FORSETH – Without a strong local presence, there is NO reason for anyone to tune in to (local?) radio

LOCAL HOMETOWN RADIO IS DYING … and without serious measures put in place, it will likely never see the light of day again.

For well over four decades, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) has presided over its demise, and for that I say, “Shame”.

Without a word to say enough was enough, the CRTC has allowed corporate Canada to buy up one radio station after the other, and then allowed them to slash staff to the point where some so-called local radio stations do nothing more than air programming that originates from communities well outside the region in which they are located.

Case in point?

On CHNL* 610 in Kamloops, the morning show hosted by Vinnie and Randi, DOES NOT originate from Kamloops — it doesn’t even originate here in B.C. It’s a program that Stingray airs across multiple radio stations in Western Canada.

It doesn’t end there.

Not only are Vinnie and Randi doing mornings on CHNL, but they also show up on sister station Country 103 … and of course on multiple other radio stations in communities across B.C. and Alberta.

Good grief, how many radio stations does Stingray plan to clone these two on?  How many people does Stingray plan on having these two individuals replace?

But back to CHNL … and the rest of their daily offerings.

The midday show with Stacey Thompson … originates elsewhere and airs on multiple radio stations.

The afternoon show with Drew Ferreira … originates elsewhere and airs on multiple radio stations.

Evening show with Philys Og; you guessed it … it also originates elsewhere and airs on multiple radio stations.

Now don’t get me wrong. This situation is not exclusive to Kamloops, nor CHNL; it’s happening in community after community right across Canada.

On Dec. 7, 2022, the CRTC released its Revised Commercial Radio Policy. In it, three things stood out for me:

34. Some interveners cautioned that the Commission will need to ensure that any consolidation results in a net benefit for society, particularly in smaller markets. Therefore, they proposed that firm requirements be introduced to ensure incremental increases in local programming (such as local news), the broadcast of musical selections from emerging artists, and programming in different formats.

41. even if consumers now have access to more programming and news … consolidation could still negatively impact consumers as it could lead to a decrease in diversity of voices related to both news and programming, and could make it more difficult for smaller independent broadcasters to compete.

42. While broadcasters argued that consolidation allows them to be in a better position to invest in local programming, including news, the Commission is of the view that, absent other regulatory measures, there are no guarantees that they will make these additional investments.

When you think about the situation here in Kamloops, and elsewhere across the province, are we seeing incremental increases to local programming … or instead, are we seeing a decrease in the diversity of voices related to both news and programming?

That, plus there’s the concern raised that absent other regulatory measures, there are no guarantees that they will make these additional investments.

While I have used CHNL 610 in Kamloops as my example, the demise of local radio, and local radio programing has played out in hundreds of communities across B.C. and Canada.

On Nov. 2 I asked the CRTC for a copy of the Conditions of License (COL) under which CHNL operates. The response I received was:
The actual license copy of a radio station can only be accessed by a representative of the station, so we are unable to provide with you with the document.

I responded, in part, by stating:
Unless you can produce a legal argument (please provide specific details) as to why I cannot access the conditions of license that CHNL operates under, I again ask to see details of the current license which the station is subject to.

This came back from the CRTC:
In light of your concerns, and by copy of this correspondence, we are asking that CHNL(Stingray) respond directly to you within 20 calendar days (December 7th) and copy us for review. Should the review by CRTC staff conclude that further regulatory action is required, we will notify you.

Whatever the result of my request, (and I haven’t had a response yet) unless changes take place within the radio industry, they may as well power off the transmitters at most radio stations across the country.

I am going to make one suggestion as to what kind of change the CRTC could, and should, consider making as a Condition of License for radio in Canada:

Both AM and FM radio stations are required to have 35 per cent Canadian Content or Can-Con as it is more commonly known, in the music that they play. I’m going to suggest that there be a new regulation – one where radio stations will be required to have a minimum of 35 per cent local on-air content, from people that live in the community, between the hours of 6am and midnight.

If these massive media conglomerates aren’t willing to do that, then perhaps it’s time they voluntarily turn in their licenses, or have the CRTC revoke them.

I say this because without a strong local presence, there is NO reason for anyone to tune in to local(?) radio, and audiences will continue to decline as the final nails are pounded into the coffin.**

Those are my thoughts on this … care to share yours?

*  Radio NL was one of more than 100 licences purchased by Stingray Digital Group Inc. in 2018.

** Things have only gotten WORSE since I wrote this post a year and a half ago: “How many more nails will the CRTC allow to be hammered into the coffin of radio and TV?”