The CRTC’s latest financial data shows commercial radio stations in Canada experienced negative growth for the third consecutive year

The CRTC’s latest financial data shows commercial radio stations in Canada experienced negative growth for the third consecutive year in 2016, especially when it comes to local ad sales (down 5.4 per cent). National ad sales rose 1.2 per cent. Staffing levels for AM/FM stations are down nearly seven per cent with the number of employees falling by 661 in 2016 to 8,885. The average salary rose 2.3 per cent to $71,882.

The CRTC has renewed the broadcasting licence for ethnic radio station CJLL-FM Ottawa/Gatineau through 2024, while also approving an application to reduce its third‑language programming from 92 per cent to 70. Radio 1540 indicated that the change would allow it to better meet the needs of the market’s multicultural community by increasing ethnic programming in English or French to serve the growing numbers of second- and-third generation Canadians. It noted that its 94 per cent ethnic programming requirement for each broadcast week would be maintained.

The CRTC has found that the St. John’s, NL radio market cannot sustain an additional radio station at this time. It’s returned an application by Andrew Green, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, for a broadcasting licence to operate a commercial FM station. The commission says the St. John’s market has performed poorly since 2012, with flat revenues and low profitability. It also cites unfavorable Conference Board of Canada economic projections with the unemployment rate expected to remain high.

Canadians have until Aug. 18 to vote in the 8th annual SiriusXM Top Comic competition, a nationwide search for Canada’s best comedian. The finalists will battle it out mic-to-mic at the SiriusXM Top Comic Finale this September as part of JFL42 in Toronto. You can view the semi-finalists’ videos and vote for your favourite comedians once a day at siriusxm.ca/topcomic.

Manitoulin Radio Communication, which operates 100.7 GLOW (CFRM-FM) and Great Lakes Country 103 (CHAW-FM) Little Current, ON, was recently recognized by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation for their work in road safety. Manitoulin Injury Prevention Coalition (MIPC) nominated the radio group for a Road Safety Achievement Award in the category of Media Excellence in Road Safety. The nomination states: “In an era of digital updates, they continue to provide a hands-free listening experience.”