CFGM-FM

On October 15, the CRTC approved the application by Rick Sargent for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, low-power FM radio programming undertaking in Caledon. The new station would operate in accordance with Broadcasting Public Notice 2002-61 as it related in particular to low-power radio programming undertakings. The new station would broadcast a year-round tourist information service consisting of pre-recorded messages promoting tourist attractions and community events. It would also broadcast weather bulletins and forecasts, reports on highway surface conditions and other travel-safety information. Mr. Sargent initially applied through the Department of Industry to operate this low-power tourist information station (which was assigned the call sign CFGM-FM). In accordance with Broadcasting Public Notice 2004-92, the station was exempt from licensing requirements and associated regulations, given the nature of its programming and given that its programming would not include advertising material. However, due to various unanticipated costs relating to engineering services, Mr. Sargent requested in the present application permission to broadcast advertising material on CFGM-FM and, in accordance with Broadcasting Public Notice 2004-92, was applying for a broadcasting licence to operate this undertaking. The licence would expire 31 August 2014. The station would operate at 102.7 MHz (channel 274LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.

On July 31, the CRTC denied an application to amend the broadcasting licence for CJFB-FM Bolton, in order to operate a transmitter in Caledon. The Commission received an application by Rick Sargent to amend the broadcasting licence for the low-power, commercial radio programming undertaking CJFB-FM Bolton, in order to operate a transmitter in Caledon at 102.7 MHz (channel 274LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts, the technical parameters already used by the licensee to operate CFGM-FM Caledon, a low-power tourist information service. The licensee indicated that it wished to convert CFGM-FM to a transmitter of CJFB-FM and requested that, subject to approval of the present application, the Commission revoke the broadcasting licence for CFGM-FM. The Commission was not convinced that the addition of the proposed transmitter in Caledon, which would result in the loss of its tourist information service, would better serve the needs of the residents of that community or be in the public interest. The Commission was further of the view that approval of the application would serve to undermine the integrity of its licensing process.

On June 17, the CRTC approved an application by Rick Sargent for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language low-power commercial FM radio station in Caledon. The station would operate on frequency 102.7 MHz (channel 274LP) with an average effective radiated power of 50 watts. The proposed station’s technical parameters were identical to those of CFGM-FM Caledon, an English-language low-power tourist information station owned and operated by Rick Sargent. Sargent requested that, subject to approval of the present application, the Commission revoke its licence for CFGM-FM Caledon. The proposed station would offer a broad music format that would include the following genres: pop, rock, jazz, easy listening and country. The applicant committed, by condition of licence, to devote 75% of its musical selections from category 2 (Popular music) over the broadcast week and between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday to Canadian selections. In addition, Sargent also committed to broadcast 21 hours of spoken word programming per broadcast week, including 4 hours of news, of which 2 hours and 45 minutes would be devoted to pure news. The station would devote 33% of its newscasts to local news stories. The station would also devote 100 hours per broadcast week to local programming. The licence would expire 31 August 2015.

In August CFGM 102.7 switched from being a tourist information station to an Adult Contemporary / Variety station, known as The View. The station had a 75% Canadian Content requirement with the new format.

On March 14, the CRTC approved the application by Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. for authority to acquire from Rick Sargent the assets of the English-language commercial radio stations CFGM-FM Caledon and CJFB-FM Bolton. Haliburton was controlled by Christopher Grossman. In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2011-694, the Commission stated that the current licensee was in apparent non-compliance with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, which pertained to the provision of annual returns, and with section 15 of the Regulations, which pertained to basic annual Canadian content development contributions. Haliburton indicated that the previous licensee did not provide the annual returns due to inadequate funding and to a lack of staff qualified to fulfil this function properly. The applicant added that given its proven track record of filing its stations’ annual returns on time, it would ensure that the missing annual returns were filed for both undertakings. Haliburton said it understood that the CTD payments had not been made due to insufficient funding and to a lack of staff qualified to fulfil this function properly. It indicated that future payments would be made in a proper fashion.

On October 19, the CRTC approved the application by Vista Radio Ltd. for authority to acquire from Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. the assets of Haliburton’s AM and FM radio stations and their transmitters located in Bancroft, Barry’s Bay, Bolton, Bracebridge, Caledon, Cochrane, Elliot Lake, Espanola, Fort Erie, Haldimand, Haliburton, Hearst, Huntsville, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Kemptville, Niagara Falls, North Bay, Parry Sound, Prescott, St. Catharines, Stratford, Sturgeon Falls and Timmins. Vista was a corporation controlled by Westerkirk Capital Inc., in turn controlled by Thompson Investments Limited. CFGM-FM was among the stations acquired by Vista.