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Ottawa, 4 March 1986
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Decision CRTC 86-164
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Radio Nord Inc.
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Hull, Quebec - 852975200
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For related document: see Decision CRTC 85-733 dated 6 September 1985.
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Following a Public Hearing in Montreal on 21 January 1986, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language television station at Hull, on channel 49, with an effective radiated power of 16,200 watts, to rebroadcast the programs of CFJP-TV Montreal and certain local programs.
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The Commission will issue a licence expiring 31 March 1990, subject to the conditions stipulated in this decision and in the licence to be issued. This term will allow the Commission to consider renewal of this licence at the same time as that of CFJP-TV Montreal and of the television network authorized today for the Four Seasons Television Network Inc. (Decision CRTC 86-162).
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In accordance with paragraph 22(1)(b) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission will only issue the licence, and the authority granted herein may only be implemented, at such time as written notification is received from the Department of Communications that it will issue a Technical Construction and Operating Certificate.
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This application is a follow-up to Decision CRTC 85-733, by which the Commission authorized the operation of CFJP-TV, a new French-language television station in Montreal. At the time, the Commission took into account the possible impact the new service would have on the revenue of stations in adjacent Quebec markets, in view of the low rate of profit of a number of them. In order to minimize the impact, the Commission added that:
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with regard to secondary Quebec markets, the Commission anticipates that the new service could be made available by cable or by establishing a relay transmitter to be operated by an existing station. In the case of a twin-stick or rebroadcaster, the Commission will examine each case on its own merits, taking into account the particular circumstances of each market.
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Radio Nord Inc. serves the Outaouais region and Eastern Ontario through CHOT-TV Hull, a TVA network affiliate. The Commission considers that authorizing this regional broadcaster to operate a twin-stick in the National Capital Region will enable it both to consolidate its position in the market that it is already authorized to serve, and to satisfy the Commission's objective of broadening, as much as possible, the range of French-language television services available in the regions.
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The Commission notes that the licensee proposes to broadcast one hour and 15 minutes of local programming weekly. The local programming to be broadcast by the new station will consist of a 15 minute local and regional newscast to be presented within the network's late-afternoon information program Monday to Friday. The licensee made the commitment to allocate to the new station staff specifically for this programming and certain necessary equipment. The Commission expects that these newscasts will be different from those broadcast by CHOT-TV.
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At the time of the next licence renewal, the Commission intends to discuss with the licensee an increase in its local production efforts.
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The Commission has taken into consideration the interventions submitted by TVA Television Network Inc. and Radiomutuel Ltd., which object to the new station soliciting local advertising in this market. The Commission notes that, according to the licensee's projections, the station will only begin to make money in the fifth year of operation, and is of the opinion that, without local revenue, the profit of the station would be uncertain. Further, the relatively limited funds expected to be derived from local advertising should not prevent the expansion of broadcasting services in the Outaouais area.
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It is a condition of licence that construction of the station be completed and that it be in operation within twelve months of the date of receipt of written notification from the Department of Communications that it will issue a Technical Construction and Operating Certificate or such further period as the Commission may, upon receipt of a request for extension before the expiry of the said twelve months, deem appropriate under the circumstances.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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