CIRR-FM

On April 5, the CRTC approved an application by Rainbow Media Group Inc. for a new FM station at Toronto, operating at 103.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 50 watts. The frequency proposed for use by Rainbow entails a zone of interference with CIDC-FM, which uses the second adjacent channel to 280A1. As an existing operation, CIDC-FM has the right to veto all proposals which would cause such interference. When licensees exercise this right, the Department of Industry does not issue certificates of technical acceptability. In this case, however, Mr. Evanov, who controls Dufferin, the licensee of CIDC-FM, accepts this zone of interference. The Department has indicated that it will issue a certificate of technical acceptability, conditional on certain issues being resolved, including the potential for interference to NAV/COM services in the area. Rainbow is a corporation equally owned by CKMW Radio Ltd. and George Marchi. CKMW is a wholly owned subsidiary of Evanov Radio Group Inc., a corporation controlled by William Evanov. Evanov Group owns and controls 100% of Dufferin Communications Inc. (CIDC-FM Orangeville). It also controls, directly or indirectly, a number of other radio undertakings in Ontario, namely CIAO Brampton (and CIAO-DR-2), CKDX-FM Newmarket, CJWL-FM Ottawa, and in Nova Scotia, CKHZ-FM Halifax. 

The proposed station would serve the gay and lesbian community of Toronto. Its spoken word programming, which would include news, publicity for daily events, and open-line programs, would reflect the interests, concerns, and activities of this community. Approximately 7 hours per week would be dedicated to newscasts and an additional 21 hours to talk and information programs. During the daytime, the proposed station would feature a mix of Top Forty music, pop, and classic hits from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. In the evenings and on weekends dance music, Rhythm and blues, club mixes, easy listening, contemporary jazz, Latin beat and world music would also be offered.  

On April 16 at 6 a.m., CIRR-FM (“103.9 Proud FM”) signed on the air, serving the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgendered community. The idea for this station began over ten years earlier. Two prior applications had been heard by the CRTC before the April, 2006 approval.  Studios and offices for CIRR-FM are located at 65 Wellesley Street East , Suite 201. The antenna was located on an existing 100 foot tower atop the roof of 300 foot building at 45 Dunfield Avenue. Antenna height was 131.5 meters (EHAAT).

PROUD FM and morning show hosts Deb Pearce and Patrick Marano as well as afternoon hosts Shaun Proulx and Mark Wigmore parted ways.

Global Television took over all programming on 103.9 Proud FM from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on April 13, one day before the return of its show Glee, to air what it called a “Glee-volution”. For that one day, the station was re-branded GLEE-FM 103.9 and aired the show’s selection of chart-topping music and highlighting its characters. The radio station was supported with promotions on Global Television, print ads, street teams, Facebook and Twitter, and online with a micro-site housed at GlobalTV.com.

On June 9, the CRTC approved the application by Dufferin Communications Inc. to change the authorized contours of CIRR-FM by relocating the transmitter and increasing the average effective radiated power from 50 to 128 watts (maximum ERP from 50 to 250 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain from 131.5 to 156 metres). The Commission noted that there would be an increase in the population served within both the 3mV/m (22.7%) and 0.5mV/m (7.9%) contours. The licensee stated that the technical change was necessary to provide a better signal and better reception to the station’s targeted audience, Toronto’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, since the current signal was not adequately received in the buildings in the area served. The licensee also indicated that the proposed technical amendments could potentially assist the station in achieving its original sales targets.

Former Proud FM staffer Ken Kostick died at age 57. 

Paul Stoutenburg, most recently with the Evanov Radio Group in Toronto, was the new Promotions Director at Corus Radio Barrie. 

On August 17, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CIRR-FM to August 31, 2013.

When the CRTC renewed the licence it expressed concerns about CIRR airing sexually explicit programming in the afternoon when children were more likely to be listening. 

On April 3, the CRTC approved an application by CIRR-FM to increase the average ERP from 50 to 107 watts (max. ERP from 50 to 225 watts), by decreasing the EHAAT from 131.5 to 123 metres, by changing the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, and by relocating the transmitter. 

The Commission noted that in Broadcasting Decision 2010-357, it approved an application by CIRR-FM to change the authorized contours, however, due to a lease-negotiation failure regarding the proposed transmitter site, those technical changes were not implemented. 

Proud FM moved from the downtown Church-Wellesley village to Evanov Radio’s west end studios due to budget cuts. Three staff members were also laid off. 

In March, the CRTC rejected CIRR’s application to change frequency from 103.9 to 103.7 MHz and increase  ERP from 225 to 10,000 watts. The Commission said the application was technically unacceptable.