TSN Radio Montreal can’t cut local programming hours, says CRTC

GATINEAU — While renewing the broadcasting licence for Bell Media’s AM radio station CKGM Montreal (TSN 690) today, the Commission denied Bell’s request to reduce the amount of local programming the station broadcasts each week. TSN 690 wanted to cut its local programming from 96 hours to 63 hours per broadcast week. The sports station’s condition of licence regarding local programming dates back to 2013 when the Commission approved Bell’s acquisition of Astral Media’s broadcasting undertakings, which included Montreal radio stations CJAD, CHOM-FM and CJFM-FM Montreal. Bell already owned CKGM Montreal, and in approving Bell’s acquisition of Astral Media’s stations,...