987FM.CA

1. I am submitting this intervention regarding Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-10.

2. I am opposed to granting Durham Radio Inc. 98.7 FM to be a repeater for CIWV-FM 98.3 Vancouver.

3. Bell Media shut down CKST-AM 1040 and CFTE-AM 1410 on June 14th 2023. This has reduced the number of commercial radio stations serving the Vancouver market. I believe this opens up the market to support an additional new FM radio station on 98.7 FM.

4. I support the CRTC issuing a call for applications to operate a new FM radio station in the Lower Mainland on 98.7 FM.

5. I'm also fine with the CRTC delaying a call for applications until the 2 year moratorium on new licence applications ends in August 2025.

6. The CRTC granted a licence to 0971197 B.C. Ltd. in Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-412 to serve adults aged 25 to 64 living in downtown Vancouver on 98.3 FM. This was done as part of a competitive process hearing after an initial call for applications.

7. Durham Radio Inc. were fully aware of the coverage area for CIRH-FM 98.3 when they purchased the remains of the station from Roundhouse Radio.

8. Durham Radio Inc. received special privileges from the CRTC to change the format of CIRH-FM 98.3 which were granted while CIRH-FM was still in its first licence term.

9. 98.7 FM is now the last known available frequency for an FM radio station in the Lower Mainland.

10. 98.7 FM was originally granted to Matthew McBride to provide a AAA format radio station for the Tri-cities area including Port Moody, Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam. This area no longer has a local radio service after CKPM-FM 98.7's failure to maintain an on-air signal and follow CRTC rules of procedure. The demise of CKPM-FM 98.7 should not become an opportunity for a station like CIWV-FM 98.3 to snap up 98.7 FM, eliminating any chance of a new operator to create a viable 98.7 FM service for the Tri-cities area or anywhere else in the Lower Mainland.

11. The pile of interventions supporting Durham Radio Inc. acquiring 98.7 FM is from fans of the current Smooth Jazz format they are operating on 98.3 FM.

12. Durham Radio Inc. previously operated CIWV-FM in Hamilton, Ontario from September 1st 2000 until August 1st, 2011. The station gradually increased power with the most dramatic increase occurring in November 2009 with peak ERP up to 100,000 watts.

13. Once Durham Radio Inc. had a powerful signal with excellent coverage in Hamilton, they proceeded to abandon the smooth jazz format and flipped the station to country music as KX 94.7 with the new call-sign CHKX-FM. The Wave format was moved to an Internet Radio stream and remained off FM radio until HD Radio service was added to CHKX-FM when the Wave format landed on the CHKX-FM HD2 sub-channel. Durham Radio Inc. also operates a country format FM station in Ajax, Ontario, CJKX-FM 95.9 FM and also has the Wave format on CJKX-FM HD2. Both CHKX-FM and CJKX-FM have additional content on HD3. CHKX-FM carries Caledonia, Ontario station CHTG-FM on HD3 while CJKX-FM carries CKDO-AM Oshawa, Ontario on HD3.

14. The low bit-rate for HD sub-channels on the Ibiquity developed HD Radio system results in sub-standard audio quality for the HD sub-channels. Only a subset of FM radio listeners can access HD sub-channels and the signals are subject to dropouts as they lack the analogue FM backup signal only the HD1 channels enjoy.

15. There is no guarantee that if Durham Radio Inc. were granted 98.7 FM, the last available FM channel in the Lower Mainland, the current smooth jazz format will remain as the primary format. Regardless of how much Durham Radio Inc. owners Douglas and Mary Kirk like smooth jazz, business interests prevail as demonstrated by their choice to flip formats on 94.7 FM in Hamilton once the station had achieved a powerful signal.

16. CIWV-FM 98.3 went on-the-air full-time on July 18th, 2022. They applied for a second FM frequency and a massive increase in coverage area in April 2023 after being on-air for only 9 months. I do not believe they have given CIWV-FM 98.3 enough time to develop on the existing frequency in their licensed coverage area. It is too soon for them to be asking for the last available FM frequency so they can acquire a gigantic increase in coverage.

17. CIWV-FM 98.3 currently has effective radiated power of 1700 watts. They have a very strong signal in the target market of downtown Vancouver.

18. There is no interference from CKSR-FM 98.3 Chilliwack in the City of Vancouver.

19. If the CRTC believes the Greater Vancouver market can handle an additional FM radio station, then a call for applications should be held followed by a proper competitive process and hearing.

20. Granting Durham Radio Inc. 98.7 FM in addition to their existing 98.3 FM will limit diversity of news voices available. Vancouver recently lost two voices on AM 1040 and AM 1410.

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