CANADIAN RADIO NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER, 2011

[Dan Sys]

CANADIAN RADIO NEWS

For SEPTEMBER, 2011

OCTOBER 1, 2011

RADIO ACTIVITY

NEW STATIONS LAUNCHED
ON Toronto 98.7 CKFG Caribbean-African (branding will be revealed during official launch on October 3)

AM TO FM CONVERSIONS ON THE AIR
ON Windsor 97.5 CBEW CBC Radio One (from 1550 AM as CBE) (officially launched on October 1st with rebroadcaster CBEW-1 91.9 Leamington)

CALL LETTER DATA
NS Spryfield-Halifax 94.7 new Will become CIRP
ON Atikokan 93.5 new Will become CKPR-2
QC Kahnawake 89.9 new Will become CKKI
QC Montreal 92.5 CFQR Becomes CKBE

TECHNICAL CHANGES ON THE AIR
ON Ottawa 101.9 CIDG Has increased power from 934 watts (4,500 watts Max. ERP) to 1,793 watts (5,500 watts Max. ERP)

OFF THE AIR
AB Westlock 1370 CFOK Went dark on September 6 immediately after FM flip to CKWB 97.9 without utilizing authorized 90 day simulcast period
ON Windsor 1550 CBE Went dark on September 30 after 61 years of service to Windsor (flipped to 97.5 FM)

CRTC & IC DECISIONS

NEW STATIONS GRANTED
NS Spryfield-Halifax 94.7 50 watts (Christian) (City Church Halifax)
ON Atikokan 93.5 180 watts (AC / Talk) (will simulcast CKPR 91.5 Thunder Bay)
QC Kahnawake 89.9 360 watts (610 watts Max. ERP) (Country) (Kahnawake First Nations) (station currently operating as a pirate on 106.7)

TECHNICAL CHANGES GRANTED
AB Airdrie 106.1 CFIT Increase power from 3,000 watts (6,000 watts Max. ERP) to 60,000 watts (100,000 watts Max. ERP) (approval comes with the condition that the licensee shall not solicit or accept advertising from businesses in the city of Calgary
AB Brooks 101.1 CIXF Increase power from 2,200 watts to 4,100 watts (8,600 watts Max. ERP)
BC Vancouver 100.5 CKPK Swap frequencies with CFRO 102.7 Vancouver, increase power from 2,800 watts (11,000 watts Max. ERP) to 51,000 watts (100,000 watts Max. ERP), and raise antenna height
BC Vancouver 102.7 CFRO Swap frequencies with CKPK 100.5 Vancouver, decrease power from 5,500 watts to 2,800 watts (11,000 watts Max. ERP), raise antenna height and relocate transmitter
NF Grand Falls-Windsor 102.3 CKXG Decrease power from 24,000 watts to 17,000 watts (36,000 watts Max. ERP), lower antenna height and relocate transmitter
ON Sudbury 98.9 CHYC Increase power from 1,400 watts to 4,620 watts and raise antenna height

EXTENSIONS GRANTED
ON Timmins 105.7 new-cp The CBC has until June 29. 2012 to get the new Espace Musique service in Timmins on the air
QC Sainte Marie 101.3 CHEQ FM 101.3 has until August 19, 2012 to move CHEQ from 101.3 to 101.5 and increase power from 4,677 watts to 26,000 watts (100,000 watts Max. ERP)

DENIALS
BC Vancouver 104.3 CHHR Ownership change from Shore Media to Astral (rejected on the grounds that a secret deal between the two parties was reached only a year after CHHR was launched which contradicts CRTC policy that states an ownership change cannot occur until two years after a new station has been launched)
ON Muskoka Lakes 104.7 new 40,000 watts (AC) (Evanov Radio Group) (rejected due to the potential negative financial impact on existing stations in the region)
ON Owen Sound 90.1 CJLF-1 Increase power from 75 watts to 780 watts (rejected because sufficient evidence of the need for the power increase was not provided and the applicant did not submit realistic maps or measurements)

CRTC APPLICATIONS

PROPOSED NEW STATIONS
AB Leduc 93.1 1,100 watts (2,000 watts Max. ERP) (Country) (Mark Tamagi)
NB Bathurst 96.5 50 watts (community) (Ferguson Audio)
QC Montreal 690 50,000 watts fulltime (News-Talk) (French) (Paul Tietolman & Nicolas Tetrault)
QC Montreal 690 50,000 watts fulltime (Gay & Lesbian) (French) (Evanov)
QC Montreal 940 50,000 watts fulltime (News-Talk) (English) (Paul Tietolman & Nicolas Tetrault)
QC Montreal 940 50,000 watts fulltime (All Traffic) (English) (Cogeco)
QC Perce 97.3 50 watts (Hot AC) (French) (will simulcast CFMV 96.3 Chandler)
SK Weyburn 106.7 100,000 watts (Classic Rock) (Golden West)

PROPOSED AM TO FM CONVERSIONS
AB Stettler 1400 CKSQ Move to 93.3 with 11,000 watts (23,000 watts Max. ERP) (format will remain Country)

PROPOSED TECHNICAL CHANGES
BC Abbotsford 101.7 CIVL Increase power from 220 watts (550 watts Max. ERP) to 520 watts (880 watts Max. ERP), lower antenna height and relocate transmitter
ON Fergus-Elora 92.9 CICW-cp Reduce power from 85 watts (200 watts Max. ERP) to 46 watts (150 watts Max. ERP), lower antenna height and relocate transmitter
QC Montreal 990 CKGM Move to 690 with 50,000 watts fulltime

PROPOSED OWNERSHIP CHANGES
ON Bolton 105.5 CJFB From Radio Caledon to the Haliburton Broadcast Group (includes rebroadcaster CFGM 102.7 in Caledon)

APPLICATION WITHDRAWN
QC Amqui 92.7 new 280 watts (900 watts Max. ERP) (Classic Rock) (French) (would have simulcasted CFYX 93.3 Mont Joli) (no reason for withdrawal given)

CALLS FOR APPLICATIONS
TORONTO
The CRTC has received an application from Evanov to move CIRR (Proud FM) from 103.9 to 88.1 in Toronto. 88.1 recently became available after College Station CKLN was ordered off the air. A call has been issued inviting other interested parties wishing to obtain a radio license to serve Toronto to submit applications.

Keep up to date with all CRTC and Industry Canada actions on a daily basis by checking out the Canadian Radio News Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Canadian-Radio-News/191081700931187

Next update November 1, 2011
Send tips to [email protected]

 

[klutch00]

With 1550 being vacated, maybe this might be a time for either CKWW or another interested party to occupy that frequency of for an American operator to do the same. Thoughts?

 

[w9wi]

With 1550 being vacated, maybe this might be a time for either CKWW or another interested party to occupy that frequency of for an American operator to do the same. Thoughts?

I highly doubt the Canadians will ever surrender rights to 1550. It's not going to become available for a U.S. operation.

I'm not as familiar with Detroit-area signals as I should be, but isn't 580 actually a better signal than 1550, at least in the local Windsor area? 1550 may be 20 times the power but it's also a LOT higher on the dial. Probably a much better skywave signal than local.

 

[spunker88]

I highly doubt the Canadians will ever surrender rights to 1550. It's not going to become available for a U.S. operation.

I'm not as familiar with Detroit-area signals as I should be, but isn't 580 actually a better signal than 1550, at least in the local Windsor area? 1550 may be 20 times the power but it's also a LOT higher on the dial. Probably a much better skywave signal than local.

Where I am I can get a better daytime signal from 550 in Buffalo, NY at only 5kw than I can from the big 50kw WKBW up at 1520.

I wonder if the power increase at CIDG will cause any interference with CJSS in Cornwall. Recnet shows CIDG has a somewhat nulled signal towards Cornwall, but I wonder how things sound near Casselman.

 

[klutch00]

With 1550 being vacated, maybe this might be a time for either CKWW or another interested party to occupy that frequency of for an American operator to do the same. Thoughts?

I highly doubt the Canadians will ever surrender rights to 1550. It's not going to become available for a U.S. operation.

I'm not as familiar with Detroit-area signals as I should be, but isn't 580 actually a better signal than 1550, at least in the local Windsor area? 1550 may be 20 times the power but it's also a LOT higher on the dial. Probably a much better skywave signal than local.

Who would take over 1550 if CKWW wouldn't want it? Now, I was just thinking that maybe CHOK might want the frequency. That would clear up 1070 for us here in the 'States. Of course if it was up to me I'd say let 1070 in Indianapolis die and allow WDIA to boost their power to 50-kw with maybe a nighttime directional. But I'm digressing.

I feel that if a country doesn't want to use a given frequency for broadcast that forfeiture of those broadcast rights should be strongly considered. Granted, the country for which that frequency is assigned should be given first priority should a broadcaster want it. Otherwise, allow another broadcaster in a different country to have that frequency if they so desire.

 

[Dan Sys]

It's just the way the bureaucracy works Klutch00. A good example just occurred out here on the west coast when KPRI 1550 in Ferndale, WA (near the Canadian border) applied to increase night power from 10KW's to 50KW's.

It was denied by the FCC because the Canadian government objected to the potential interference the increase in power would have on the 1570 allocation for Nanaimo, B.C.

CKEG 1570 in Nanaimo flipped to 106.9 FM back in 2001. A whole decade ago, but it appears as if the Canadian government is holding on to those allocations in case someone someday wants to use them again. I guess that's only right as they are ours in the first place, but realistically I can never see anyone in Nanaimo going for 1570 again.

 

[klutch00]

It's just the way the bureaucracy works Klutch00. A good example just occurred out here on the west coast when KPRI 1550 in Ferndale, WA (near the Canadian border) applied to increase night power from 10KW's to 50KW's.

It was denied by the FCC because the Canadian government objected to the potential interference the increase in power would have on the 1570 allocation for Nanaimo, B.C.

CKEG 1570 in Nanaimo flipped to 106.9 FM back in 2001. A whole decade ago, but it appears as if the Canadian government is holding on to those allocations in case someone someday wants to use them again. I guess that's only right as they are ours in the first place, but realistically I can never see anyone in Nanaimo going for 1570 again.

Yeah, I know all about bureaucracy. I still think there should be a 'use it or lose it' policy in place and that the policy should hold for broadcasting just like anything else. If you want to do something with a given commodity that's cool. Otherwise, don't hold something up, particularly if someone can make use of the commodity. Forgive my bluntness, but either s**t or get off the pot!

 

[Yeziknoradio]

I think 88.1 should continue to be restricted to non comm radio use. 103.9 is not in that category.

 

[w9wi]

I think 88.1 should continue to be restricted to non comm radio use. 103.9 is not in that category.

In Toronto? Of course, the 88-92 band was never entirely reserved for non-commercial operations in Canada (at least not since 88.7 Windsor went on the air) and these days, that's a non-issue.

 

[Dan Sys]

That's for sure. In the Southwest corner of British Columbia alone there are 6 commercial stations operating in the 88-92 frequency range.

88.5 - CIBH - Parksville
89.5 - CHWK - Chilliwack
89.7 - CJSU - Duncan
90.1 - CHMZ - Tofino
91.3 - CJZN - Victoria
91.7 - CKAY - Gibsons-Sechelt

 

[Yeziknoradio]

I think 88.1 should continue to be restricted to non comm radio use. 103.9 is not in that category.

In Toronto? Of course, the 88-92 band was never entirely reserved for non-commercial operations in Canada (at least not since 88.7 Windsor went on the air) and these days, that's a non-issue.

I'm still supportive of the idea that if other non comm sources step up to the plate, the Toronto 88.1 FM Frequency should still be maintained as non comm use.
Just because CKLN screwed up doesn't mean other community radio stations can't have a go at it. UofT may already have a station in Downtown Toronto, but their sister station in Scarborough deserves to have an FM source to serve Scarborough and area.

Currently, the U of T Scarborough campus radio station is only operating as an internet station.(Fusion radio: http://www.fusionradio.ca )

(Funny how Fusion got an award for best "student run" internet radio station when there are several djs, etc at that station that are not students...but that's another story!)

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Evanov group also owns Jewel 88.5 FM. I wasn't speaking of the left side of the dial, I was strictly speaking of the use of 88.1 FM.

 

[w9wi]

Evanov group also owns Jewel 88.5 FM. I wasn't speaking of the left side of the dial, I was strictly speaking of the use of 88.1 FM.

Ah, you're speaking specifically of 88.1 and only in Toronto. That makes a lot more sense.

Do you think the CRTC will consider that?

My suspicion is they'll approve the CIRR move & give 103.9 to someone else. But that's only a guess & the CRTC has been pretty good at surprising me...

 

[Yeziknoradio]

103.9 is a bum deal (no pun intended! ) right from the get go.
The signal barely serves the gay community in downtown Toronto as is.
It's very weak. At best, it might serve better as a station in the Greek community low powered to serve the few blocks over there.

I guess 103.9 could serve as an FM at one of the community colleges, but the signal would be so weak that no one would take the station seriously enough to make a pledge during a pledge drive.

 

[w9wi]

ISTR 103.9 has a permit to increase power from 50 watts to 250. Do you know if that increase is on the air?

I wonder if a useful power increase could be had on 103.9? I suppose Peterborough is the issue.

Here in the States, I think *someone* would jump on an available frequency in a city that size, regardless of any power restrictions.

 

[mjlarochelle]

ISTR 103.9 has a permit to increase power from 50 watts to 250. Do you know if that increase is on the air?

I wonder if a useful power increase could be had on 103.9? I suppose Peterborough is the issue.

There's also Woodstock; CKDK is a pretty big signal.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

The fact that 103.9 *wants* to move to 88.1 is a clear enough message that something is wrong, even with a boost to 250 watts. (I don't think it's in use yet, but I'm not sure)

 

[Dan Sys]

The I/C database shows CIRR currently operating with 50 watts. The increase to 250 watts is "authorized".

 

[e-dawg]

Maybe York University CHRY 105.5 can move to 88.1 and upgrade their signal.

 

[w9wi]

The fact that 103.9 *wants* to move to 88.1 is a clear enough message that something is wrong, even with a boost to 250 watts. (I don't think it's in use yet, but I'm not sure)

Absolutely, 88.1 would be a better facility. I guess I'm just thinking someone, somewhere would rather have 103.9 than nothing at all. (after all, someone, somewhere obviously did build 103.9 in the first place )

Dan: how long does it typically take for the I-C database to reflect a station's operational status? (here in the States it can take as long as several months or more, but that's because there's a fair amount of bureaucracy that must approve a license-to-cover before that status appears in the database. A station may begin regular operations under their permit long before the license is issued.)