matter of policy, it encourages
all radio broadcasters to reflect the cultural diversity of Canada
in their programming and employment practices, especially with respect
to news, music and promotion of Canadian artists. |
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Factors for evaluating competing radio applications
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21. |
The Commission considered the applications
proposing new commercial radio stations and made Broadcasting Decisions
CRTC 2005-253 to CRTC 2005-257 using the framework set out in
Introductory statement – Licensing new radio stations, which
appeared as a preface to Decisions CRTC 99-480 to 99-482, 28 October
1999. In that statement, the Commission indicated that, pursuant to the
Commercial Radio Policy, there are four factors that are generally among
those relevant to the evaluation of competing commercial radio
applications. These factors are: |
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- diversity of news voices in the market;
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- likely impact on the market of a new entrant or entrants;
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- quality of the application; and
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- competitive state of the market.
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22. |
The Commission examined the one non-commercial
application, namely that by Jean-Jacques Brunelle for a French-language
Type B community FM station in light of its Community Radio
Policy, Public Notice CRTC 2000-13,
28 January 2000 (Public Notice 2000-13).
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23. |
In making Broadcasting Decisions CRTC
2005-253 to CRTC 2005-257, the Commission has also considered the
bilingual and bicultural composition of the Ottawa/Gatineau market. This
market includes Canada’s national capital and covers a broad area on
both sides of the Ottawa River in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
According to Statistics Canada’s 2001 Census of Canada, the Ottawa/Gatineau
region has a population of over one million people, 60% of whom are
Anglophone and 29% are Francophone2.
The Ottawa/Gatineau radio market is Canada’s seventh largest
English-language market and third largest French-language market. |
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Diversity of news voices in the market
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24. |
Residents of the Ottawa/Gatineau region
currently have access to many local, regional and national news
broadcast sources. These include the radio stations noted in the next
section of this decision, as well as two English-language and two
French-language local private television stations, the provincial
television services of Ontario and Quebec, respectively, and the CBC’s
English- and French-language television networks, and various other
broadcasting services delivered to the market by means of broadcasting
transmitters and satellite or terrestrial broadcasting distribution
undertakings. There are also five local daily newspapers available in
the Ottawa/Gatineau region (four English-language and one
French-language) and numerous special and community newspapers and
magazines. |
25. |
The Commission finds, based on discussions
with all the applicants, that the diversity of news voices is not a
significant issue in this proceeding because Ottawa/Gatineau residents
already have access to news from a large variety of sources. |
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Likely impact on the market of a new entrant or entrants
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26. |
The Ottawa/Gatineau market is currently
served by a substantial number of English-language radio stations and a
substantial number of French-language stations. Fifteen commercial radio
stations are currently licensed to serve the Ottawa/Gatineau market: ten
are English-language stations, four are French-language stations, and
one is an ethnic station. The market is also served by two
English-language and two French-language Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation/Société Radio-Canada (CBC/SRC) radio stations, one
English-language community-based campus radio station, one
English-language instructional campus station, and one English- and
French-language community-based campus radio station. |
27. |
Most of the private commercial radio
stations serving the Ottawa/Gatineau market are part of large
broadcasting groups. Of the ten English-language commercial stations,
CHUM Limited (CHUM) owns two FM stations operating in Adult Contemporary
and Adult Contemporary/Classic Hits formats as well as two AM stations
offering spoken word programming, one focusing on sports, and the other
on news and talk. Rogers Broadcasting Limited (Rogers) owns two FM
stations operating in Classic Rock and Hot Adult Contemporary formats,
respectively, and an AM station that offers an Oldies format. There are
also three stand-alone English-language FM stations in the market: an
Album Oriented Rock music station operated by Standard Radio Inc., a
Rhythmic/Contemporary Hit Radio station operated by Newcap, and a
Christian music station operated by Christian Hit. |
28. |
Of the four French-language commercial
stations, Astral owns two FM stations operating in Contemporary Hit
Radio and Adult Contemporary formats, respectively. In January 2005,
591991 B.C. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Corus Entertainment Inc.,
acquired the Gatineau AM station, which was previously owned by Astral3
and which offers a News/Talk format. The fourth commercial
French-language station is a stand-alone Specialty Format FM Classical
Music station owned by Radio Nord. |
29. |
In addition to the English- and
French-language radio stations, Radio 1540 Limited operates a commercial
ethnic FM station. It broadcasts programming directed to a minimum of 37
cultural groups in at least 20 different languages in each broadcast
week. |
30. |
Rogers also operates two English-language
radio stations in the nearby market of Smiths Falls, Ontario. One of
those stations, CKBY-FM Smiths Falls, which operates at 101.1 MHz, also
has a significant impact on the current Ottawa/Gatineau market because
it derives most of its tuning and advertising revenues from that market.
Prior to January 2004, Rogers operated that station at 101.1 MHz under
the call sign CIOX-FM Smiths Falls in an Alternative Rock format, which
according to the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement’s (BBM) Fall 2003
survey, received a substantial share of tuning by youth and young adults
in the Ottawa/Gatineau market, including Francophone youth and young
adults. In January 2004, Rogers switched the call sign of its station
operating at 101.1 MHz from CIOX-FM to CKBY-FM and changed its music
format from Alternative Rock to Country. The Alternative Rock format,
which appeals to a specific segment of younger listeners, is currently
not available in the Ottawa/Gatineau market. CKBY-FM, currently
operating in a Country format, continues to receive a substantial share
of tuning by listeners and advertising revenues in Ottawa/Gatineau. |
31. |
A significant feature of the Ottawa/Gatineau
radio market is the large amount of tuning by Francophones to
English-language stations and, to a lesser extent, tuning by Anglophones
to French-language stations. BBM provides tuning data for the Ottawa/Gatineau
market in three ways: total tuning in the market, tuning by Anglophones
and tuning by Francophones. According to BBM’s Fall 2004 survey,
English-language radio stations captured an audience share of about 28%
among Francophones in the market while about 5% of tuning by Anglophones
was to French-language radio stations. These numbers reflect both the
greater number of radio choices in English and the greater number of
bilingual Francophones. |
32. |
In discussions on this issue at the
hearing, Newcap and Target Broadcast Sales Inc. (Target) maintained
that, although advertisers benefit from this crossover tuning, rates are
based solely on BBM’s tuning data for a particular station’s language
group. Newcap and Target further submitted that crossover Francophone
tuning, although not taken into account by advertisers on
English-language stations, diminishes the amount of advertising revenue
that French-language stations in the market are able to generate. |
33. |
The Commission examined the market’s
economic strength in order to assess the ability of the Ottawa/Gatineau
radio market to absorb the introduction of one or more new radio
stations. The Commission notes in this regard that the Conference Board
of Canada (the Conference Board) estimates that, between 2001 and 2004,
Ottawa/Gatineau’s population increased by 4.5%, compared to a national
growth rate of 3.7% over the same period. According to the Conference
Board, the region’s population is expected to continue growing at a rate
of 1.1% annually to 2009. The Conference Board’s data indicate that, in
2004, the average household income in Ottawa/Gatineau was 20% higher
than the national average, making the region one of Canada’s most
affluent markets. |
34. |
Advertising revenues in the Ottawa/Gatineau
radio market grew in each year between 1999 and 2004 and the average
profitability of the commercial radio stations serving the Ottawa/Gatineau
market has been well above the average overall profitability of the
radio industry in Canada since 1998. The Conference Board estimates
that, between 2004 and 2008, retail sales in the market will grow at an
average annual rate of 5.7%, and that the overall gross domestic product
of the region will grow at an average annual rate of 3.2%. Such growth
is consistent with that predicted for Ontario and exceeds that predicted
for Quebec (2.8%). Given the statistical relationship between retail
sales and radio advertising revenues, the Commission estimates that the
Ottawa/Gatineau radio advertising market will continue to grow. |
35. |
The Commission notes, however, that there
are considerable differences in the circumstances under which
English-language and French-language stations operate within the broader
Ottawa/Gatineau radio market. As noted above, the market is currently
served by ten English-language commercial stations and four
French-language commercial stations. The greater number of
English-language stations in the market reflects the larger number of
Anglophones in the region. Consequently, the English-language stations
have access to a substantially larger pool of advertising dollars than
the French-language stations. |
36. |
French-language commercial radio stations
in the market have consistently generated significantly less advertising
revenues than the English-language commercial stations and, as a group,
have been less profitable than the English-language commercial stations.
The aggregate profit before income and tax (PBIT) margin4
for the Ottawa/Gatineau radio market was 24.3% in the broadcast year
ending 31 August 2004. In comparison, the national aggregate PBIT
margin for that year was 18.3%. The aggregate PBIT margin for
English-language commercial stations in the Ottawa/Gatineau market was
26.0% for the 2004 broadcast year while the aggregate PBIT margin for
the French-language commercial stations in that market was slightly
below the national average. |
37. |
Based on the record of this proceeding,
including the evidence concerning the relative strength of the local
Ottawa/Gatineau economy, the Commission is satisfied that the Ottawa/Gatineau
market is able to support the licensing of new commercial, music-based
FM radio stations, without affecting unduly the ability of existing
radio services to meet their programming commitments. Given the high
level of profitability of the existing commercial English-language radio
stations and taking into account the formats and target audiences of
those stations, the Commission has determined that the market can
sustain two new English-language commercial FM stations. Given the
smaller potential audience and more limited pool of advertising revenues
available to French-language stations as well as their lower level of
profitability historically, and taking into account the effect of
cross-over tuning and their respective music formats and target
audiences, the Commission has determined that the market is able to
support the introduction of one new French-language commercial FM
station. The Commission has further determined that a low-power
English-language tourist information service can also be introduced
without any negative impact on existing stations in the market. |
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Quality of the application
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38. |
In evaluating the quality of an
application, the Commission examines the soundness of the applicant’s
overall business plan, including the evidence presented by the applicant
regarding the demand in the community for the proposed service and the
intended music format upon which the service is to be based, as well as
the provisions made for optimal technical use of the frequency applied
for. The Commission also considers the applicant’s local programming
proposals and the benefits the applicant would bring to the community,
as well as its commitments to broadcast Canadian content and to support
the development of Canadian talent. |
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Competitive state of the market
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39. |
In considering the potential impact of a
new service on the competitive state of the market, the Commission seeks
to ensure that its licensing actions promote diversity and, if
necessary, address any competitive imbalance in the market and foster
competition as much as possible. |
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Summary of the Commission’s decisions
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40. |
After considering the competing
applications for new radio services at the 1 December 2004 public
hearing, the Commission has rendered decisions, which may be summarized
as follows: |
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- In English-language alternative rock FM radio station in Ottawa,
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-253,
23 June 2005, the application by Newcap for a broadcasting licence
to operate a new English-language commercial FM station at 88.5 MHz
is approved. The new station will offer an Alternative
Rock format targeted to youth and young adults.
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- In English-language adult standards/easy listening FM radio station
in Ottawa, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-254,
23 June 2005, the application by CKMW for a broadcasting licence
to operate a new English-language commercial FM radio station
is approved in part. While the applicant had proposed to
use 88.5 MHz, the Commission authorizes it to operate at
98.5 MHz, a frequency requested for use by CKMW in another
application considered at the 1 December 2004 public hearing.
The new station will offer a format featuring a broad range of
adult standards and easy listening musical styles targeted to
older listeners.
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- In French-language pop/rock and urban FM radio station in Gatineau
with a transmitter in Gatineau (Buckingham sector), Broadcasting
Decision CRTC 2005-255,
23 June 2005, the application by Radio Nord to operate a
new French-language commercial FM radio station in Gatineau at
96.5 MHz with an FM transmitter in Gatineau (Buckingham sector)
at 107.5 MHz is approved. The new station will offer
a Pop/Rock and Urban format targeted to youth and young adults.
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- In Low-power English-language tourist information service in
Ottawa, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-256,
23 June 2005, the application by 3077457 Nova Scotia
Limited for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language
low-power FM tourist information station in Ottawa is approved
in part. The approval is subject to the requirement that the
applicant file an amendment to its application proposing the use
of another low-power FM frequency, other than 96.5 MHz, which
is acceptable to both the Commission and to the Department of
Industry.
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41. |
The new English-language youth/young
adult-oriented alternative rock music station to be operated by Newcap
will provide additional musical diversity in the Ottawa/Gatineau
English-language market and, in particular, for youth and young adults,
a group that is currently underserved. Newcap’s commitments to spoken
word programming will provide local reflection of particular interest to
its target audience and its contributions to Canadian talent development
will benefit Canadian artists, particularly those who are involved in
alternative rock music. The Commission is satisfied that Newcap’s
proposed use of 88.5 MHz, which will enable it to co-site the new
transmitter at Camp Fortune, Quebec with its existing station CIHT-FM,
represents the best use of 88.5 MHz. Furthermore, the Commission
considers that granting a second FM licence to Newcap will enable it to
compete more effectively with the dominant English-language players in
the market, namely CHUM and Rogers, and will serve to achieve a better
competitive balance among English-language stations in the market. |
42. |
The new English-language station to be
operated by CKMW will offer a broad range of adult standards and easy
listening musical styles that will appeal to older adults aged 45 years
and over, a demographic that is also currently underserved in the
Ottawa/Gatineau market. As a new entrant, CKMW will also increase
competition among English-language stations in the market, enhance
programming diversity and add a new editorial news voice. CKMW’s
commitments to spoken word programming will provide local reflection of
particular interest to its target audience and its contributions to
Canadian talent development will benefit Canadian artists and foster the
development of Canadian instrumental music, which is currently an
under-represented genre. Furthermore, the Commission is mindful of CKMW
Radio Ltd.’s experience in operating other radio stations in large urban
markets in Canada, including CKDX-FM Newmarket which offers a format
similar to the one proposed in the present application. Accordingly, the
Commission is satisfied that CKMW will be able to compete on a
stand-alone basis with other radio licensees in the market. |
43. |
The new French-language FM station to be
operated by Radio Nord will enhance the diversity of radio programming
in Ottawa/Gatineau by offering a more youth- and young adult-oriented
music format than is currently available in the French-language market.
The Commission considers that granting a second licence to Radio Nord in
the Ottawa/Gatineau market will help strengthen its existing classical
music station CHLX-FM, and more effectively counter-balance the strong
presence of Astral whose radio networks FM Rock Détente and Radio
Énergie serve the major Quebec markets. |
44. |
The new low-power tourist information FM
station operated by 3077457 Nova Scotia Limited will broadcast
pre-recorded messages informing tourists of weather and highway
conditions as well as attractions and services in the Ottawa area. The
Commission considers that, given 3077457 Nova Scotia Limited’s
experience in operating similar services in Halifax, Fredericton,
Moncton and St. Stephen, the applicant has the expertise and the
resources to operate the proposed Ottawa station on a viable basis. |
45. |
The Commission finds for all of the reasons
set out above and in Broadcasting Decisions CRTC 2005-253 to 2005-256
accompanying this public notice, that these applications best fulfil
the criteria set out in this notice for evaluating competing applications
for new radio stations. The Commission has therefore denied the remaining
applications for new radio services considered as part of this public
process. Denial of various applications considered at the 1 December
2004 National Capital Region Public Hearing, Broadcasting Decision
CRTC 2005-257, 23
June 2005 (Decision 2005-257)
lists the applications that have been denied. |
46. |
One of the applications denied in Decision
2005-257 is the
proposal by Jean-Jacques Brunelle for a French-language Type B community
FM radio station. The Commission recognizes the relevance of
a proposal to provide a French-language community radio service in
the Ottawa/Gatineau region. However, the Commission is not satisfied
that the applicant’s plans were adequately developed in accordance
with Public Notice 2000-13 and
is not convinced that the proposed programming schedule outlined in
the application could be realized on a consistent basis. Furthermore,
the Commission reminds the applicant that in Introductory statement
to Decisions CRTC 2001-625 to 2001-629: Radio applications considered
at the 22 May 2001 public hearing in the National Capital Region,
Public Notice CRTC 2001-105,
4 October 2001, the Commission stated that "any proposal
for a community radio station to serve the needs of Francophones and
Francophiles in the National Capital Region should permit members
of the Francophone community at large to be members and to participate
in its management and operations with the objective of offering programming
that reflects the market that it would eventually be called to serve." |
47. |
With respect to the application by Radio
Rideau Inc. for a new French-language AM station, which is denied
in Decision 2005-257,
the Commission finds that, although the application is not competitive
with any of the other applications considered in this proceeding,
the applicant’s business plan, as filed, is not sustainable. |
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Secretary General |
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This document is available in alternative
format upon request, and may also be examined in PDF
format or in HTML at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
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Footnote:
At
the hearing, Radio Rideau Inc. advised that it was not able to appear
before the panel and indicated its willingness to have its application
evaluated on the information provided in its written submission.
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