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On Twitter: @Li495Akiem
The CRTC must want students to shadow-DJ.
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On Twitter: @Li495Akiem
The CRTC must want students to shadow-DJ.
That was representative of the controversial ruling that was brought down on Monday, January 24th, 2012 by the Canadian Radio & Telecommunications Commission in Ottawa. It's Canada's equivalent to the FCC in the United States for those that don't know.
The CRTC ruled that campus radio stations like the Red River College's CKIC-FM 92.9 in the 'Peg can no longer train students for on-air disc jockey work at their radio stations.
This sounds like an uber-controversial ruling especially for a college that's radio-centric like RRC is. RRC provides CKIC 92.9 with virtually all of its funding. 92.9 Kick already put out a statement on its Facebook page saying that it'll likely have to shut down or relocate to the internet. This, of course, will probably allow another station owner to take over 92.9 in WPG.
It even sounds controversial on the surface. The whole point of college radio stations (especially those that are student-run) is to train students at these radio "jobs" for further success as they continue their future endeavors in the radio industry. In a way, college radio is somewhat like the "minor leagues" of radio. That's why even though it may not always show up on the Arbitron numbers in the upper tier; it's a valuable asset to radio overall.
But, with this station, it isn't entirely the case. Stations such as this one, according to the CRTC, are required to broadcast a certain amount of local, community radio content. This is the gripe of many community radio broadcasters, including Marty Gold.
Gold is the host of "The Great Canadian Talk Show" which at one point in time, aired on 92.9 Kick FM. But the show was canned by 92.9 Kick FM. If you look at his Twitter, he seems to be happy with the decision given what he says are CRTC violations by 92.9 relating to community content on college radio stations.
One wonders, though, is Gold really trying to be an ambassador for Winnipeg community radio, or if he simply has a score to settle with Red River College.
It was also reported that on the 92.9 Kick FM Facebook page, that any references to Gold or his show have been removed even if they were made by posters. That tells you everything that many think this had something to do with Marty Gold or that the station didn't want to reopen those old wounds from a year or so ago.
Lance Venta of Radio-Insight says there could also be a CKLN 88.1 element to the decision as well. CKLN was another community-based campus radio station that was run by Ryerson University in Toronto. CKLN shut down last year due to a 4-year stand-off between the station's rival Boards of Directors and student groups at Ryerson.
The lockout at the station caused CKLN's funding to go to virtually zero and they had to re-run old shows on 88.1.
A new group independent of Ryerson and the now-defunct CKLN called Radio Regent is now where many of the former CKLN shows now air. They are a netcaster.
Such a decision from this regulatory bureau sounds highly controversial given the high amount of Canadians that would love nothing more than to see the CRTC dissolved immediately, considering the current Tory government in charge in Ottawa.
What the decision does represent seems to be a broader conflict between community volunteers and student broadcasters.
Community volunteers will want to get their shows wherever they can and a good opportunity for them lies in college radio stations. Many campus radio stations already air formats where the on-air staff is comprised primarily of local community volunteers. Stony Brook University's radio station in Long Island, New York is a good example of this.
But, outside of interning at a bigger (corporately owned) radio station, these campus radio stations are really the first taste of real, hands-on radio experience behind a microphone. And for the CRTC to take this step in denying them this opportunity seems like an overreach. If 92.9 was breaking a licence, then punish them. But don't lump in other stations with 92.9 in Winnipeg or it will look like more like an after shock from the CKLN case.
And if it's true that they're extending this to all campus radio in Canada, then it makes the community volunteers no better than corporate titans who perhaps pay off bureaucracies like the CRTC to make things go their way more often than not. And usually, the community volunteers and student broadcasters aren't fighting each other, they're fighting Bell, Astral, Corus, Rogers, etc.
No....Canada. lol :-) And correct me on anything if I got any of the details incorrect. I have an almost insatiable habit of doing that.
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just typin random stuff :)