GATINEAU – The CRTC has granted licences for new radio stations in Dawson City, Yukon and Strathroy, Ont., as well as a national Christian specialty audio service.
The commission has granted a licence to the Dawson City Community Radio Society to operate an English “developmental” community FM radio station. It will be at 106.9 FM, with only 5 watts of power. It would broadcast 126 hours of programming per week, of which a minimum of 18 hours will be station-produced. The local programming will include rock, blues, jazz, and folk music as well as programs featuring Yukon and First Nations artists. The remaining 108 hours of programming will originate from CKRW-FM (The Rush) in Whitehorse, owned by Klondike Broadcasting Ltd.
The new commercial station licensed for Strathroy in southwestern Ontario is owned by My Broadcasting Corporation, which also owns two FM stations in eastern Ontario: CHMY in Renfrew and CIMY in Pembroke. The new station would operate at 91.1 FM with 1,750 watts and air at least 90% local programming, mainly news and community events. The rest of the programming would come from its sister stations. Its music format is adult contemporary/middle of the road. The broadcaster also committed to airing twice a week a one-hour show called Kwe-Kew about the local First Nations groups, including the Chippewas and Oneida.
The CRTC received interventions from CHUM and Standard, which own several stations in nearby London, saying the Strathroy station would hurt their revenues. My Broadcasting said it had no intention of soliciting advertising in London. CJRT-FM in Toronto had also opposed the application, saying the 91.1 MHz frequency could interfere with CJRT’s frequency. While the commission approved the use of the 91.1 frequency, it also noted that My Broadcasting was willing to apply to use the 105.7 MHz frequency so as not to interfere with CJRT.
The commission has also approved the application from United Christian Broadcasters Canada for a national English-language religious specialty audio service called UCB Canada Radio 1. It would be carried by BDUs on a digital basis.
UCB Canada Radio 1 would air Christian music, news and talk programs, and specialty shows such as Sunday Morning Hymns of Praise. Thirty-five percent of the programming would be spoken word. The service must follow the CRTC’s guidelines on balance and ethics set out in its Religious Policy.
