By Connie Thiessen
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) has opened applications for the Commercial Radio News Fund.
The new initiative, which was granted conditional approval by the CRTC earlier this month, will operate similar to the Independent Local News Fund (ILNF) for independent television stations, requiring certain online audio undertakings to contribute 1.5 per cent of their annual revenues.
The fund aims to prop up commercial radio news production outside the country’s biggest markets — Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa-Gatineau.
The CAB has now opened applications for the distribution of contributions received for the broadcast year 2024/25. Dependant on the outcome of a Federal Court of Appeal challenge on whether streamers can be compelled to contribute funding for Canadian news, the CAB intends to begin distributing the funds by the end of October.
To be eligible for CRNF funding, stations must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be licensed as a commercial radio station
- Operate outside the aforementioned biggest markets
- Provide news and information programming, including local news relevant to the community served
- Be an Associate (member) of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), either directly or through membership in the CAB
The deadline to apply for the initial round of funding is Sept. 15, however the CAB is encouraging stations to submit as soon as possible to expedite fund distribution.
