100 Mile House radio station refused licence by CRTC

An application for a new FM radio station in 100 Mile House has been denied by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Co-applicant Gerhard Loeffeler applied for the licence to broadcast Cariboo FM at 101.7 MHz with a format of new country and rock/pop music, as well as providing more than 20 hours per week of news, weather, sports and community events. In making its recent decision, the commission received and reviewed opposing intervention from Vista Radio Ltd., which operates CKBX in 100 Mile House. It indicated the new radio station would threaten the viability of its AM station. In its denial of the application, the CRTC stated the FM station would have a negative impact on the "listenership" and advertising revenues of CKBX. Loeffeler says the commission decision wasn't fair, as it was only based on the revenues of the AM station since 2007, as well as on the CRTC's conclusion that local advertising is primarily confined to businesses located within the District of 100 Mile House. The current station's financial books may or may not have been made public, but even the revenue summary that has now been released was not provided to Loeffeler and his team prior to the decision, he explains. "These statements and financial data were never disclosed to us as an applicant, so we had no chance to reply on that. "Otherwise, we would have told the CRTC that it was based on a time period when CKBX had fired the majority of its personnel, and had no sales people out there." This made it appear the local marketplace was too small to support two stations, he adds. The CRTC decision considered the population figures of 1,885 citizens in the district, which Loeffeler notes has no bearing on the impact of the number of businesses that may advertise. The proposed new station was intended to have lower advertising rates to attract even more small business advertising, he adds, and to serve the community as a locally based station. Cariboo FM co-applicant Rob Fry says it is obvious to him that the commissioners have not read the nearly 100 letters of support sent with the application from area businesses and residents, stating the reasons why people want a separate radio station. "None of those 100 arguments are reflected in their decision." Loeffeler notes his team is really thankful for all the letters and other significant support given for the application by the people and businesses in the community. "This is a huge disappointment for the whole area. We had planned to have about 10 to 15 employment positions, which is now down the tubes." There is no avenue for any decision appeals through the CRTC and only the House of Commons can overturn its decisions. Loeffeler says the applicants have been in contact with Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod who indicated she needs time to explore appeal possibilities. The CRTC broadcasting decision is available online at www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-84.htm.