Christian radio loses out in Ottawa by Jennifer Green
Source : Ottawa Citizen
September 4, 2008
OTTAWA - The CRTC, which recently gave two thumbs-up to a homegrown Canadian pornography TV network, has nixed two applications for Christian radio stations in the Ottawa area, decisions that have left some supporters of the religious proposals miffed and perplexed.
Ottawa's CHRI came to a recent hearing of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission with 780 letters of support for a new FM station that would have played traditional Christian music, hymns and classical music, targeting an older audience.
Gatineau, Que., resident Fiston Kalambay Mutombo also attended the hearing to propose a French-language Christian station.
Only two broadcast slots were available and neither went to the Christian proposals. Instead, Astral Media Corp., got a spot at 99.7 on the dial, with just 77 letters of support for a soft adult music station aimed at older women. EVE-FM should go on the air in about five months. The other available slot, at 101.9, went to a blues station.
Robert du Broy, CHRI co-founder and vice president, said he doesn't know why Ottawa needs two more secular stations. Most American cities the size of Ottawa have at least four Christian stations, he said. CHRI's current operation has between 30,000 and 40,000 listeners in Ottawa, Pembroke and Cornwall, playing contemporary Christian music for a youth audience.
Just a few weeks ago, the CRTC approved Northern Peaks, a pornography cable channel based in Alberta, leaving many to wonder about its values as a government regulator.
"The approval of (Northern Peaks) was quite offensive," said Don Hutchison, director of law and public policy for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
"The CRTC has, for the past 15 years, sent a strong message they don't like Christian broadcasting, but they will allow it with heavy restrictions."
Ottawa listener David MacDonald, who used to have his own Christian radio program, is more blunt: "It's really getting tough to be a Christian in a country that was founded on Christian values. "On Normandy Beach, what you see is a big cross . . . you don't see a big dildo."
The cable TV approval is not quite the same as for the radio licences. There were only two positions available on the FM band in Ottawa, but there are hundreds of cable positions. As well, Northern Peaks can't be bundled with other channels, so viewers must subscribe and pay for it separately.
© Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa's CHRI came to a recent hearing of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission with 780 letters of support for a new FM station that would have played traditional Christian music, hymns and classical music, targeting an older audience.
Gatineau, Que., resident Fiston Kalambay Mutombo also attended the hearing to propose a French-language Christian station.
Only two broadcast slots were available and neither went to the Christian proposals. Instead, Astral Media Corp., got a spot at 99.7 on the dial, with just 77 letters of support for a soft adult music station aimed at older women. EVE-FM should go on the air in about five months. The other available slot, at 101.9, went to a blues station.
Robert du Broy, CHRI co-founder and vice president, said he doesn't know why Ottawa needs two more secular stations. Most American cities the size of Ottawa have at least four Christian stations, he said. CHRI's current operation has between 30,000 and 40,000 listeners in Ottawa, Pembroke and Cornwall, playing contemporary Christian music for a youth audience.
Just a few weeks ago, the CRTC approved Northern Peaks, a pornography cable channel based in Alberta, leaving many to wonder about its values as a government regulator.
"The approval of (Northern Peaks) was quite offensive," said Don Hutchison, director of law and public policy for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
"The CRTC has, for the past 15 years, sent a strong message they don't like Christian broadcasting, but they will allow it with heavy restrictions."
Ottawa listener David MacDonald, who used to have his own Christian radio program, is more blunt: "It's really getting tough to be a Christian in a country that was founded on Christian values. "On Normandy Beach, what you see is a big cross . . . you don't see a big dildo."
The cable TV approval is not quite the same as for the radio licences. There were only two positions available on the FM band in Ottawa, but there are hundreds of cable positions. As well, Northern Peaks can't be bundled with other channels, so viewers must subscribe and pay for it separately.
© Ottawa Citizen
