GATINEAU and QUEBEC – The CRTC has postponed Nov. 14th public hearings in Quebec City on a bundle of applications for new or modified radio services, all because of a sales agreement two weeks ago involving one of the region’s FM stations.
The decision puts 10 applications on hold, including seven for new FM radio stations and one for a licence renewal for a station in the Gaspé region, about 700 km away.
Three other applications for new services will be heard, but in Gatineau instead of Quebec City. One is for a French-language country music station on the AM dial, another is to provide French-language religious programming, and the third is to operate twin, low-power English and French tourist information services.
The CRTC said it decided to postpone the hearings because of the deal between GENEX Communications and Radio Nord Communications, as reported by www.cartt.ca, which would transfer ownership of CKNU-FM of Donnacona, just outside Quebec City, from GENEX to Radio Nord.
Both companies had applications before the CRTC – Radio Nord, to set up a new jazz and blues station in the city, and GENEX, to renew its licence for CKNU and modify it so it could broadcast into the Quebec City market.
The CRTC judged that the sale, which it must still review, could modify the competitive nature of the Quebec City FM radio market. It has not yet set a new date for the hearings.
The other applications for new services put on hold as a result are those for a talk radio station, a classical music station, two English-language and one French-language pop music stations, and a country music station.
Glenn Wanamaker is cartt.ca’s Quebec Editor.
