By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC on Thursday approved the transfer of 21 English-language commercial radio stations in British Columbia to Vista Radio.
“The Commission finds that approving this transaction is in the public interest, as it will help ensure that the stations continue to serve the various communities in British Columbia,” the commission said in its decision. “These stations will be operated by a new commercial licensee who is committed to showcasing a diversity of voices and emerging Canadian musical artists and providing local programming to the communities.”
The regulator also approved licences, until August 31, 2030, for Vista to operate these stations, which will broadcaste over 100 hours of local programming each broadcaster week on most of the stations. Local news and information will be relevant to the communities served and the company said it will “engage with the local communities to create a local station that offers information, news and music that best fits the local lifestyle and which addresses the issues and needs of local residents.”
“There is no frequency scarcity in this market. As such, there is an opportunity for more commercial stations to enter the market, which would add to the plurality of editorial voices and the diversity of programming,” the CRTC said in its decision. “In the Commission’s view, this, along with the presence of other, non-commercial stations in the market (specifically, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation station and a community radio station), would mitigate concerns relating to the diversity of editorial voices and programming.”
Vista owns 63 stations and transmitters in smaller Canadian communities. It argued to the CRTC that acquiring the stations from Bell would strengthen local media, enhance local programming, news and improve its digital presence in these communities, to which the commission agreed.
For the purposes of tangible benefits calculations, the CRTC valued the deal – initially proposed at roughly $3 million – to $6.5 million, which includes the value of the leases, working capital and debt.
Based on the proposed valuation, Vista initially proposed putting roughly $333,000, with a ceiling of about $388,000, into tangible benefits – mandatory contributions into funds and initiatives to the benefit of the broadcasting system.
The CRTC ordered Vista pay the top end based on the revision in the valuation. As such, Vista will pay three per cent into the Canadian Starmaker Fund and Fonds RadioStar, with the former getting 60 per cent and the latter getting 40 per cent of that; 1.5 per cent to Factor and Musicaction, with the former getting 60 per cent and 40 per cent to the latter; one per cent to any eligible CCD initiative at Vista’s discretion; and half a per cent to the Canadian Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC).
