sowny.net | The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum


You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

March 19, 2016 9:01 pm  #1


New Low Power FM Station For Aurora?

Last September, I posted a link to a newspaper article indicating an entity called "Voice of Aurora" was getting ready to sign on at 101.5 FM with a power of just 32 watts and the call letters CHRA. The people behind it announced it like it was a done deal and even got space and money from the local government to help fund it.

Problem was, despite their ambitious proclamations, the low power "station" didn't actually have a licence, a fact the newspaper eventually admitted was true. That may change this week, when the CRTC finally considers that application. 

They're promising to produce at least 119 hours of programming a week, which is pretty ambitious for a low power community outlet.

Voice of Aurora Community Radio

Local resident questions need for Voice of Aurora Radio

Last edited by RadioActive (March 19, 2016 9:03 pm)

 

March 24, 2016 12:45 pm  #2


Re: New Low Power FM Station For Aurora?

Aurora has officially been granted its low power community station at 101.5, but only at 16.4 watts, about half what they were requesting. We likely won't be able to get it in the GTA, but given the station's promise of performance, that might not be a bad thing. From the CRTC decision:

"A portion of the spoken word programming would also be devoted to programs with local community groups, such as the Royal Canadian Legion, the Chamber of Commerce, Sport Aurora, the public library and the Queen’s York Rangers."

Sounds riveting. And then there's this odd statement:

"... the station would broadcast approximately 14 hours of newscasts, approximately 12 hours of which would consist of pure news."


What in a newscast wouldn't be "pure news?" And two hours of non-news in a newscast? I'd like to see how they pull that one off.

The Voice of Aurora has until March 2018 to get on the air. 

CRTC Decision

     Thread Starter
 

March 24, 2016 1:46 pm  #3


Re: New Low Power FM Station For Aurora?

"Pure news" is exclusive of sports, traffic, and surveillance information.  Also known as "Core news"