CRTC - Neeti P. Ray proposes to purchase Bell AM stations

[Dan Sys]

Neeti P. Ray has applied to take over the assets of CHAM 820 Hamilton, CKOC 1150 Hamilton, and CKWW 580 Windsor from Bell Media. No concrete plans were released as to what Mr. Ray plans to do with the stations. The applicant also requested new broadcasting licences to continue the operation of the undertakings under the same terms and conditions as those in effect under the current licences. This means that the stations must broadcast a mainstream format in the English language, however 15% of the broadcast day could be devoted to Ethnic programming as all stations in Canada are allowed if they so desire. Total value of the transaction is $772,219.20.

Neeti P. Ray currently has Ethnic stations CINA 1650 Mississauga, CINA-FM 102.3 Windsor, and Toronto's Urban-Hip Hop CKFG FLOW 98.7 under his belt.

CRTC RELEASE:
https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2023/2023-369.htm#bm3

[Dan Sys]

TV GUY on the SOWNY Radio Board posted an interesting regulation from the Broadcast Act:

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TV GUY via the SOWNY Radio Board
Re: CHAM, CKOC, CKWW Sold
My 2 cents worth. All English language broadcasters can allocate a portion of their schedule to ethnic programs, between 6 a.m. and midnight. It's in the Radio Regulations. If there is no ethnic station licensed to serve the market, then up to 40% of the programming can be ethnic. That's a lot of hours a week on each of CHAM and CKOC. If there is an ethnic station in the market, then they would each be limited to 15% of their weekly 6 a.m. to midnight hours - around 18+ hours per station.

(a) if it is broadcasting in a market where there is no ethnic station, up to 40% of a broadcast week to third language programs; or
(b) if it is broadcasting in a market where there is at least one ethnic station, except as otherwise provided by a condition of its licence, up to 15% of a broadcast week to third language programs.

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I was not aware of the rules in Section (a). Guess it means that Neeti P. Ray could broadcast up to 40% Ethnic programming on CHAM and CKOC as the Hamilton market does not have an Ethnic station. Not at CKWW in Windsor though because his own station CINA-FM 102.3 is fulltime Ethnic. Should be interesting to see how this unfolds.

The shocker for me was the 3/4 of a million dollar price tag for all 3 stations (CHAM & CKOC being 50,000 watt powerhouses). It just shows how worthless AM radio has become. Compare this transaction to Rogers who purchased CISL 650 Richmond/Vancouver rrom Newcap in 2017 for 3 million bucks. Oh, how the once mighty have fallen.