CJVF-FM

On December 7, the CRTC approved an application by Subanasiri Vaithilingam, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated (OBCI), for a broadcasting licence to operate a commercial ethnic FM radio programming undertaking in Scarborough. The new station would operate at 105.9 MHz (channel 290LP) with an effective radiated power of 45 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 63.4 metres). Given that the technical parameters approved were for a low-power unprotected FM service, the Commission reminded the applicant that it would have to select another frequency if the Department of Industry so required. The company to be incorporated would be wholly owned and controlled by Subanasiri Vaithilingam. The Commission noted that the applicant proposed to devote up to 90% of its programming to programs directed to the South Asian community, including programming primarily targeted to the Tamil community (60%), as well as programming targeted to the Punjabi (20%) and Filipino (10%) communities. The Commission recognized the potential programming overlap between the proposed service and the ethnic radio services already serving the GTA, including CJSA-FM, which dedicated the largest proportion of its programming to the GTA’s Tamil community. However, the Commission noted that the applicant was proposing a low-power ethnic station with coverage primarily limited to Scarborough. Further, the Commission generally considered CJSA-FM to be solidly established in the Toronto market and within the communities it served, as reflected by the amount and consistency of its revenues. The Commission also considered that the growth within the GTA’s Tamil population and business community would help offset the potential impact on CJSA-FM. The licence would expire August 31, 2018.

CJVF-FM began broadcasting in March. It was the first 24 hour a day Tamil language station in North America. 

On January 30, the CRTC approved the application by 105.9 FM Ltd. to amend the licence for CJVF-FM in order to change the frequency from 105.9 MHz with an average ERP of 45 watts to 102.7 MHz at the very low power of 6.5 watts.

On November 5, the CRTC denied CJVF’s application to increase ERP from 6.5 to 476 watts (maximum ERP from 6.5 to 1,200 watts), to change the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, and to increase the effective height of antenna above average terrain. 

On the same date, the CRTC issued a licence to 804193 Canada (OBCI) for an FM station at Scarborough on 102.7 MHz. CJVF-FM 102.7 was informed that it must vacate the frequency and submit an application for the use of another frequency. 

On March 16, the CRTC denied an application by CJVF to change the frequency from 102.7 MHz (channel 274LP) to 105.3 MHz (channel 287LP), relocate the transmission site and change the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, increasing the average effective radiated power from 6.5 to 26 watts (maximum ERP from 6.5 to 50 watts) and decreasing the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 63.4 to 60 metres.