CJON-DT

Newfoundland Broadcasting revised its proposal for a new TV station at St. John’s, using channel 4 (not 2) with an effective radiated power of 21,000 watts video and 11,000 watts audio. Antenna height (average height) would be 594 feet, using a different transmitter site. The application was approved.

RCA Victor was installing equipment for the station which hoped to be on the air by the end of August. Maximum power would be 37,000 watts. A directional wavestack antenna would beam the station’s signal away from the Atlantic Ocean.

Slogan: CJON-TV St. John’s, Newfoundland…First TV station in Canada’s tenth province.

Bob Lewis (with CJON-AM the last two years) was named program producer for the Canada Packers daily hour show on CJON-TV. Bill Jamieson (from CJAD Montreal) and James Regan (from CFAB Newcastle) joined CJON-TV as staff announcers.

CJON started airing test pattern on September 1. Later in the month the station was on the air five hours a day and was about to commence a regular 4:30 to 11:10 p.m. commercial schedule. The station ended up on channel 6, rather than 4. Studios and offices were set up in the Prince of Wales Building, Buckmaster’s Circle. The transmitter was situated on Kenmount Road. Newfoundland Broadcasting Co. was owned by Geoffrey W. Stirling and Donald C. Jamieson and also held the licence for CJON-AM 930 which had been on the air since 1951. News Cavalcade was one of the most popular shows. It was hosted by Jamieson, and would run until 1966.

The microwave system at the new CJON-TV was said to be the only one of its type in Canada. RCA engineers hit a snag when they realized that an 800 foot hill made it impossible to send the picture by line of sight microwave from the top of the TV building to the 300 foot tower some distance away. The engineers designed a steel billboard type reflector (26 x 20 feet) to be set on concrete pillars on top of the hill. They then bounced the microwave signal sent from the station roof, off the steel reflector and into another reflector on the roof of the transmitter building.

CJON-TV joined the Canadian Television News Film Cooperative, a joint operation of the CBC and private stations. The number of member stations was now eight.

After a few days of running a test pattern, CJON-TV opened the first satellite TV station in Canada – on May 29. President Geoff Stirling pulled the switch in the St. John’s studios that officially opened CJOX-TV Channel 10, some 90 miles away at Argentia. The Right Honourable Louis St. Laurent, Premier Joseph R. Smallwood and G. R. Mews, mayor of St. John’s, were all on hand for the opening. A two hour live special marked the opening of the new transmitter.

The Argentia transmitter had an effective radiated power of 190 watts video and 97 watts audio. Five towers were required to operate CJOX-TV. Four of the towers picked up CJON-TV’s signal and relayed it to Argentia. The fifth tower transmitted the actual CJOX-TV signal. RCA supplied all of the equipment for CJOX-TV, including the wave stack antenna.

It was uncertain how many new viewers would be added to the CJON coverage area, but Argentia was home to a U. S. Naval base which had 1,000 Americans on site and employed a thousand Newfoundlanders. A station ad claimed that the twin stations reached 65% of the total population of Newfoundland or over 279,586 viewers. The ad’s slogan: Now – “twin power coverage” from CJON plus CJOX. It also noted that CJON carried the complete CBC network plus many hours of live programs, and the top NBC, CBS and ABC shows.

Early programming on NTV were local favourites such as “Romper Room” and the Sunday Morning church service live from the studio, running through to 1969. The CJON Glee Club was another popular show that continued through to the late 1960s. “Cream of the West” also enjoyed large audiences in those early days.

CJON-TV had an effective radiated power of 21,000 watts video and 11,000 watts audio. Ownership of Newfoundland Broadcasting Co. Ltd.: G. W. Stirling 50.3%, D. Jamieson 49.3% and F. Dawe 0.4%. CJON-TV was an affiliate of the CBC Television Network. Geoff Stirling was president and Don Jamieson was vice president and general manager. Colin Jamieson was operations and program manager. Jim Thoms was news director and Bill Callahan was sports director.

On March 1 a freezing rain storm hit St. John’s and toppled some of the antenna towers for both CBN-AM and VOCM-AM, knocking them off the air. CJON-AM was the only commercial station left but it transmitted an intermittent signal and could only be heard on battery operated radios because hydro was knocked out across the city. CJON-TV and its repeater, CJOX-TV Argentia were also off the air.

Don Jamieson hosted News Cavalcade.

Ad slogans: CJON-TV and CJOX-TV give national advertisers the only blanket coverage of the wealthy Avalon Peninsula, Canada’s most captive audience. / CJON Radio/TV – first in…public service, live programming, community service.

CJON-TV announced it was prepared (upon regulatory approval) to add two TV stations in central Newfoundland at Gander and Grand Falls. They would carry complete CBC service as well as CJON-TV shows and a certain number of live programs which would originate from their own studios.

CJON-TV planned to add an extra half hour a day of live programming to its schedule in the fall. Besides the one hour a day of live show the station would present a one-hour weekly musical talent show.

On February 5, CJCN-TV went on the air at Grand Falls, operating on channel 4.

Ad slogan: The Award Winning Stations – CJON Radio Television Newfoundland.

CJCN-TV Grand Falls signed on the air. It operated on channel 4 and used a 300 foot antenna at Botwood, exactly between Grand Falls and Gander. Studios were in Grand Falls. All RCA equipment. The main studio had about 6,000 square feet of floor space. The early schedule consisted of about two hours of live programming per day from Grand Falls. It also carried CBC and a certain number of CJON programs.

Ad: CJCN-TV channel 4 Central Newfoundland *87,000 new TV viewers (which covers over 87,000 captive Newfoundlanders in such towns as Gander, Grand Falls, Botwood, Buchans, Windsor and many, many more. All new TV viewers).

It was reported that since CJON-TV had gone on the air, five out of seven movie houses had closed. One of them had been in operation for over 40 years.

George MacDonald was operations manager. Jerry Wiggins was production manager for radio and TV. Bob Lewis hosted programs. Howie Meeker (ex-Toronto Maple Leaf) did sports on radio and TV. Company vice president Don Jamieson was also a performer on both CJON-AM and TV. Jack Baird was a vice president.

1963
CJON-TV was known as the Cabot Television System.

New equipment was ordered to boost the power of CJOX Argentia (8,600 watts to 26,000 watts) and CJCN Grand Falls (400 watts to 14,000 watts).

The CBC opened CBNT-TV and CJON became the CTV affiliate and continued carrying some CBS, NBC and ABC programs. This was the CBC’s second station in Newfoundland as they opened a station in Corner Brook in 1959.

CJON-TV had an effective radiated power of 62,000 watts video and 33,000 watts audio. Geoff Stirling was president of Newfoundland Broadcasting Co. Ltd. Don Jamieson was vice president and Colin Jamieson was manager. The station also operated CJON-TV-1 Corner Brook (channel 10), CJON-TV-3 Grand Falls (channel 10), CJOX-TV Argentia (channel 3) and CJOX-TV-2 Bona Vista (channel 10). NBC also owned and operated CJCN-TV at Grand Falls (channel 4). It had an ERP of 26,000 watts video and 13,000 watts audio.

CJON-TV was authorized to add a transmitter at Grand Bank. It would receive its programming from CJOX-TV in Argentia.

NTV opened its second satellite studio in Corner Brook, giving all of Newfoundland access to its programming.

At this time, the popular local CJON-TV programs were “The Physical Fitness Show” wth Howie Meeker, “Fun-O-Rama” with Shirley Shears, “Dance Party” with Art Andrews, and “Women’s World”.

CJON-TV began broadcasting network programs in colour.

Don Jamieson, liberal Member of Parliament and president of CJON-AM-TV became minister of defence production in the Trudeau Government. The department was to be converted and as a result Jamieson would become minister of supply & services.

Geoff Stirling (chairman of the board) appointed Colin Jamieson as president of the company. He would also continue on as general manager of the company’s radio and television stations.

CJON-TV received permission to operate a rebroadcast transmitter at Deer Lake, on channel 7 with directional power of five watts. It would receive programming over-the-air from CJON-TV-1 at Corner Brook.

A transmitter was also approved for St. John’s to improve the station’s signal in a certain area of the city. It would operate on channel 10 with five watts of power (directional). Programming would be received over-the-air from the main transmitter. The St. John’s repeater went on the air later in the year.

CJON-TV was granted a licence for a retransmitter at Cape Broyle, operating on channel 13 with directional power of five watts. Programming would be received over-the-air from the main St. John’s transmitter.

CJON-TV became one of the first TV Stations in Canada to broadcast 24 hours-a-day.

Grand Falls and Corner Brook studios were closed and the stations in those two areas became re-broadcasters of CJON-TV utilizing satellite transmission.

A transmitter was approved for Marystown, operating on channel 11 with 400 watts video and 80 watts audio, directional, with 679 foot antenna. It would receive programming from CJOX-TV-1 Argentia.

Rebroadcast transmitters were approved for Port-aux-Basques, receiving programming from CJON-TV; Pasadena (channel 8 – 5 watts – directional), rebroadcasting CJWN Corner Brook; Irishtown (ch 3 – 5 watts – directional), rebroadcasting CJWN; Gander (ch 2 – 5 watts – directional), receiving programs from CJCN-TV Grand Falls; and Swift Current (ch 10 – 5 watts – directional), with programs coming from CJOX-TV Argentia. CJON-TV-1 Bonavista (channel 10) was authorized to increase power from 250 watts to 20,650 watts (remaining directional).

A new transmitter was approved for St. Shofts (channel 10 – 5 watts – directional), rebroadcasting CJOX Argentia. CJGN-TV Gander received permission to change its antenna site.

Don Jamieson tried to sell his 49% interest in Newfoundland Broadcasting Co. Ltd. to Geoff Stirling, who held 51%. The CRTC denied the application, stating that Stirling was not a full-time resident of Newfoundland and that they wanted the shares to go to someone that was a full-time resident. Jamieson wanted to sell because he was a federal cabinet minister (since 1968). Stirling didn’t even show up at the Halifax CRTC hearing. The company was represented by Colin Jamieson (Don’s brother), Hon. Donald Jamieson and his agent, Alan Waters (CHUM Ltd.). It should be noted that at this time, CJON-TV operated transmitters in St. John’s, Grand Falls and Grand Bank. In addition, the station had 18 rebroadcast transmitters.

Don Jamieson was given permission to transfer his 49% interest in Newfoundland Braodcasting Co. Ltd. to a trust in which Colin Jamieson, A.C. Lloyd Hudson and Allan Waters were the trustees.

Between 1974 and 1976, the following CJON-TV transmitters had their licences renewed: CJON-TV St. John’s, CJON-TV-1 (CJWN-TV) Corner Brook, CJON-TV-2 (CJWB-TV) Bonavista, CJON-TV-3 Trepassey, CJON-TV-4 and CJON-TV-5 St. John’s, CJOX-TV (CJAP-TV) Argentia, CJOX-TV-1 Grand Bank, CJOX-TV-2 (CJLN-TV) Lawn, CJOX-TV-4 (CJMA-TV) Marystown, CJCN-TV Grand Falls (and Marystown), CJCN-TV-1 St. Albans, CJCN-TV Grand Falls (and Clarenville), CJGN-TV Gander, CJLW-TV (CJWN-TV-3) Deer Lake, CJWN-TV-5 Pasadena, CJWN-TV-6 Irishtown, CJRA-TV Ramea, CJSC-TV Swift Current, CJST-TV St. Alban’s CJSH-TV St. Shotts, CJSV-TV Stephenville, CJRR-TV Red Rocks, and CJPQ-TV Port-aux-Basques.

The trustees for the Hon. Donald C. Jamieson, the federal cabinet minister who is a 49% shareholder in Newfoundland Broadcasting Co. Ltd., applied to take over CJON-AM and its four sister radio stations. In a counter-application, Geoff W. Stirling, majority shareholder, with 51%, applied to take over 100% control of the entire company. In a CRTC statement, concern was expressed over recent changes which had occurred in the programming of the Grand Falls, Gander and Grand Bank radio stations and the Grand Falls television station. The company reportedly closed its studios at these locations in retaliation for what it considered unfair competition from the CBC for television advertising.

The above applications were approved by the CRTC. Jamieson sold his 49% interest in NBCL to Stirling (who went from 51% to 100% ownership). NBC retained CJON-TV and its rebroadcast transmitters and was given approval to launch a network of FM transmitters to serve the province – CHOZ-FM. Jamieson kept the AM operations across the province.

An application by CJON-TV to operate a rebroadcast transmitter at St. John’s was deferred by the CRTC. The station requested the transmitter to improve reception in the city. The Commission put the application on hold in order to study alternate means for improving service.

It was about this time that Sott Stirling became President and CEO of Newfounland Broadcasting Co.

CJON-TV received permission to increase non-Canadian Content to 55% between 6 a.m. and 12 a.m., and 65% between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m.

CJON-AM became CJYQ. The call letters for the four other AM stations also changed. CJYQ moved out of the NBCL building to its own facility at 221 Duckworth Street.

Denial came for CJON-TV’s request to reduce Canadian content to 45% overall and 35% in prime-time. The CRTC stated this was not an appropriate solution to the licensee’s problems and that it would undertake a major analysis of the Newfoundland TV market, including the feasibility of further extending CTV service to unserved areas.

The CBC had its Newfoundland television licences renewed, and the corporation was directed to cease carrying local advertising within 12 months. It was hoped this would increase revenues for CJON-TV and support the extension of CTV services to less populated areas of the province.

The licences for CJON-TV St. John’s, CJWN-TV Corner Brook, CJCN-TV Grand Falls, and CJGN-TV Gander (and their rebroadcasters) were renewed. Newfoundland Broadcasting proposed a five-year plan which would provide new transmitters for CJON, CJWN and CJCN, a new studio-office building in St. John’s, and updated production facilities at both St. John’s and Corner Brook. Service would be extended to locations in the northern peninsula of Newfoundland and in Labrador. The CRTC proposed a sharing of CBC facilities to facilitate the extension of service.

CJON-TV requested a power increase for its 5 watt rebroadcaster on channel 2 at St. John’s. It wanted to increase the power to 4,200 watts and change to channel 4. The CBC sought English and French rebroadcasters. All applications were denied. The CRTC advised the applicants to investigate the joint use of facilities, an antenna farm, or other technical improvements, to find a comprehensive solution to the local reception problems in the St. John’s area.

Approval was granted for CJON-TV to add three low power rebraodcasters in the Fortune Bay area.

CJWN-TV Corner Brook received approval to increase video power to 1,708 watts. There had been an application to increase the power from 860 to 4,150 watts. There was also an application for a CJOX-TV rebroadcaster at Harbour Breton (25 watts).

NTV won three CanPro awards for their local shows – “Some Slick”, the “Bob Lambert Music Special” and the “Sons of Erin” series.

CJON-TV closed local operations of CJWN-TV (west coast) and CJCN-TV (central) due to what they called unfair sales practices of the CBC.

A Sudbury judge threw out the CRTC’s case against CICI-TV in that city, regarding Canadian Content rules. Because of the ruling, technically, Canadian TV stations didn’t have to follow the Canadian content rules. The judge pointed out that the Broadcasting Act defined a station as the holder of a licence under the Radio Act, but the Radio Act was replaced by the Broadcasting Act in 1967. CRTC lawyers were expected to drop similar charges against CJON-TV while seeking immediate changes in the wording of the Act.

NTV received approval to operate five watt VHF transmitters in 28 locations – 27 to be fed by satellite. This was to be a two year experiment.

In December, NTV received its first live direct program via satellite – “Christmas in Washington”.

CJON-TV received CRTC approval to relocate the transmitter to a site 8 km east of the existing location and to increase effective radiated power from 62,000 watts to 76,000 watts.

NTV moved to its new studios and offices on Logy Bay Road. The new facility featured state-of-the-art production and on-air equipment and a new NEC transmitter on the South Side Hills. Jack Heaney was Newfoundland Broadcasting’s director of engineering.

A rebroadcast transmitter was approved for Glenwood, operating on channel 7 with power of five watts. It would rebroadcast CJCN-TV Grand Falls.

On February 13, the CRTC approved the application for a licence for an English-language television station at Glenwood, on channel 7 with a transmitter power of 5 watts to rebroadcast the programs of CJCN-TV Grand Falls.

CJON had its licence renewed September 14. At this time, the CRTC noted the station’s signal was broadcast throughout eastern Newfoundland by means of a series of rebroadcasting stations at Placentia, Marystown, Grand Bank and Bonavista, relayed via microwave and rebroadcast at more distant locations in the province, specifically Grand Falls, Corner Brook, Stephenville and Red Rocks. Because of distance, terrain, climate and aging equipment, the system has experienced a number of technical problems over the years. The Commission also noted that since the station’s 1979 renewal, CJON had made a number of upgrades over this time. A new transmitter, office building and production equipment was put in place at St. John’s. New transmitters were installed at Twillingate, Glenwood and Corner Brook. Major technical improvements were made at Grand Bank and Stephenville. With the 1984 renewal, CJON promised to improve technical facilities at Grand Falls, Stephenville and Bonavista. It was also noted that 91% of Newfoundland’s population was receiving the NTV service. With the 1984 renewal, the following upgrades were approved: CJOX-TV-1 Grand Bank would decrease effective radiated power from 7,400 watts to 4,670 watts; CJWB-TV Bonavista would increase ERP from 230 watts to 12,700 watts; CJCN-TV Grand Falls would increase ERP from 26,000 watts to 55,000 watts; and CJSV-TV Stephenville would increase ERP from 775 watts to 3,100 watts.

More CanPro awards, for a program titled, “A Little Good News”.

Another CanPro award, this time for the News Department for their in depth coverage of the “Gander Plane Crash”.

Former politician and broadcaster Don Jamieson died at age 65 on November 19. In his early years he was an entertainer, and put on over a thousand shows for military personnel in Newfoundland during World War II. In 1950, he put CJON-AM on the air and became general manager in 1951. CJON-TV was opened in 1955. Jamieson was president of the CAB from 1961-64. He was elected a Liberal M.P. in 1966 and held three successive cabinet posts (Defence, Transport and External Affairs). Jamieson then turned to provincial politics. From 1982-85, Don Jamieson served as Canadian High Commissioner in London. Only a short time before his death, Jamieson had been inducted into the CAB’s Broadcast Hall of Fame. That was on November 3.

“Bruce the Goose” wins another CanPro award for NTV.

A power increase was approved for CJLW-TV Deer Lake…from 87 watts to 480 watts.

In September, NTV began broadcasting in full stereo.

Popular local programs at the time were: “Canada In View”, “Newfoundland Today”, and “Sports Digest”. Feature presentations were: “Hold Fast”, “Daddy, What’s a Train”. CJON-TV also won a CanPro award for its production of “Revue ’99”.

CJON had its licence renewed for only 11 months instead of the usual five years because of poor performance, inadequate future commitments and breaches of broadcast rules. The CRTC said the station would be called to a public hearing in early 1990 to show what improvements it had made.

CJWN-TV Corner Brook was authorized to increase effective radiated power from 1,708 watts to 6,070 watts.

At licence renewal time, CJON-TV was told it would now be required to produce 14 hours and 41 minutes a week of local programming during the next three year term. Its previous requirement was 11.5 hours weekly, but during the April public hearing, CJON pointed out that its local output reached the 14 hour, 41 minute level at one point. The CRTC decided this should now be the norm for the station. NTV also undertook to produce two drama specials a year during the new term.

NBC’s request to revoke the licence of rebroadcaster CJGN-TV Gander was granted. It was said CJGN-TV was no longer necessary because a power increase was granted for CJCN-TV Grand Falls.

Two Major CanPro awards were awarded to NTV.

“Dark Harvest” – a chronicle of the Mount Cashel Orphanage scandal – a two-hour documentary. A re-edited one-hour version was also aired on the CTV network as well as several stations in the United States. Besides winning a silver CanPro award, this program won an award at the New York International Film Festival.

“Children’s Checkpoints”, an educational and entertaining series of 3-4 minute segments reflecting Newfoundland culture and lifestyle won silver medals.

NTV had its bid to reduce locally produced programming from 14 hours and 41 minutes a week to 7 hours of news programming a week approved. The CRTC acknowledged the financial constraints the station was facing.

NTV and OZ-FM began feeding their transmitters via Anik E2 satellite. NTV’s signal was also now being fed to most cable head-ends throughout the province via satellite. At the same time the station moved to digital technology.

On March 10, the CRTC announced an amendment for CJON-TV concerning the airing of infomercials. In addition to the 12 minutes of advertising material permitted by subsection 11(1) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, the licensee may broadcast more than 12 minutes of advertising material in any clock hour in a broadcast day, in order to broadcast infomercials as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1994-139 and in accordance with the criteria contained in that public notice, as amended.

NTV was approved for carriage on cable systems and was seen across Canada in 9 provinces as well as St. Pierre et Miquelon, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the NTV Evening Newshour was seen in the Tampa Bay area, Florida.

“Newscast of the year” award presented by the News Directors Association to CJON-TV for their daily flagship presentation “The NTV Evening Newshour”. This award was the direct result of the station up-dating its equipment with addition of the production aids, the Videocube and Statesphere.

Brian Vallis left NTV-TV/OZ-FM for Maxagrid International. Keith Soper picked up the slack and was now responsible for national sales (TV) and general manager at OZ and NTV.

Newfoundlanders in Fort McMurray, Alberta, were now able to see CJON-TV on their local cable service as of December.

With the success of the “Evening Newshour” program, the station extended its operation by adding a Sunday edition – “The NTV Sunday Evening Newshour.

A new show, “Bay by Bay”, by an independent producer, Howard Pack.

In a continuing relationship with local arts community, NTV sponsors “The Untold Story” directed by Marion White.

Jim Thoms died at the age of 72. He was a fixture in radio, print and TV journalism for nearly half a century. Thoms was a newsman at CJON Radio and TV then editor-in-chief of The Daily News. He later returned to CJON as legislative reporter.

CJON disaffiliated from the CTV network, but negotiated to continue to include selected programming from CTV in its schedule.

By this time, CJON operated the following transmitters: CJON-TV St. John’s, CJOM-TV Argentia, CJCV-TV Clarenville, CJLN-TV Lawn, CJLW-TV Deer Lake, CJMA-TV Marystown, CJON-TV4 Bay Bulls, CJOX-TV1 Grand Bank, CJRR-TV Red Rocks, CJSC-TV Swift Current, CJST-TV St. Albans, CJSV-TV Stephenville, CJWB-TV Bonavista, CJCN-TV Norris Arm, CHSG-TV Glenwood, CJWN-TV Corner Brook.

Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Limited received approval on March 21 to delete low-power transmitters CJSG-TV Glenwood, CJST-TV St. Alban’s, and CJSC-TV Swift Current. These transmitters were no longer necessary because CJON-TV’s signal could be received by other means, such as direct-to-home satellite and cable. NBCL discontinued the over-the-air operations of these transmitters on December 31, 2006.

On March 7, the CRTC approved the application by Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Limited to amend the licence for CJON-TV to add a post-transition digital transmitter to serve the population of St. John’s. The transmitter would operate on channel 21 with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 128,400 watts (maximum ERP of 266,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 254.6 metres).

The CRTC noted that it did not intend to renew authorizations for full-power analog transmitters operating in the mandatory markets or on channels 52 to 69 outside the mandatory markets beyond August 31, 2011. By that time, the Commission expected licensees to have the necessary authority to broadcast in digital. In addition, the Commission imposed the following condition of licence on the stations that operate in mandatory markets or on channels 52 to 69 outside the mandatory markets: Unless otherwise authorized by the Commission, the licensee shall not transmit analog television signals after 31 August 2011 in mandatory markets designated as such by the Commission in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2011-184 or transmit television signals on channels 52 to 69. The Commission also noted that, pursuant to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-69, it does not intend to renew, beyond 31 August 2011, authorizations for the transitional digital transmitters included in the broadcasting licences of the licensees set out in the appendix to this decision.

The analog to digital conversion deadline for mandatory markets was August 31 but NTV made the change early. On the morning of July 11, CJON-TV channel 6 was shut down. The station was off the air to allow for the installation of the digital HD transmitter. CJON-DT channel 21 (virtual channel 6.1) began broadcasting on August 3.

On December 1, the CRTC approved the application by Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Limited to change the technical parameters of CJOM-TV Argentia, a transmitter of CJON-DT St. John’s, by decreasing the average effective radiated power from 6,700 to 2,178 watts (maximum ERP from 14,000 to 6,457 watts and effective height of antenna above average terrain from 164 to 129.7 meters).

The licensee stated that the changes had been implemented six years ago but that due to an oversight it forgot to apply to the Commission for approval prior to their implementation. The licensee added that it became aware of this oversight in June 2011 when the Department of Industry requested that the licensee review its Technical Operating Certificate, which the Department determined was not consistent with the transmitter operation in Argentia. The licensee indicated that immediate corrective actions were taken at that time and that a new technical brief was commissioned and filed with the Department. The licensee further indicated that the technical changes needed to be implemented in 2005 because the old tower was condemned and had to be taken down as the public’s safety was considered at risk.

The CRTC approved a change to the technical parameters of CJON-DT. The transmitter would continue to broadcast on channel 21. The transmitter site would remain unchanged and antenna height would remain 254.6 metres. Maximum effective radiated power would increase from 266,000 to 482,300 watts. Average ERP would increase from 128,400 to 213,500 watts. CJON-DT would continue to use a directional antenna.

The CRTC approved an amendment to the licence for CJON-DT by deleting transmitters CJON-TV-4 Bay Bulls and CJLN-TV Lawn.

On March 1, the CRTC approved the application by Newfoundland Broadcasting Corporation for authority to multicast CHOZ-FM on a sub-channel of its conventional television station CJON-DT.

The applicant explained that, following the set-up of the transmission facilities for CJON-DT, CHOZ-FM inadvertently appeared on a sub-channel of the television signal. Newfoundland Broadcasting indicated that it had determined how to remove the FM signal from the television channel but considered that having the signal of CHOZ-FM on the sub-channel was beneficial because it provided a further technical means to broadcast the radio signal. It would therefore like to continue to offer CHOZ-FM in this manner. The Commission considered that making the CHOZ-FM signal available on a sub-channel of CJON-DT would be of benefit to radio listeners in that they would be provided with an additional means to access the station. As well, no radio station or broadcasting distribution undertaking licensee that would be affected by the application intervened in this proceeding. In the Commission’s view, inclusion of CHOZ-FM as part of the CJON-DT signal was unlikely to have an appreciable impact on stations in the St. John’s market.

The CRTC approved an amendment to the licence of CJON-DT St. John’s, to delete the transmitters CJOX-TV-1 Grand Bank, CJSV-TV Stephenville and CJRR-TV Red Rocks.

Fred Hutton became news director at VOCM. He’d been with CJON-TV since 1990, working his way up from general assignment reporting through anchoring to assistant ND and, lastly, to ND in 2008.

The CRTC approved the deletion of the following transmitters: CJWN Corner Brook, CJLW Deer Lake, CJCN Norris Arm, CJWB Bonavista, CJCV Claren-ville, CJMA Marystown, and CJOM Argentia.

Newfoundland Broadcasting owner Geoff Stirling died at age 92 on December 22. He partnered with Don Jameison to open CJON radio in 1950 and CJON-TV in 1955. On his own, Stirling launched CHOZ-FM in 1977.

As a result of the death of Geoffrey W. Stirling in December 2013 and following the grant of Probate of Mr. Stirling’s last will and testament, effective control of Newfoundland Broadcasting Co. Ltd. was transferred to Scott Stirling. (CRTC approved: September 30).

Denis (Dee) Murphy passed away at age 83 on September 6. Murphy covered every level of hockey in Newfoundland for 50 years. He was a sports editor and writer with the Daily News, the Newfoundland Herald and the Telegram, a TV colour commentator with CJON and Cable Atlantic, and a sports announcer on CJON radio.