 BYRNES LANDS SPOT ON RADIO DIAL Tillsonburg station gets OK to flip to 24-hour FM station Jon Willing – Woodstock Sentinel-Review The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted Byrnes Communications Inc. the right yesterday to broadcast over 104.7 FM, Woodstock’s only available radio frequency.
Gord Marratto, who owned the city-based K-102 from 1976 to 1991 before he sold it to Corus Entertainment, will be general manager of the new Woodstock radio station, which will feature a mainstream adult contemporary music format.
"They had to prefer the quality of our application," Marratto said yesterday from the Byrnes Communications offices in Burlington.
The licence begins Sept. 1, 2005, and expires Aug. 31, 2012.
Byrnes Communications beat out broadcast heavy-hitters CHUM Ltd. and Standard Radio in winning the coveted Woodstock radio licence. Newcap Inc., Tillsonburg Broadcasting Co. Ltd. and Sound of Faith Broadcasting also applied for the licence. In a written decision, the CRTC said Byrnes Communications will "dramatically increase the amount of spoken word programming reflecting Woodstock that is available to listeners."
Byrnes Communications’ adult contemporary music format will "complement" 103.9 FM The Hawk’s classic rock format and the Christian music provided by 94.3 HOPE FM, the commission wrote.
Marratto said "I can only imagine it’s our true local involvement" that convinced CRTC commissioners to award the licence to Byrnes Communications.
Dr. Robert Reid, president of Sound of Faith Broadcasting, said he’s disappointed his company didn’t win the licence but vowed the Christian-focused broadcaster is "here to stay."
Sound of Faith Broadcasting is applying to increase its wattage for its 94.3 FM frequency, but Reid said that move opens the door for other parties to apply for the high-powered signal.
While the CRTC denied all other applications for the 104.7 FM frequency, the commission gave the Tillsonburg Broadcasting Co. the go-ahead to flip its CKOT station from a daytime AM station to a 24-hour FM station on another frequency. John Lamers, president of the Tillsonburg broadcaster, said the company wanted 104.7 FM, "but this is still a positive decision" for his country music station.
It was, however, Byrnes Communications’ day to celebrate.
At a hearing in Niagara Falls in June, some members of the CRTC panel were impressed that Byrnes Communications was able to get Woodstock Mayor Michael Harding behind the company’s application.
"It really helped us to have him there," Marratto said yesterday.
Harding said the Byrnes Communications application likely stood out because many of the other applicants appeared similar to The Hawk, which the mayor has criticized for not focusing enough on the Woodstock listenership.
"It’s time we get local radio back in the city," the mayor said.
Harding anticipates the new Woodstock radio station will help retailers focus their advertising to the local audience. The new radio station will also assist the city in carrying out emergency measures strategies, the mayor added.
Marratto anticipates the new radio station will sign on in about six months. The company will now begin the process of finding studio space, ordering technical equipment and hiring staff.
Marratto plans to move to Woodstock in the near future.
Byrnes Communications is hoping to have a name for the radio station within the next week.
The CRTC has placed a number of conditions on the 104.7 FM licence operated by Byrnes Communications. For example, the company must support scholarships, musician awards and a local talent competition.
One contentious issue that surfaced during the CRTC hearing was Byrnes Communications’ commitment to the Woodstock area, seeing that Marratto sold his radio station to Corus in 1991. Corus, which owns The Hawk, has since been scrutinized for broadening its market to the point where Woodstock has been lost in the mix.
Yesterday, Marratto defended his commitment to serve the Woodstock radio market, saying the company’s president and majority shareholder, Chris Byrnes, wants to stay in the city.
"He’s dedicated to have that radio station forever," Marratto said.
Harding said even if Byrnes Communications’ sells the station, the new proprietor would have to abide by the original licensing conditions.
The community will surely make sure the new Woodstock radio station serves the local listenership, the mayor said.
"We will not be misled again." |