CHMG-TV

On August 22, the CRTC approved the application by Télé-Mag inc. to operate a low-power French-language community television station in Québec. The new station will operate on channel 9 with a transmitter power of 38 watts. Télé-Mag was a private company controlled by Marjolaine Gagné, who held 59.9% of the voting shares. For close to 20 years, Télé-Mag had produced television programs distributed by cable in the Québec area. The Commission noted that the Télé-Mag application was the first for authority to carry on a low-power community television station considered by the Commission in the context of the policies set out in the Policy framework for community-based media. The programming schedule proposed by Télé-Mag would include a daily 8-hour block of programming broadcast from 4 p.m. to midnight. The broadcast day would include two additional eight-hour blocks of repeat programming. The programming would consist principally of regional, magazine-type programs that reflected the particular needs and interests of Québec viewers. This programming would differ from and would complement the programming offered by conventional broadcasting outlets and by cable community channels. Télé-Mag stated that its current programming was entirely Canadian, and committed to maintain Canadian content at a level of 95%, as a minimum. Télé-Mag also committed to ensure that not less than 80% of its programming remained local and regional in nature. As for the licensee’s commitment to provide a level of local programming that exceeds the 60% minimum requirement (i.e. an additional 20%), the Commission expected this commitment to be fulfilled through the provision of programming of regional interest that reflected the expectations and circumstances of the Québec area that the applicant proposed to serve. Télé-Mag stated at the public hearing that the portion of the Québec region it proposed to serve included an area that fell outside of the Grade B official contour of the new station. This proposed service area was one that already received Télé-Mag programming through the cable distribution undertakings operated by Vidéotron ltée and the Coopérative de Câblodistribution de l’Arrière-Pays. In the circumstances, with respect to the application of the provisions of section 11 of the Regulations concerning advertising material, and for the purpose of assessing adherence to the policy set out in Public Notice 2002-61, the Commission will consider as local, the advertising contained in programming directed to this regional audience resident in the vicinity of Québec. The applicant committed to reinvest 36% of its revenues in programming, and that additional revenues would be used to enhance existing programming, specifically through the broadcast of 400 hours per year of additional programming and through the introduction of four new program series. The Commission noted that Télé-Mag has established a programming committee responsible for developing programming that met the wishes of viewers and for creating opportunities for the public to participate in the production of such locally-originated community programming. The Commission encouraged the applicant to publicize this programming committee and its role throughout the community it proposed to serve. The Commission reminded the licensee that the frequencies occupied by low-power television stations were unprotected. A low-power station that caused interference to a regular class station could be required to change its frequency assignment, or to cease operation if no alternative frequency could be found. The licence would expire August 31, 2009.

2010

On July 12, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHMG-TV until August 31, 2013.