July 2011 Canadian Radio News

[Dan Sys]

CANADIAN RADIO NEWS

For JULY, 2011

AUGUST 1, 2011

RADIO ACTIVITY

FORMAT CHANGES
ON Hamilton 94.7 CHKX From Smooth Jazz (Wave 94.7) (as CIWV) to Country (KX 94.7)

NEW STATIONS LAUNCHED
MB Winnipeg 106.1 CFJL CHR (ENERGY 106)
MB Winnipeg Beach 107.5 CJIE Country-Hot AC mix (CJ107) (includes CJIE-2 99.5 Arborg)
ON Gananoque 99.9 CJGM AC (MY FM)
QC Gatineau 1350 CIRA-5 Christian (French) (simulcasts CIRA 91.3 Montreal)

AM TO FM CONVERSIONS ON THE AIR
NS Amherst 101.7 CKDH From 900 (format tweaked from AC to Hot AC)

CALL LETTER DATA
AB Plamondon-Lac La Biche 92.1 new Will become CHPL
ON Hamilton 94.7 CIWV Becomes CHKX
ON Toronto 98.7 new Will become CKFG
SK Marcelin-Muskeg Lake 104.3 new Will become CICN

BRANDINGS
ON Kenora 89.5 CJRL From MIX FM to THE LAKE (format remains AC)
ON Woodstock 103.9 CKDK From GREATEST HITS 103.9 to MORE 103.9 (format remains Classic Hits with more 90's)

CRTC & IC DECISIONS

NEW STATIONS GRANTED
AB Three Hills 97.3 50 watts (Christian) (will simulcast CIAM 92.7 Fort Vermilion)
BC Dawson Creek 107.5 50 watts (Christian) (will simulcast CIAM 92.7 Fort Vermilion)
BC Prespatou 105.5 50 watts (Christian) (will simulcast CIAM 92.7 Fort Vermilion)

TECHNICAL CHANGES GRANTED
AB Calgary 1010 CBR Relocate transmitter site
BC New Westminster 101.1 CFMI Increase power from 37,000 watts (75,000 watts Max. ERP) to 53,000 watts (100,000 watts Max. ERP), lower antenna height and relocate transmitter
BC Vancouver 99.3 CFOX Increase power from 35,200 watts (75,000 watts Max. ERP) to 51,000 watts (100,000 watts Max. ERP), lower antenna height and relocate transmitter
ON Toronto 1610 CHHA Decrease daytime power from 10,000 watts to 6,250 watts and increase night power from 1,000 watts to 6,250 watts (contour pattern will change from non-directional to directional)
SK Hudson Bay 98.1 CFMQ Relocate transmitter site
SK Yorkton 100.5 CJJC Move to 98.5, increase power from 44 watts to 21,500 watts (50,000 watts Max. ERP), raise antenna height and relocate transmitter

CRTC APPLICATIONS

PROPOSED NEW STATIONS
AB Fort Saskatchewan 107.9 11,000 watts (20,000 watts Max. ERP) (Classic Hits) (Golden West)
BC Squamish 89.1 970 watts (1,850 watts Max. ERP) (Active Rock) (McBride Communications) (CHSD call letters reserved)
NS Micmac 97.1 50 watts (Aboriginal) (Russell Randall Julian) (CIPU call letters reserved)
ON Collingwood 102.9 1,000 watts (2,000 watts Max. ERP) (Soft AC-Easy Listening) (Evanov)
ON Collingwood 104.9 3,100 watts (6,500 watts Max. ERP) (Classical) (MZ Media) (will simulcast CFMZ 96.3 Toronto except for 24 hours of local programming per week (CFMO call letters reserved)
ON Mississauga 960 2,000 watts (days) 280 watts (nights) (News-Talk) (Elliot Kerr - Landmark Sport Group)
ON Scarborough 105.9 45 watts (South Asian-Tamil) (Subanasiri Vaithilingham - Tamil One)
ON Shelburne 104.9 12,500 watts (50,000 watts Max. ERP) (Country) (Bayshore Broadcasting)
ON Shelburne 104.9 16,500 watts (50,000 watts Max. ERP) (AC) (Frank Torres - Skywords Media)
QC Amqui 92.7 280 watts (900 watts Max. ERP) (Classic Rock) (will simulcast CFYX 93.3 Mont Joli-Rimouski)
QC Kahnawake 89.9 360 watts (610 watts Max. ERP) (Country) (Kahnawake First Nations) (station currently operating as a pirate on 106.7) (CKKI call letters reserved)
QC Montreal 600 250 watts (days) 50 watts (nights) (South Asian) (Neeti P. Ray)
QC Montreal 1400 1,000 watts (fulltime) (South Asian) (Radio Humsafar)
QC Montreal 1610 ** 1,000 watts (fulltime) (South Asian) (Radio Humsafar) ** (backup plan if 1400 application fails)
QC Montreal 1530 1,000 watts (daytime only) (Christian) (French) (Communications Media Evangelique) (CKZW call letters reserved)
QC Montreal 1610 1,000 watts (fulltime) (Spanish) (La Mega Radio)

PROPOSED AM TO FM CONVERSIONS
BC Lillooet 860 CBUL Move to 92.7 with 90 watts

PROPOSED TECHNICAL CHANGES
AB Brooks 101.1 CIXF Increase power from 2,200 watts to 4,100 watts (8,600 watts Max. ERP)
AB Wetawskiwin 93.5 CIHS Increase power from 5,120 watts to 50,000 watts
ON Midland 104.1 CICZ Increase power from 9,354 watts (20,000 watts Max. ERP) to 33,500 watts (100,000 watts Max. ERP)

PROPOSED CHANGES TO SPECIALTY LICENSES
AB Wetaskiwin 93.5 CIHS Change format from Gospel Country & Religion to World Music & Folk

PROPOSED PROGRAMMING CHANGES
NS Digby 1420 CKDY Replace CKEN 97.7 Kentville (AVR) simulcast with locally produced programming (includes CKDY-1103.3 Weymouth)

APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN
QC Montreal 690 All Traffic (French) (Cogeco-Transport Quebec)
QC Montreal 940 All Traffic (Cogeco-Transport Quebec)
Both of these applications have been temporarily withdrawn due to opposition from the public and interventions filed by several broadcasters citing that the frequencies could be put to better use. As a result the CRTC has now issued a "calls for applications" for both frequencies inviting other interested parties to submit applications.

Next update September 1, 2011
Send tips to sysdan@gmail.com

[CKNF]

Question in regards to the 89.9 CKKI FM application. Doesn't operating as a pirate pretty much screw you of any hope of getting legitimately licensed? And let's say if they are a serious contender, wouldn't it be wise to cease the illegal activities immediately especially while applying for a license?

[jon]

Question in regards to the 89.9 CKKI FM application. Doesn't operating as a pirate pretty much screw you of any hope of getting legitimately licensed? And let's say if they are a serious contender, wouldn't it be wise to cease the illegal activities immediately especially while applying for a license?

This being an issue of "Native Rights", I think the CRTC may view it differently. Much as Access TV, in the early 1980s, ran a 10 watt pirate in Calgary to force local cable providers to carry their satellite-only channel on Channels 2-13.

[Dan Sys]

Yes, the authorities definitely turn a blind eye when it comes to Aboriginal pirate stations. There are quite a few operating in Canada, some very well established (such as CKON 97.3 in Cornwall). What triggered this application is the fact that legitimate station CKDG 105.1 in Montreal has applied to relocate to 106.7. If approved it will obviously displace the Kahnawake folks. Perhaps they figure by going legal they won't be displaced again as there are virtually no FM openings left in the Montreal area.

Under normal circuimstances you would think that if someone operating a pirate station applies to go legal without shutting down their existing operations they wouldn't stand a chance at gaining approval. However the situation here is a bit different (ie-the authorities don't want another Oka on their hands). I have a feeling that this application will receive "rubber stamp approval".

http://www.kkicradio.com/

[Dan Sys]

An update to the above: The new Aboriginal-Country station CKKI 89.9 in Kahnawake was approved today, rather swiftly I might add.