( photo - Razvan Caliman / flickr Creative Commons )
Late last July I submitted an intervention to the CRTC concerning a new radio station in Fort Saskatchewan that Golden West was trying to get approved. My main opposition was the format they were choosing – classic rock – which is a completely inundated and over-populated genre for radio in our not-so-snowy-as-usual metropolis. I also wrote a post in regards to GW’s responses to the interventions. Obviously, as just a lowly music blogger my comments were mostly passed by, as the corporate radio giants fought it out in front of our friends at the CRTC.
The CRTC announced yesterday they were approving the proposal.
Two interesting points, and then I’ll move on. Because, you know, you win some, and you lose some (unless you’re the Edmonton Oilers or Washington Wizards I suppose). And don’t be surprised if I end up intervening again in another CRTC matter. My father was a Commissioner for five years (though tended mostly towards the telecom side), so I’m always interested in what they’re doing (or trying to do). At any rate …
(1) The release indicates “the licensee shall not solicit advertising in the city of Edmonton as identified by Statistics Canada”. Apparently the other intervenors were convincing enough on several fronts, and GW continued to stress they were only interested in providing radio for Fort Saskatchewan, that they banned the radio station from soliciting advertising within the city proper. You have to believe GW’s not happy with that one – although probably aren’t surprised. That’s excellent news for Fort Saskatchewan, though, as the station will be forced to be “local first”.
(2) Quoting from the release, “the Commission received interventions in support of this application as well as interventions opposing the application from Newcap Inc. (Newcap), Rogers Broadcasting Limited (Rogers), Astral Media Radio G.P. (Astral), 1572422 Alberta Ltd. and an individual“. Yep, that individual was me. I’m an individual. I mean, I knew that, you knew that, but it’s still kind of amusing to see me referenced like that. Though as a private citizen they’re obviously not going to release my name in a public release (for the record, I did provide GW, as required, with a copy of my intervention).
Onwards and upwards. Always happy to be part of a public process.
