CFYX-FM

On April 5, the CRTC approved the application by Radio CJFP (1986) ltée to operate a French-language FM commercial radio station in Rimouski. The proposed station would operate at 93.3 MHz (channel 227C1) with an average effective radiated power of 18,197 watts. Radio CJFP proposed to offer an opinion and classic rock format. Twenty percent of the programming would be spoken word, which would include local news, information and sports. The new station would offer a magazine-type program with interviews focusing on regional news, sports and socio-cultural information. The station would offer a total of 126 hours of programming per week, including 42 hours of locally produced programming during each broadcast week for the first two years of the licence term. That number would increase to 60 hours during the third year of the licence term, and to 70 hours during the fourth and subsequent years of the licence term. The remaining programming would originate from the Corus-Québec network. Radio CJFP indicated that it would be prepared to agree to a condition of licence prohibiting it from soliciting advertising revenue in neighbouring markets. Radio CJFP would promote emerging Canadian artists via interviews, concerts and airplay. The licence would expire August 31, 2012. In November, the station was assigned the CIEL-FM-6 call sign.

It was decided in May that the station would be named CFYX-FM rather than CIEL-FM-6. CFYX-FM began broadcasting on October 9, at 7:00 a.m.

On December 10, the CRTC approved the application by Radio Rimouski inc. to amend the licence of CFYX-FM by adding a low-power transmitter in Rivière-du-Loup. The transmitter would operate at 103.1 MHz (channel 276LP) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 13.3 watts. The applicant stated that the new transmitter would allow it to better serve the population of Rivière-du-Loup, given that its station signal was weak in the area, and to compete with the Saguenay and Rimouski stations also heard in Rivière-du-Loup. Given that the technical parameters approved in this decision 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.

In July, CFYX applied to the CRTC to add a transmitter at Amqui, operating on 92.7 MHz. The application was withdrawn in September. On December 14, the CRTC denied the application by Radio Rimouski inc. to amend the licence for CFYX-FM to eliminate the condition of licence prohibiting it from soliciting local advertising in the Baie-Comeau market. The licensee stated that the amendment was necessary to ensure the station’s viability. Pursuant to section 9(2) of the Regulations, licensees were required to file, by November 30 of each year, their annual return for the broadcast year ending the previous August 31. In this regard, Commission records showed that CFYX-FM’s annual returns for broadcast years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 were filed late. CFYX-FM identified itself as “FM 93” and received some programming from Cogeco’s CHMP-FM and CKOI-FM in Montreal.

CFYX-FM Mont Joli-Rimouski and CFYX-FM-3 Riviere-du-Loup went dark on February 29. Groupe Radio Simard stated the station was not profitable. On August 17, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CFYX-FM Rimouski, and its transmitter CFYX-FM-3 Rivière-du-Loup to August 31, 2013.

Radio Rimouski’s application to allow its CFYX to solicit local advertising in the Matane market was denied by the CRTC. It noted that while CFYX could not solicit ads in Matane, stations in Matane were free to solicit in Rimouski.