The CRTC will hold a virtual hearing on Oct. 30 as it considers separate broadcasting applications from CBC, Quebecor Media and Résonance Média.
CBC is asking for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station to replace its English-language AM station CBY Corner Brook and to transfer its transmitters CBDT-FM Deer Lake, CBNA-FM St. Anthony, CBNC-FM Stephenville, CBNE-FM Port-aux-Basques, CBNF-FM Boone Bay, CBNH-FM St. Andrew’s, CBNJ-FM Port Saunders, CBYM-FM Mount St. Margaret, and CBYP-FM Portland Creek, in Newfoundland and Labrador, to the proposed new FM station. CBC is also asking for the AM radio station’s licence to be revoked if the CRTC approves the transition to an FM station, which CBC proposes to operate at 106.7 MHz.
Quebecor Media’s application concerns its proposed transfer from Freedom Mobile to Videotron the assets of the former’s terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) serving the Greater Toronto Area (including Ajax, Aurora, Bolton, Brampton, Caledon, Claremont, Etobicoke, Georgetown, King City, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Nobleton, North York, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, Vaughan and Woodbridge), as well as Barrie, Hamilton-Niagara and Oshawa, in Ontario, plus its national video-on-demand service, as well as the online undertaking RiverTV. The proposed corporate reorganization would consist of the wind up of Freedom into Videotron, resulting in the transfer of all of Freedom’s assets to Videotron. Quebecor Media is asking for new broadcasting licences, making Videotron the licensee of the BDUs and on-demand service. Videotron would also operate RiverTV.
Résonance Média has applied, on behalf of Coopérative Web Média des Sources, for authority to change the ownership and effective control of the French-language commercial radio station CJAN-FM Val-des-Sources. The transaction, with a proposed total value of $258,453, would see Résonance acquire from Coopérative the assets necessary to operate the station. Resonance has requested a new broadcasting licence to continue operating CJAN-FM, and is proposing a tangible benefits package of $15,507.
