CRTC appoves LGBT station for Toronto

[agreenbe]

The CRTC in broadcasting decision 2006-128 has approved an application by Rainbow Media Group Inc. for a broadcast license to operate a new English-language commercial FM radio station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for the country's and the world's first conventional radio station for the LGBT community.

Rainbow Radio will serve the Gay and Lesbian (LGBT) community of Toronto. It's spoken work programming, which will include news, publicity for daily events, and open line programs, would reflect the diverse interests, concerns and activities of the LGBT community. This project has been 10 years in the works!

Rainbow Radio will also feature a mix of Top 40 music, pop, and classic hits from the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's, and in the evenings and on weekends, dance music, Rhythm and Blues, club mixes and easy listening.

The Rainbow Media Group will be an active participant in community events and be an invaluable showcase for LGBT musicians and artists. Rainbow Radio is also committed to Canadian music and programming content and development of Canadian Talent.

Rainbow Radio will operate at 103.9 MHz (channel 280A1). This will comprehensively cover the many LGBT districts that exist within the downtown core. The station is expected to be on-air within the next 12 months.

A partner in the application is Evanov Radio Group which currently owns three other stations in Southern Ontario CIAO-AM530, CIDC-FM (Z103.5), CKDX-FM (FOXY 88.5); an CKHZ-FM (Z103.5 Halifax), and CJWL-FM (The Jewel Ottawa)

Z103.5 Toronto has been voted Best Radio Station by the readers of XTRA! Magazine and it has just won the prestigious Canadian Music Week Station of the Year Award.

Rainbow Media Group Inc. is excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to serve this rich, diverse market for many years to come and to be part of the enrichment of our broadcasting landscape.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

> Rainbow Media Group Inc. is excited and honoured to be given
> the opportunity to serve this rich, diverse market for many
> years to come and to be part of the enrichment of our
> broadcasting landscape.
>
IS there anything in the licence that says they are NOT allowed to flick a switch and be nothing more than a Z103 repeater down the road?

ANYTHING? I mean, I'm not gay, but I'm also not stupid.
They'll be a Z repeater in no time, and the CRTC will just sit back, relax and respond by saying "The CRTC does not wish to get into the labour disputes of a radio station"<P ID="signature">______________
"If you never say NO, How much is your YES worth?"
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[ctdavidbc]

The problem with anything gay/LGBT is that it's always hard to get the gay community to support it. I wonder if there will really be enough material that is gay specific in Toronto to keep this thing going. Will gay listeners support this project enough to keep it going?

 

[Yeziknoradio]

The problem with anything gay/LGBT is that it's always hard to get the gay community to support it. I wonder if there will really be enough material that is gay specific in Toronto to keep this thing going. Will gay listeners support this project enough to keep it going?

This is why I believe it should be a community run station, test marketed by one of the community radio stations first,(a time slot once a week) then see if a listener supported gay and lesbian station really is in demand.There's two ways to run this format:1) Listener supported, knowing it'll be their "community station" concept.or2) Commercial station dictating what gay and lesbian is based strictly on the station's bottom line, not on what the gay and lesbian community may truely want. (in other words, what they'll be putting up with (hopefully) just long enough to hear a radio ad...)

 

[Radio_lover]

Will 103.9 interfere with their 103.5? Im guessing it will be atop First Canadian Place. And now hearing that evanov radio will be in charge of this and reading the format of music, I understand why you guys mean of as a 103.5 repeater. These Evanov's really know radio scams!

 

[mjlarochelle]

I don't see a need for a station devoted to the gay lifestyle, even in Toronto. Instead, they should have their own programs on existing stations - maybe a weekly national program on CBC, or something twice a week on CFRB.But I don't have a problem with it, as long as they're not broadcasting anti-religious hate, which has been known to come from some extremists in that community.

 

[ctdavidbc]

I don't see a need for a station devoted to the gay lifestyle, even in Toronto. Instead, they should have their own programs on existing stations - maybe a weekly national program on CBC, or something twice a week on CFRB.But I don't have a problem with it, as long as they're not broadcasting anti-religious hate, which has been known to come from some extremists in that community.

Isn't all the anti-gay propaganda a bad thing? It seems that is all one hears these days in the USA. There are many gays who are religious. Religion does't necessarily have to be anti-gay, and gays aren't necessarily anti-religion. There are many gays who consider themselves Christian and go to church, etc, as well as other faiths. There are certainly many viewpoints.I think a gay format is interesting and a good idea....although I think it would be hard for any company to have a 100% gay themed 24 / 7 station. There really isn't that much material, and it is questionable if it would hold an audience [gay or straight] large enough to keep it going.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

I don't see a need for a station devoted to the gay lifestyle, even in Toronto. Instead, they should have their own programs on existing stations - maybe a weekly national program on CBC, or something twice a week on CFRB.But I don't have a problem with it, as long as they're not broadcasting anti-religious hate, which has been known to come from some extremists in that community.

Isn't all the anti-gay propaganda a bad thing? It seems that is all one hears these days in the USA. There are many gays who are religious. Religion does't necessarily have to be anti-gay, and gays aren't necessarily anti-religion. There are many gays who consider themselves Christian and go to church, etc, as well as other faiths. There are certainly many viewpoints.I think a gay format is interesting and a good idea....although I think it would be hard for any company to have a 100% gay themed 24 / 7 station. There really isn't that much material, and it is questionable if it would hold an audience [gay or straight] large enough to keep it going.

***Most important point*** Is there even enough cancon to cover the 35-40% Can con rule? I mean, how is this established exactly? First, the artist has to be Canadian, then where do they find enough "Gay Canadian" artists?...or music...or whatever...(note that I'm not gay, and not against the station, I'm just asking simple questions...)