SIX SEEKING WOODSTOCK FM LICENCE Several major radio chains are in the hunt for the 104.7 frequency, widely thought to be last FM spot in the area. Hank Daniszewski – London Free Press A new FM radio licence up for grabs in Woodstock is turning out to be a hot property. Six applicants, including several major radio chains, are vying for the 104.7 frequency, widely considered to be the last available spot on the FM dial in Southwestern Ontario.
Several applicants have fired up public relations campaigns hoping to get the public's support before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision.
The CHUM Ltd. application is being promoted by television advertisements on the New PL, which is owned by the same company.
Byrnes Communication and Newcap Inc. have both placed ads in the Woodstock Sentinel-Review and launched websites to garner public support.
The other contenders for the frequency are broadcasting giant Standard Radio and two stations already in the market -- Faith Broadcasting, a small Christian radio station that wants to boost its power, and Tillsonburg-based CKOT, which want to convert its AM signal.
Woodstock Mayor Mike Harding and city council have formally endorsed Byrnes Communication for the licence. Harding says he will appear before the CRTC hearing to support the company's application because he believes it's the only one that concentrates on local programming, news and commercials.
Harding said Corus turned the Woodstock station into The Hawk, which became a satellite of its London operation with almost no Woodstock content.
Harding said Woodstock businesspeople who want to advertise on the Hawk are forced to pay for a regional audience that's much larger than advertisers' local customer base.
"I want a Woodstock station, not a near-London station. I have been absolute about that," said Harding.
Last year, Standard Broadcasting launched a complaint with the CRTC about the lack of local programming on Corus's Woodstock licence. The complaint was dropped in October and the CRTC issued a call for applications for a new licence for Woodstock the following month.
One of the co-owners of Byrnes is Gord Marratto, who ran the former Woodstock-based K-102 FM from 1976 to 1991 before it was sold to Corus Entertainment.
Marratto said although his company is competing against several large radio chains, he is confident of local support. "We'll be the only (applicant) with our head office and ownership right in Woodstock. We already know the market."
He said the Byrnes stations will have a local staff of 13 full-time and several part-time employees.
Steve Jones, vice-president of Newcap, agrees local programming is the key to the Woodstock licence.
"The Woodstock market isn't missing anything in music format, but the people in Woodstock have no programming geared for them," said Jones, whose Halifax-based company operates 65 radio stations across Canada, but none in the London area.
Newcap is also promising strong Woodstock programming with a local news team and no syndicated programming.
The CRTC hearing on the licence applications will be heard in Niagara Falls on June 6.
COMPETITORS FOR WOODSTOCK 104.7 FM
Byrnes Communications Inc. -- Proposed format: adult contemporary music
Standard Radio Inc. -- Proposed format: modern rock
CHUM Limited -- Proposed format: soft adult contemporary
Newcap Inc. -- Proposed format: "Gold-based" adult contemporary
Sound of Faith Broadcasting -- Proposed format: Christian broadcasting
Tillsonburg Broadcasting Company Limited -- Proposed format: country music |