1 of 1- RadioActive
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Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
Wednesday marks the halfway point in the month, which means there’s roughly two weeks for a new moribund AM station to get at least a dead-air signal on the air or risk losing its licence altogether.
CKNT is supposed to be that city’s news-talk station at 960 AM. It’s been in the works since November 2011(!) and so far, not a peep. The last time the CRTC agreed to give them yet another extension, the Commission made it clear it was indeed the last time. It’s hard to imagine that even a place with the worst luck wouldn’t be able to get so much as carrier up in six long years.
As noted in an earlier thread, the CRTC has told the owners that this is their absolute, drop dead, last chance and if they’re not up and running by the end of the month, they’ll have to apply for a new licence, with all the expense and red tape that involves. And given what’s gone on for over half a decade, there’s no guarantee they’ll land another one.
So what are the bets here? Anyone think they’ll actually make it this time? Stay tuned – although maybe not to 960 AM, because so far, there’s nothing there but static.
- Radiowiz
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Re: Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
How much does it cost to run the basic tone? Something that says it's there...
If I were them I'd at least get that up and running ASAP just to keep the licence.
Maybe even get some local hockey games aired just to make the AM 960 frequency appear to have gone to good use. (for now)
Last edited by Radiowiz (November 15, 2017 1:03 pm)
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person.
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.
- RadioActive
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Re: Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
There's now exactly one week to go for CKNT, the world's longest gestating radio station, to get some carrier on the air in Mississauga or face extinction.
Will 960 be deep-sixed and lose its licence if it's not there on time this time?
Tune in tomorrow for another episode of "As The Antenna Turns."
But hurry - there may not be many more episodes left.
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Thread Starter- Old Codger
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Re: Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
Maybe they can't put the dollars together. Maybe they re-jigged the numbers and have decided that it can't make any money. It's not like there isn't room in the marketplace for a decent radio station. There are so few of them currently doing much better than blurting out a basic tone.
One of the reasons why so many people noticed 'The Spirit of Radio' was because it didn't rehash the same basic [safe] presentation. [and tuneage] The homogenization of radio has contributed greatly to its undoing...that and trying to find a way to focus all signals at 30 year old females. It can't be done successfully... ... ...at least not by EVERYBODY for gawd's sake.
Wanna change radio guys? Start shopping... ... ...and telling EVERYBODY who asks...that you just LOVE it. Otherwise? It'll be more of the Beibs and the Weekend and all of those incessant chicklettes wasting the airwaves with their not-too-swift drivel. [and never-ending mimickery.]
Hey!!! If the current licensees don't want it...hopefully it won't be subsequently given to some cookie-cuttin' boredom king. Off with their heads!
Last edited by Old Codger (November 23, 2017 7:53 pm)
- Muffaraw Joe
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Re: Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
With all of these media cuts, maybe ownership just got skittish and decided to heck with it...and is taking a look at a different business and realizes the business model known as broadcasting for a little independent, is not so lucrative!
The world would be so good if it weren't for some people...
- andysradio
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Re: Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
The CRTC has granted another extension to CKNT - July 31/2018. Broadcasting application report [tnx to Canadian Radio News FB for the tip]
- tvguy
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Re: Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
8159203 Canada Limited Administrative2017-1016-1Extension of the time limit to 31 July 2018 to commence the operation of the English-language commercial AM radio programming undertaking in Mississauga, Ontario2017-11-282017-11-27
Approved
- RadioActive
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Re: Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
This is ridiculous. How many more chances do they get? This is the fourth extension since 2011, despite the fact the CRTC insisted November 30th, 2017 was his drop dead, lights out, licence revoked last chance.
By the time the new date approaches, they will have had more than six years to get a signal up and running on AM 960. I fear we will all die of old age before it finally comes on air. I can't think of a single station that has ever had this many second - and third and fourth - chances.
CP24, as an example, was up and operating within six months of being awarded a licence to what was then CHUM Television. I know some of the people that made that happen. And that was TV, which is even harder to arrange because of all the extra equipment, sets and people you need to do it.
This is the craziest radio origin story I can ever recall in Canadian broadcasting. And as Freddie Mercury and Queen sang in 'We Are The Champions,' "and it just goes on and on and on and on..."
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Thread Starter- RadioActive
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Re: Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
It appears they’re blaming it all on the government, specifically Transport an NAV Canada. Apparently the first transmitter site was in danger of interfering with air traffic near the airport and had to be changed. That took several years(!)
Now the second site is also of concern to the powers-that-be near Pearson and more testing is needed. According to the letter filed by the owner's lawyer:
“…the reason for this request is due to a long delay in Transport Canada’s decision for the site at 1137 Lorimar Road in Mississauga (the “Lorimar Site”) which left so little time to secure a new site and obtain the required approvals. As such, it is unfortunately beyond the control of the Applicant and despite its best efforts to meet the Commission’s November 30, 2017 deadline…
“The Applicant is eager to launch CKNT Mississauga and has incurred considerable expense in preparation for such launch. All necessary equipment was purchased and installed at the Lorimar site however, due to the rejection by Transport Canada the equipment had to be removed from the Lorimar site and placed in storage pending the necessary approvals for the Danville Site...
"While it waits for the approvals …the Applicant cannot construct the facilities and begin on-air testing. Once such approvals are granted, the Applicant estimates that construction of the Danville transmitter Site will take at least a week, barring any inclement weather.”
And so they now have until the end of July 2018, even though the request actually asked for a deadline of May 30th next year.
Anyone want to bet if they’ll make it to air by then?
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Thread Starter- Saul
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Re: Time Running Out – Again - For “New” Mississauga AM Station
I bet they will.