Stingray, Corus, Pattison oppose Durham Radio’s expansion; Rogers wants CRTC to reconsider its plans

Corus Entertainment Inc., Stingray Radio Inc., and Pattison Media Ltd. filed a joint intervention with the CRTC opposing an application by Durham Radio Inc. to expand its reach into the Lower Mainland of Vancouver, by improving the signal coverage of its existing commercial radio station, CIWV-FM Vancouver (Wave 98.3). “Just three and a half years ago… the commission determined that the Vancouver market had insufficient capacity to sustain another mainstream commercial radio station,” the interveners wrote in their Feb. 16th intervention. “The situation has not improved since 2020. In fact, it has worsened. Accordingly, no applications to serve the market should be invited, nor should Durham’s proposed amendment be granted.” The interveners argued that local sales in many Canadian markets are struggling due to the oversupply of advertising space and audience fragmentation caused by digital platforms. From 2020, the revenues generated from internet-based audio services rose from $520 million to $839 million in 2022, a 61 per cent increase, according to the intervention. They also claimed that Vancouver has one of the most competitive markets in the country, noting that it is currently served by 15 mainstream commercial stations, six ethnic radio stations, four campus or community stations, one Indigenous radio station and three stations operated by CBC/Radio-Canada. In addition, stations in Surrey, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Victoria, and Nanaimo, as well as several U.S.-based stations, have signals strong enough to reach Vancouver. According to their data, the total radio advertising revenue generated in Vancouver declined from $92 million in the 2018-2019 broadcasting year to $53 million in the 2022-2023 broadcasting year. Rogers Communications Inc. also submitted an intervention, raising concerns about the potential impact of approving Durham Radio's application on advertising revenue distribution within the Vancouver market. The company then noted that the commission’s 2020 decision denied Rogers the right to replace its Vancouver rebroadcasting transmitter (CKKS-FM-2) with a standalone station and said it intends to resubmit its application should the CRTC proceed with Durham’s request. The objective, according to the incumbent, was to improve the service in Chilliwack and Abbotsford, while directing more resources to its Chilliwack station and focusing on local interests in the Vancouver market. “Rogers was extremely disappointed that the commission did not find it appropriate to approve our application for what was essentially an operational change,” the company wrote. “Approval of our application would have had little to no economic impact on the… markets because we were not proposing to change our current operating parameters and have been operating and soliciting advertising in these markets for years. The change would have simply resulted in better local and community programming.” By contrast, Rogers argued, Durham Radio’s application will increase reach and coverage, allowing them to attract more advertising dollars at the expense of existing operators. – Reporting by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca.

Stingray, Corus, Pattison oppose Durham Radio’s expansion; Rogers wants CRTC to reconsider its plans

Broadcast | February 21, 2024

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Stingray, Corus, Pattison oppose Durham Radio’s expansion; Rogers wants CRTC to reconsider its plans

Broadcast | February 21, 2024

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