By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC denied Friday an application by Rogers to convert its rebroadcasting transmitter into a commercial radio station because it would have an undue economic impact on the incumbent stations.
The regulator received an application from Durham Radio in January 2024 requesting a licence amendment to operate a rebroadcasting transmitter serving Vancouver, which is intended to improve and expand coverage of its CIWV-FM station within its existing licensed area.
The application triggered interest from Rogers, which sought to convert its rebroadcasting transmitter, CKKS-FM-2 Vancouver, into a standalone station. The media giant argued that the reach of the new station would not extend beyond its existing coverage area, so it would effectively be acting as an existing station in what it called a highly competitive market.
Per policy, Durham’s application prompted the CRTC to issue a request for comments to determine whether the market can absorb another station, whether it should issue a call for radio station licence applications, or whether it should determine that the market cannot support more stations.
On Friday, the regulator determined that it was the latter. “Based on the record of that consultation, the Commission finds that the Vancouver radio market cannot support a new commercial radio station at this time, as it continues to face significant financial challenges,” it said Friday.
The commission said the Vancouver radio market has seen a “sustained decline” of listenership over the past five years, suggesting a “fundamental change in listening habits.”
There are currently 24 commercial radio stations operated by large players including Bell, Corus, and Rogers, which operates three English-language commercial radio stations in the city.
“The Commission notes that, compared to national and provincial averages, Vancouver’s commercial radio market continues to struggle financially,” the CRTC said in its reasoning. “Its ethnic market has shown more resilience, though it still falls below the Canadian average. Overall, despite some signs of improvement, both Vancouver’s ethnic radio market and the broader commercial radio market remain weak.”
Despite this ruling, the CRTC determined that Durham’s request would not constitute a new station in the market because it is only seeking a technical amendment that would improve and expand coverage of its existing station, which is already licensed to serve the market. As a result, the CRTC will publish Durham’s Part 1 application for comment.
On the other hand, the CRTC determined that Rogers’s application would constitute a new station because its CKKS-FM station is licensed to serve Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley in the province, with the rebroadcast transmitter in question retransmitting the signal to Vancouver.
“Replacing a rebroadcast of a separate market with a dedicated broadcast for the Vancouver market would represent a significant change and, in the Commission’s view, would constitute the addition of a new station to the market,” the CRTC said.
