Application To CRTC To Move CFNO-fm Radio (Comment Period Extended)
May 9th the Township of Terrace Bay had this letter, encouraging residents to submit their interventions to the CRTC. (from TerraceBay.ca) Click for larger view
An application to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) by Dougall Media’s General Manager, Don Caron, to move CFNO-fm Radio Station’s office from its current location in Marathon Ontario, to Thunder Bay Ontario, has been met with much concern by many residents in the Northshore communities served by the station while an initial response from the CRTC was published to their website May 8th, 2013 (see below application below).
Among those ways which concerned residents against the move could hope to influence the CRTC’s decision was to submit an online intervention via the CRTC website, originally required prior to today (Mon, May 13, 2013) at 5pm the deadline has been extended to next Tuesday (May 21, 2013). [CLICK HERE to read submitted interventions]
A Facebook Group, started by Manitouwadge Town Councillor Natalie Labbee titled “Keep CFNO in Marathon”, currently including more than 3,400 members** asks people in its description to “Post any supportive comments to keep CFNO radio in Marathon!” and includes photos from Don Henry who says in the photo descriptions that he feels it is “Hard to believe things I helped build over 30 years ago are still in place & Dougall Media thinks they can replace this with a person & a cell phone… well there’s progress for you!”.
Henry’s comments are similar to many in the page, a variety of descriptions of what some people fear CFNO-fm would become if moved to Thunder Bay (Description by Dougall Media’s Don Caron of what a move would mean for the station in application to CRTC by Caron below).
**Please note Facebook Group #s can be confusing as it is important to keep in mind that “members” are added by current group members, with no limit to the number of people someone can ‘invite’ without any action needed by them to be counted among the members unlike Facebook Pages which require that those counted personally “Like” the page to be included in the member totals.
Though there are several petitions circulating in communities where people feel the move would have a negative impact, it is unclear whether petition authors intend to submit these to the CRTC by the new deadline of Tuesday, May 21st and if so, what delivery method will be used was not specified on the petitions we viewed (in Manitouwadge).
The following is the rationale for the move as provided in the application to move CFNO-fm to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC):
Doc #1
4.2 (a) (b)
The request for relocation of the studios of CFNO-FM is prompted by two key factors.
Control and Compliance of the stations COL and CanCon requirements.
Changing audience expectations dictate major revisions are necessary to provide service improvements.
This is in the face of a stagnant market situation and changing economic circumstances that leave the long-term financial viability of the operation in question. The current financial model is not sustainable in the long-term.
It is our belief the transfer of the CFNO-FM broadcast operation to Thunder Bay is a natural consolidation that will provide net benefit to the company and to the stations audience.
Currently, a two-person staff compliment in Marathon provides service to a very large and diverse coverage area. It has become increasingly apparent that growing expectations of listeners mean this is no longer a sustainable situation and changes have to be made.
Because of the size of the coverage area, (Exhibit 1), there is little commonality among many of the communities. Meanwhile, Thunder Bay is the recognized service centre for the area stretching from Sault Ste Marie to the Manitoba border. As such, much of what goes on in Thunder Bay has significant impact on CFNO ‘s audience. In some cases, affected communities are also geographically closer to Thunder Bay than Marathon. All Government, educational, medical, corporate, events and services are centred in Thunder Bay.
The larger workforce in Thunder Bay will also result in improved quality control, higher production values and improved access to information and a wider range of operating hours.
And with much the bulk of the information gathering for the CFNO-FM already reliant upon telephone and e-mail communication, it is our view that such a shift should have minimal impact on operations.
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Community services currently provided:
CFNO FM provides service to a wide and diverse coverage area, made up of several small communities. (Exhibits 1 / 2)
Currently, nine local news, weather and sports packages are aired spaced throughout the broadcast day. Content is gathered from sources across the coverage area. CFNO FM also broadcasts four Canadian Press newscasts on Saturdays and Sundays.
Protocols are also in place to provide notification of emergency information such as road and school closures, severe weather issues, power disruptions and any other problems that have major impacts on communities in the area.
Additionally, CFNO-FM actively promotes a wide range of community events and provides a platform for non-profit community organizations to spread their message.
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Anticipated Changes:
News:
To ensure continuity of news services in the CFNO listening area, existing staff resources in Thunder Bay will be assigned on a daily basis to make contact with community leaders and relevant newsmakers to help generate a consistent flow of information.
As the regional centre for Northwestern Ontario, CFNO would now also enjoy access to a large number of stories that originate in Thunder Bay that will be of significance to listeners in that region. The orientation of these stories can and will be shifted slightly to ensure the focus is not Thunder Bay centric, but inclusive of the entire region. This follows the model we have successfully been using to accommodate Atikokan listeners, since the deployment of a new repeater in that region.
The current newscast schedule would remain unchanged.
Emergency Services:
Notification protocols currently in place for emergency situations would simply be altered so that information would be directed to Thunder Bay instead of Marathon.
Promotions and Public Service:
The Thunder Bay based sales promotions team will also be providing expanded and enhanced contesting opportunities for CFNO-FM listeners.
Provisions that will be put in place include:
– a dedicated writer to handle all promotion related material
– improved production to bring promotion material in line with corporate branding guidelines
– a broader range of contest opportunities
– improved traffic control
– greater emphasis updating the station website
– more consistent access for groups seeking public service air time
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Conclusion:
Control of Station COL and CanCon are an absolute necessity.
Limitations of the market size and increasing costs dictate saving must be found.
Under the plan being proposed, it is our belief needed efficiencies can be realized, while at the same time re-invigorating operations of CFNO-FM.
This will result in more flexibility and a well- rounded operation that is better positioned to respond to the needs of our audience.
A sustainable financial model.
EXHIBIT 1
Existing Studio is:
- 98 km from White River
- 170 km from Nipigon
- 195 km from Hornepayne
- 330 km from Geraldton
- 370 km from Longlac
- 400 km from Nakina
Thunder Bay is only 50 km from the CFNO service area.
This large service area already requires us to use the telephone to stay in touch with contacts in all the communities (this would be unaffected with a studio relocation). The telephone service would remain as a local call for our listeners (no long distance charges).
The geography is mostly vast forest between the small communities serviced. Since the service area is one big ring, we can access the locations just as easily from Thunder Bay as we do from Marathon.
EXHIBIT 2
Existing Transmitters
CFNO-FM Marathon
CFNO-FM-1 Nipigon / Red Rock
CFNO-FM-2 Hornepayne
CFNO-FM-4 Geraldton
CFNO-FM-5 Longlac
CFNO-FM-7 Nakina
CFNO-FM-8 White River
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What are your thoughts on the situation? Do you feel Dougall Media had a responsibility to communicate its intention to relocate with listeners or municipalities it serves?
_________________________________________________________
The CRTC published this Procedural Letter (below), dated May 8th, 2013, to it’s website in response to the application.
Letter
Ottawa, 8 May 2013
By e-mail dcaron@dougallmedia.com
Mr. Caron:
Re: Application 2013-0560-8 – Change in location of studio of CFNO-FM Marathon to Thunder Bay, Ontario
This is in response to your application to change the studio location of CFNO-FM Marathon to Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Section 28(1)(a) of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure provides that the Commission may request parties to file information, particulars or documents where needed.
Please provide the following information:
1- In response to question 3.1 e) on the application form, you stated that the proposed modification would not result in any changes to your programming. However, in the supplementary document attached to your application, you indicated that CFNO-FM would benefit from access to a variety of information from Thunder Bay, and that emergency services information would be directed toward Thunder Bay rather than Marathon. Accordingly:
a) With regard to emergency services, please indicate whether CFNO-FM currently distributes emergency alerts from the Pelmorex NAAD system (National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System) to the public.
b) Please confirm that the relocation of your studio from Marathon to Thunder Bay would not result in any changes to your programming throughout the broadcast week. If you are planning on any changes to your programming, please indicate the nature of these changes.
c) Please describe the measures you will implement to ensure that CFNO-FM will continue to offer local programming relevant to Marathon, and meet the needs and interests of the community served, in accordance with the following definition set out in paragraph 183 of the Commercial Radio Policy 2006:
Local programming includes programming that originates with the station or is produced separately and exclusively for the station. It does not include programming received from another station and rebroadcast simultaneously or at a later time; nor does it include network or syndicated programming that is five minutes or longer unless it is produced either by the station or in the local community by arrangement with the station.
In their local programming, licensees must include spoken word material of direct and particular relevance to the community served, such as local news, weather and sports, and the promotion of local events and activities.
2- One of the reasons the licensee gives for the requested change is the need to comply with its conditions of licence (Canadian content). However, Staff notes that the licensee is currently in compliance with its conditions of licence. Accordingly, please provide further information on the reasons for the requested change. In your response, please include the impacts on CFNO-FM if the Commission were to deny the application.
3- Please confirm your understanding that rebroadcasting transmitters are intended exclusively to rebroadcast programming from the mother station.
Commission Staff also reminds you that, pursuant to sections 8 (1) (a) and (b) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, a licensee must keep, in a form acceptable to the Commission, a program log or a machine readable record of the matter broadcast by the licensee, and retain the log or record for a period of one year after the date when the matter was broadcast.
You are required to provide the information/document(s) noted above on the public record by 15 May 2013.
Considering the above request, the timetable for the proceeding is changed as follows:
Deadline for filing interventions: 21 May 2013
The Commission requires that you submit your documents electronically via the secure service “My CRTC Account (GCKey or Partner Log In)” using the “Broadcasting and Telecom Cover Page.” On this web page, you will also find a link to information on the submission of applications to the Commission “Submitting applications and other documents to the CRTC using My CRTC Account.”
A copy of this letter and all related correspondence will be added to the public record of the proceeding.
Sincerely yours,
Catherine Arguin
Senior Radio Analyst
French-Language Radio Policy and Analysis
catherine.arguin@crtc.gc.ca
