Toronto FM radio hearing starts Monday

Twenty-two applicants will compete at CRTC hearings starting Monday for a licence to operate an FM radio station on Toronto’s 88.1 MHz FM frequency. Commissioners will hear from companies and individuals looking to secure the frequency vacated by Ryerson University community station CKLN after the CRTC revoked its licence last February. The CRTC revoked CKLN’s licence due to poor program logs, paperwork problems and a lack of involvement from Ryerson students, whose fees accounted for a significant portion of station revenues. The CRTC called for applications to use the frequency last September after Dufferin Communications Inc. applied to use the slot to boost the signal of its local PROUD-FM station. Group Radio Ryerson has applied to operate a station on the frequency that would represent the diversity of Ryerson’s downtown Toronto campus and surrounding community with content that focuses on Ryerson community issues. Radio Ryerson said its new station would feature a “new music” requirement so it would become a “vital incubator” for emerging artists. Frank Torres, another independent and owner of Ottawa’s 101.9 DAWG FM station is proposing similar station in Toronto. Torres submitted that the Toronto station would copy the Ottawa station’s classic rock and blues format. Among other broadcasters, Newcap Inc. is vying to operate an adult music station while CBC/Radio-Canada wants the 88.1 MHz frequency to extend the reach of its local French-language station. The 88.1 MHz frequency is the only vacant FM frequency in the Toronto market, which CRTC data shows to be the most lucrative market in the country for FM broadcasters. According to the most recent CRTC data, Toronto stations collectively earned $172 million in 2010. The hearing begins Monday with a presentation by Newcap.

Toronto FM radio hearing starts Monday

Brief | May 4, 2012

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Toronto FM radio hearing starts Monday

Brief | May 4, 2012

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