The CRTC has written a letter to Corus Entertainment questioning its recent move to simulcast 770 CHQR programming on CFGQ-FM Calgary.
Corus debuted QR Calgary: Talk on FM on Jan. 9, abandoning the former Q107 Classic Rock format.
In its letter, dated Jan. 24, the CRTC questions whether the licencee is in compliance.
Citing Radio Regulations (1986), the commission says as set out in subsection 14(1), “an F.M. licensee that is also an A.M. licensee shall not, during the broadcast day, broadcast simultaneously on its F.M. station the same matter that is being broadcast on its A.M. station if any part of the F.M. station’s 3 mV/m contour or the digital radio station’s digital service area overlaps with any part of the A.M. station’s daytime 15 mV/m contour. Pursuant to subsection 14(3), notwithstanding subsection (1), a licensee may broadcast simultaneously for a maximum of 42 hours during any broadcast week.”
The CRTC says according to its records and the station’s 2014 licence renewal, there are no rebroadcasting transmitters authorized to simulcast CHQR’s programming. Additionally, CFGQ-FM-1 Banff is the only transmitter authorized to broadcast CFGQ-FM Calgary.
The commission has asked Corus if it intends to keep both stations in operation, saying thus far it “has not received an application nor made a determination authorizing CFGQ-FM Calgary to be added as a rebroadcasting transmitter on CHQR Calgary’s broadcasting licence.” The CRTC says Corus has not applied for a licence amendment to operate CFGQ-FM in the Specialty format.
In an email inquiry to the CRTC, prior to the commission’s Jan. 24 letter, a commission spokesperson told Broadcast Dialogue that station compliance is generally reviewed at renewal unless an official complaint is received by the commission. In the case of CFGQ-FM, the station was already up for renewal and being examined.
“An applicant may apply to operate under a specialty format which comes with specific conditions of licence which is not the case with CFGQ-FM,” the spokesperson stated. “It is generally expected that station advise the Commission when changing the format of their station but this is not a requirement unless the change requires an amendment to the broadcasting licence.”
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