CRTC approves new indie-rock radio station in Toronto

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Sept. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted a licence to Rock 95 Broadcasting, allowing it to launch a new radio station to serve the Toronto market at 88.1 FM. Rock 95 will offer an English-language music format with a focus on independent and emerging Canadian artists. Forty per cent of the music featured on the new station will be Canadian musical selections, of which at least 60 per cent will be from emerging artists.

"Even in the age of digital media, Canadian artists who do not have major-label support face a tough road to success. Rock 95's station will give much-needed radio exposure to those artists and listeners will have an opportunity to discover new talent," said Leonard Katz, the CRTC's Vice-Chairman of Telecommunications and Chair of the hearing panel. "We received some very compelling applications, but could only award one licence."

Following a call for applications, the CRTC considered 22 proposals for the use of 88.1 FM in the Toronto market. The applications were analyzed according to the following criteria:

• the diversity of voices in the market
• the impact a new station would have on the competitive state of the radio market, and
• the quality of the application.

The CRTC also granted a licence to Bhupinder Bola for the use of 105.9 FM in Markham. The new station will offer ethnic programming with a contemporary and alternative music format.

Today's decisions follow a proceeding that included a public hearing, which was held from May 7 to 16, 2012 in Toronto.

Broadcasting Decision 2012-485
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-485.htm
Broadcasting Decision 2012-486
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-486.htm
Broadcasting Decision 2012-487
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-487.htm

The CRTC
The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.

Reference document:
Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-126
http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-126.htm

SOURCE: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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