CBFX-FM-2

On April 25, the CRTC approved two applications filed by the CBC for broadcasting licences to operate new French-language FM radio programming undertakings at Trois-Rivières and Sherbrooke. The new stations would replace the transmitters CBFX-FM-1 Trois-Rivières and CBFX-FM-2 Sherbrooke of CBFX-FM Montréal. The Trois-Rivières and Sherbrooke stations would offer at least 20 minutes of local programming in each broadcast week. Local programming would include regional cultural features and, for certain programs, a local host who would cover regional news, including regional cultural news. The local content broadcast by these stations would be different from that broadcast by the other stations on the Espace musique network. The remainder of the programming for the Trois-Rivières and Sherbrooke stations would come from the Espace musique network. The Sherbrooke station would operate at 90.7 MHz (channel 214B) with an ERP of 25,000 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 173 metres). The licensee requested that the licences expire on the same date as the licence for CBFX-FM Montréal. However, the Commission noted that the licence for CBFX-FM would expire on August 31, 2013. The Commission considered it appropriate to license the new stations for a period that exceeded the current expiry date for CBFX-FM’s licence. The licences would therefore expire on August 31, 2019. The Commission approved the CBC’s applications to amend the broadcasting licence for CBFX-FM Montréal by deleting the rebroadcasting transmitters CBFX-FM-1 Trois-Rivières and CBFX-FM-2 Sherbrooke from this licence.

On December 5, the CRTC gave approval to the CBC to introduce advertising on the Radio 2 and Espace Musique networks. Advertising would be limited to four minutes every hour. The CBC would need to seek permission to continue airing commercials on the two networks after three years.
 

On December 15, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to change the authorized contours of CBFX-FM-2 by increasing the average effective radiated power from 25,000 to 33,200 watts (non-directional antenna) and the antenna’s effective height above average terrain from 173 to 180.4 metres.

(See CBFX-FM Montreal for earlier history) 
 

On August 31, the CRTC denied the CBC’s application to continue commercial advertising on Radio 2 and ICI Musique beyond the initial three-year licence amendment. The CRTC found that CBC had failed to maintain satisfactory investment in radio and failed to meet ad revenue projections.