The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) has concluded that the f-word should not have been broadcast before 9 p.m. and viewer advisories should have been included during a football game airing on TSN 4 at 7 p.m. ET last July. Microphones on or near the field during the CFL game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats picked up coarse language from the players on three occasions. In one case, the commentator apologized for the language, pointing out it was live television. A viewer complained, suggesting the broadcaster should have anticipated such behaviour and taken measures to prevent it from airing. The CBSC English-language panel found breaches of Clauses 10(a) and 11 of the code for broadcast of the f-word and the lack of viewer advisories.
Montréal’s TSN 690 (CKGM-AM) and the Montreal Alouettes have announced a new multi-year broadcast rights agreement that sees TSN 690 remain the exclusive English-language home of all Alouettes games. Rick Moffat returns to provide play-by-play commentary, joined by former CFL cornerback and three-time Grey Cup champion Davis Sanchez.
SiriusXM Canada has launched 150 for 150, the ultimate search for the 150 greatest Canadian songs of all time. To be chosen by Canadians and a panel of industry experts, SiriusXM is inviting Canadians to vote daily for their top three favourite songs from the database, as well as add their own picks to help create the historical catalogue. All 150 songs will air throughout Canada Day weekend in July and throughout the year on SiriusXM’s The Verge (ch. 173).
ATB has agreed in principle to underwrite the development of the Alberta Podcast Network for its first two years. The network will support the creation of Alberta-based podcasts of high quality for larger audiences with CKUA Radio helping promote the venture. For updates on how the network is progressing, visit albertapodcastnetwork.com
The historic CHCM-AM building in Marystown on Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula was demolished on May 15. The station opened in 1962 as an affiliate of Newcap-owned VOCM. While the bricks and mortar location closed in 2016 when the company consolidated programming for Marystown, Grand Falls and Stephenville out of St. John’s, Newcap still employs a news person and sales account manager in the area, who work out of a home-based office.
1050 CJNB, Q98 (CJCQ-FM) and 93.3 The Rock (CJHD-FM) North Battleford raised over $190,000 on May 12 during the On Air for Healthcare Radiothon. Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) partnered with the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group for the second annual event, which raised funds to purchase surgical equipment for BUH’s recently recruited ears, nose and throat surgeon.
SoundExchange has acquired the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA), the music licensing collective representing the vast majority of songs recorded, sold and broadcast in Canada on behalf of music publishers. The move marks the first time that a U.S. collective for sound recordings and the music publishing sector have come together under common management. CMRRA will continue to operate out of its Toronto headquarters with president Caroline Rioux and her management team remaining with the operation, reporting to the board of directors of SXWorks, a new subsidiary of SoundExchange. CEO Michael Huppe will lead SXWorks as chairman of the new company.
NewsTalk 1010 (CFRB-AM) Toronto is the first Canadian station to pick up new syndicated, late-night, live, paranormal series Beyond Reality Radio, hosted by Ghost Hunters co-creator Jason Hawes. NewsTalk 1010 started airing the series this week, Monday to Friday midnight to 2 a.m. ET. The series is distributed by Momentum Media Networks in Canada.
