The CRTC has set a public hearing for January at which it will consider no less than nine applications seeking to operate a new radio station in Calgary.
Back in March 2024, the commission found that the Calgary market has the capacity to sustain at least one additional radio station, specifically encouraging proposals from those wishing to serve ethnic and Indigenous communities.
In response to that call, it received 10 applications – seven for ethnic stations, one for an Indigenous station, and one for a community station – in addition to an application to amend the technical parameters of an existing ethnic station in the market.
Among those proposing ethnic stations are Sher-E-Punjab Radio, Akash Broadcasting, Radio Humsafar, Lossless Media, Chinook Broadcasting, ACE (Aboriginal Calgary Ethnic) Media Group, and Devotional Broadcasting Limited.
The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA), which already operates an Alberta radio network, including CJWE-FM Calgary, also applied for an additional licence for a Type B Native station on FM.
Fraser Media Diversity Inc., meanwhile, is asking for a licence to operate an English-language community radio station. The effort is being driven by Esmahan Razavi, the former Executive Director of Outreach for the Alberta NDP. The application is being made in memory of late Black broadcaster and former CKUA Edmonton host Fil Fraser, with the proposed station to be named ApnaFM 100.3, aiming “to connect the South Asian, Afro Asiatic and emerging communities to meaningful content that would influence social change.”
Additionally, Multicultural Broadcasting Corporation is seeking to amend the broadcast licence for its ethnic specialty commercial FM, CKYR-FM Calgary, which currently operates as RED (Reflecting Ethnic Diversity) 106.7 FM. It’s seeking to change its frequency to 100.3 MHz to increase the maximum effective radiated power (ERP) from 8,000 to 10,000 watts, to increase the average ERP from 1,100 to 52,900 watts, and increase the effective height of antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 236 to 307.6 metres.
The deadline for interventions and comments is July 2.
