CRTC looking to add a new radio station in Calgary, Alta.

The CRTC is issuing a call for applications from interested parties wishing to obtain a radio licence to serve Calgary, Alta., having found that the market can sustain at least one additional radio station. “The market may best be served by proposals for ethnic and Indigenous communities given Calgary’s growing ethnic and Indigenous populations, increased tuning to stations that serve these communities and strong support for another such station,” the commission wrote Friday. In Jan. 2023, the commission received an application by Fraser Media Diversity Inc. to operate a community ethnic FM radio station in Calgary, Alta. The CRTC responded by releasing a consultation on the market capacity and appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve the area. The commission received 66 interventions from members of the public – 62 of which supported launching a new ethnic radio station. Several ethnic or community stations also supported the proposal, so long as the new station’s programming does not negatively impact their own programming. BCE Inc., Corus Entertainment Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Harvard Media (CFEX-FM), Stingray Group Inc., and Pattison Media Ltd. opposed the addition of a new commercial radio station but supported a community radio. The six incumbent radio station operators argued that they are facing declining revenue “and have sustained their operations only by increasing operating efficiencies.” “Increased competition for limited advertising dollars would negatively impact not only the revenues of incumbent commercial stations but also programming quality and diversity (due to cost-saving measures),” they argued to the CRTC. The commission found that the economic outlook for Calgary is positive due to a strong energy sector, oil prices and population growth that exceeds the rest of Alberta and Canada. The CRTC found that Calgary’s population growth includes a large ethnic and Indigenous population. The commission noted that, despite the market decline caused by the 2020 pandemic, Calgary’s commercial radio market remained profitable, having reported an increase in local sales and profitability in 2021-2022. “Given the relatively rapid growth of Calgary’s ethnic population (as compared to its total population), and the strong support for and expressions of interest in providing a new ethnic or Indigenous station, the commission considers that the market may be better served by the introduction of a new ethnic or Indigenous station, which would have minimal impact on incumbent mainstream commercial stations and increase the diversity of voices in the Calgary market in line with the Diversity of Voices policy,” the CRTC wrote. Given its findings, the commission has issued a call for applications from other parties wishing to obtain a radio licence to serve the area. The CRTC said it will consider all types of applications despite its encouragement for parties to run an ethnic and Indigenous station. Completed applications must be submitted to the CRTC no later than May 14. The commission noted that it will evaluate the programming proposal and commitments to local programming and the benefits that such programming will bring to the community. The CRTC will consider evidence relating to market demand, devotion to Canadian musical selections, including French-language vocal music, and contributions to Canadian content development. “The commission will, however, assess the applicant’s business plan in light of the proposed format since the two are interrelated. The business plan should clearly demonstrate the applicant’s ability to fulfill its proposed programming plans and commitments,” the CRTC wrote. The CRTC said it will also take into account the number of radio stations that an applicant already owns in the market, their profitability, and concentration of ownership. The CRTC is also looking into whether Durham Radio Inc. should expand its reach into the Lower Mainland of Vancouver, by improving the signal coverage of its existing commercial radio station, CIWV-FM Vancouver (Wave 98.3). – Reporting by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca

CRTC looking to add a new radio station in Calgary, Alta.

News | March 15, 2024

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CRTC looking to add a new radio station in Calgary, Alta.

News | March 15, 2024

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