CFQK-FM

On September 15, the CRTC approved an application byJoel Virtanen, on behalf of Northwest Broadcasting, a company to be incorporated, for a licence for a low-power English-language FM radio programming undertaking at Kaministiquia. The licence would expire August 31, 2007. The new station would provide a local service to Kaministiquia and the surrounding cottage and recreational areas. It would offer a pop, rock and dance music format. All programming would be locally-produced and include hourly news and weather reports during the day with bi-hourly reports in the evening. Sports would be reported 3 times daily. It was a condition of licence that the licensee abide by its commitment to broadcast, in any broadcast week, 25% hit material. The new station would operate on the frequency 104.5 MHz, channel 283LP, with an effective radiated power of 50 watts. The technical parameters approved were for a low-power unprotected FM service. 

Northwest was granted an extension to March 15, 2002 to get CFQK on the air.

The CRTC approved the transfer the effective control of Northwest Broadcasting Inc., licensee of CFQK-FM Kaministiquia, through the transfer of 100 common shares (100% of the voting interests) from Mr. Joel Virtanen to Mr. Ari Lahdekorpi, a Canadian citizen normally residing in Canada. The Commission noted that in its Decision 2000-387, it awarded an FM licence to Northwest Broadcasting Inc. subject to the undertaking being in operation before September 15, 2001. The Commission had since granted an extension of time, until March 15, 2002, for this undertaking to begin operations.

CFQK-FM signed on the air.

On November 21, the CRTC approved the application by Northwest Broadcasting Inc. to amend the licence for CFQK-FM Kaministiquia in order to operate a transmitter at Mount Baldy to adequately serve the population of Shuniah Township. The new transmitter would operate at 103.5 MHz (channel 278LP) with an effective radiated power of 10 watts. Given that the technical parameters approved were for a low-power unprotected FM service, the Commission reminded the licensee that it would have to select another frequency if the Department of Industry so required.

The rebroadcast transmitter (CKED-FM) at Mount Baldy went on the air.

In November, CFQK switched from a country format (“Country 104) to an 80’s and 90’s based Classic Rock format (now known as “Larry-FM”).

When the new Shuniah Township transmitter signed on, it was known as CKED-FM.

On June 10, the CRTC denied the application for the transfer of effective control of Northwest Broadcasting Inc. to H.F. Dougall Company, Limited. Northwest, a corporation owned and controlled by Mr. Ari Lahdekorpi, was the licensee of the low-power radio station CFQK-FM Kaministiquia and its transmitter CKED-FM Shuniah Township. Northwest also owned and controlled two low-power tourist information radio stations, CIPR-FM Pigeon River and CITB-FM Thunder Bay. H.F. Dougall controlled two commercial radio stations, CJSD-FM and CKPR Thunder Bay, and two conventional television stations, CKPR-TV and CHFD-TV Thunder Bay, through its subsidiaries, C.J.S.D. Incorporated and Thunder Bay Electronics Limited. H.F. Dougall also owned a weekly newspaper, TB Source. Northwest was now operating under the terms of an unauthorized local sales agreement with C.J.S.D. Under the LSA, C.J.S.D. had been appointed as the sales representative of CFQK-FM. Its role consisted of securing sales through local and national sales arrangements and securing local, regional and national radio advertising contracts for the station. Newcap Inc. was the licensee of CKTG-FM Thunder Bay (formerly CJLB-FM). This station was managed by C.J.S.D. under a local management agreement. Despite interventions against the proposal, the Commission considered that the ownership by H.F. Dougall of the low-power stations involved would not have a significant undue impact on incumbent radio programming undertakings in the Thunder Bay market.

As part of the current application process, the Commission received a copy of a report prepared by the Department of Industry in relation to a complaint filed by Big Pond Communications 2000 Inc., the licensee of the low-power radio station CJUK-FM Thunder Bay. In its complaint, Big Pond alleged that CKED-FM, which was owned by Northwest, was operating at a much higher effective radiated power than the 10 watts for which the licensee was authorized. After investigating the allegations, the Department noted in its report that, in fact, CKED-FM had been operating well above its authorized ERP on a number of occasions during the period from November 25, 2004 to January 4, 2005. During the monitoring period, the Department noted other anomalies related to the operation of CKED-FM. For example, Northwest’s management was not aware of the increase in the ERP. Further, given that only H.F. Dougall’s engineering staff had a key to access the station’s transmitter site, it was responsible for making technical decisions such as the conducting of tests of the station’s transmitter power. Based on its observations and its dealings with the parties, the Department concluded that, “although the legal owner remains Northwest, it has been clearly demonstrated that the Dougall entities have had and remain in technical control of the station and that no changes could be made without their direct involvement.” The Commission considered the elements noted above and the current business relationship between Northwest and H.F. Dougall under the LSA. Although both parties argued that effective control of the CKED-FM transmitter remained with Mr. Lahdekorpi, the Commission considered that H.F. Dougall had shown, by increasing CKED-FM’s ERP without the licensee’s knowledge, that it could cause Northwest to undertake a significant course of action regarding a fundamental operation of a broadcasting undertaking without Mr. Lahdekorpi’s authority. Consequently, the Commission found that the licensee was not in a position to ensure that CKED-FM operated in compliance with its authorized technical parameters at all times. Furthermore, the Commission was of the view that the business relationship between Northwest and H.F. Dougall exceeded the purpose of the unauthorized LSA, which was to combine the sales function. Given that H.F. Dougall had the technical expertise, its relationship with Northwest expanded to the control of technical decisions and access to the facilities. The Commission was therefore not satisfied that the effective control had remained with Mr. Lahdekorpi at all times. As a result, the CRTC denied the application by Northwest for authority to transfer effective control Dougall. The Commission also determined that the LSA in effect between the parties must be terminated no later than September 9, 2005. The Commission also reminded the licensee that CFQK-FM and its transmitter CKED-FM must operate in full compliance with their authorized technical parameters at all times.

In mid-year, CFQK-FM switched from adult hits as “Larry FM” to hot adult contemporary as “103.5, 104.5 HOT-FM”.

The CRTC approved the transfer of the effective control of Northwest Broadcasting Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary 1333598, from Mr. Ari Lahdekorpi to H.F. Dougall Company, Limited. Northwest was the licensee of CFQK-FM and its transmitter CKED-FM. 1333598 was the licensee of CIPR-FM and CITB-FM. 

On August 22, the CRTC renewed the licence for the English-language, low-power commercial radio programming undertaking CFQK-FM Kaministiquia and its transmitter CKED-FM Shuniah Township to August 31, 2011.. This short-term renewal would permit the Commission to review at an earlier date the licensee’s compliance with its condition of licence relating to Canadian content development.

On May 10 at 12 noon, HOT FM became known as “The Thunder 103.5 – Today’s Country”. CFQK-FM’s new format was gender neutral and targeted adults 18-54. Bill Malcolm was program director. The station still operated under the Northwest Broadcasting corporate banner. Studios and offices were now co-located with the other Dougall stations at 87 Hill Street North. 

On October 15, the CRTC denied the applications by Northwest Broadcasting Inc. to modify the authorized contours of CFQK-FM Kaministiquia and its transmitter CKED-FM Shuniah Township. For CFQK-FM, the applicant proposed to increase the effective radiated power of the transmitter from 50 to 250 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 110.3 metres). As a result the status CFQK-FM would be changed from unprotected low-power to protected. The proposed change would result in an increase in the potential listenership within the transmitter’s 3 mV/m contour from 1,201 to 2,935 and from 16,882 to 117,064 within the 0.5 mV/m contour. For CKED-FM, the applicant proposed to increase the ERP from 10 to 250 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 169.3 metres). The status of the transmitter would be changed from unprotected low-power to protected. The proposed change would result in an increase in the potential listenership within the transmitter’s 3mV/m contour from 509 to 15,763 and from 27,206 to 112,336 within the 0.5 mV/m contour. In both cases, the applicant submitted that approval would increase the quality of the signal and improve signal reception in buildings located within the service area.

The CRTC approved a change to the ownership structure of the licensees listed below, for estate planning purposes, through the transfer of the Class A Voting Preferred shares held by Mr. H.F. Dougall in H.F. Dougall Company, Limited, the parent corporation of the licensees, to a joint ownership of these shares by Mr. Dougall and Ms. E.C. Dougall. The transaction would not affect the effective control of the broadcasting undertakings as it continued to be exercised by Mr. H.F.Dougall. North Superior Broadcasting Ltd., Northwest Broadcasting Inc., 1333598 Ontario Limited and C.J.S.D. Incorporated were the licensees of FM radio programming undertakings in Northwestern Ontario.

On August 31, the CRTC renewed the licence for the English-language, low-power commercial radio station CFQK-FM Kaministiquia and its transmitter CKED-FM Shuniah Township, until August 31, 2017. This short-term renewal would allow for an earlier review of the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986.

CFQK-FM 104.5 & CKED-FM 103.5 moved from Country to Adult Contemporary as Energy FM, playing up-beat music from the ‘80s, ‘90s.