The CRTC has approved an application by Fairchild Radio that will see the multicultural media provider shutter its AM station in Metro Vancouver.
The commission published a decision Wednesday, approving Fairchild’s request to amend the licence of its commercial ethnic FM station CHKG-FM Vancouver, by removing its condition of service relating to the broadcasting of ethnic programming at certain periods of the week. The commission has also approved a related application to revoke the broadcasting licence for Fairchild’s commercial ethnic AM station CJVB Richmond.
Fairchild specifically requested the removal of a condition of service not to broadcast any ethnic programming directed to the Chinese community during the 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. period on weekdays, indicating that removal of the condition would allow it to close CJVB and transfer approximately 33 hours of Chinese programming from the AM station to CHKG-FM.
Fairchild is of the view that the move will result in significant savings on operations, technical, programming, and administration costs, estimating CHKG-FM would be financially viable in the third year following approval.
The commission noted in its decision that the stations have seen economic losses over the past five years, experiencing significant declines in revenue. With approval of its applications, Fairchild’s total revenues are projected to stabilize but not otherwise increase, thereby causing minimal disruption in the Vancouver market.
Metro Vancouver is currently served by seven ethnic radio stations, including four primarily targeting the South Asian population. Apart from the Fairchild stations, the CRTC decision says the Vancouver ethnic market as a whole is performing relatively well. CHMB Vancouver, owned by Mainstream Broadcasting Corporation, is the only other station targeting the Chinese community and did not submit an intervention.
