The CRTC has approved an application from the Potlotek Communications Society to operate a low-power Type B Native FM radio station in Chapel Island/Potlotek First Nation, located east of St. Peter’s, NS. The station will operate at 93.7 MHz (channel 229LP) with an effective radiated power of 45 watts. The station’s broadcast week will include 126 hours of local programming, with 15 per cent of the music performed or composed by Aboriginal talent. Twenty hours per broadcast week will be devoted to Mi’kmaq-language programming and 10 hours to news programming.
The CRTC has approved a new CBC FM transmitter in Nakusp, BC to rebroadcast CBC Radio One (CBTK-FM) Kelowna. The new FM transmitter will replace the low-power AM transmitter CBUM Nakusp and will operate at 91.3 MHz (channel 217LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.
A View From Space, the long-running Saturday night conspiracy show that airs on Talk Radio AM 640 (CFMJ-AM) Toronto, was pulled on Nov. 18 with Corus Entertainment releasing a statement saying the previous week’s broadcast included remarks and viewpoints from host “Spaceman” Gary Bell that ran counter to Corus discrimination policies and “included references and material that could only be viewed as anti-Semitic.” The statement says the network is taking steps “to ensure such an episode is never repeated.” The incident in itself sparked a flurry of online conspiracy theories about the “Illuminati-controlled mainstream media.”
CJTT-FM New Liskeard, ON raised $68,482 during its three-day Christmas Wish on-air blitz Nov. 15-17. The 31st annual event not only raises funds, but with the help of volunteers, coordinates a program that brings families in need into a giant one-day, pop-up shop to pick out a new wardrobe for each if their children.
92.5 Fresh Radio (CKNG-FM) Edmonton has once again temporarily flipped its format to become the city’s official Christmas station. The station began playing a mix of traditional, classic and contemporary holiday favorites on Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. MT and will return to playing the Best Mix of 80’s & Today on Dec. 26.
Rawlco Radio and Gordon and Jill Rawlinson have made a $1M donation to the new PotashCorp Children’s Discovery Museum in Saskatoon. The donation will help the museum create C95 Toon Town. The exhibit will feature movable carts, props and building facades representing Saskatoon throughout its history.
The St. Boniface Hospital Radiothon of Hope and Healing event, broadcast on 680 CJOB Winnipeg, raised $136,800, surpassing its goal. The funds will go towards patient care, specialized equipment, and hospital research.
The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) has ruled that a satirical critique on Énergie 94.3 (CKMF-FM) Montreal on attitudes that contribute to sexual harassment did not breach any codes regarding stereotyping. The monologue, by contributor Rosalie Bonenfant, broadcast on Nov. 26, 2016, sarcastically “thanked” men for certain attitudes and behaviours, such as [translation] “Thanks, boys, for always immediately assuming that anytime we’re angry or emotional, it’s pre-menstrual syndrome.” A listener complained the monologue generalized all men. The CBSC’s French-language panel examined the complaint under the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Equitable Portrayal Code and Code of Ethics, concluding since the piece was introduced with the warning that it was intended to be sarcastic and ironic, there was no breach of either code.
