North Star Media

CTRC Nixes Beaches Community Station

The CTRC has refused to proceed with an application by North Star Media of Toronto to exempt on a trial basis low power UHF community channels from the Broadcast Act. North Star Media had proposed deregulating small neighborhood stations that had 100% local programming during prime time. North Star Media had planned to run a community access channel in the "Beaches" East Toronto Area. The station would have proved an outlet for up and coming producers to air their works. According to new cable regulations, cable companies are no longer required to run community channels.

The Commission stated that "under certain circumstances (such a operation), it may have an impact on the ability of existing licensees to fulfil their regulatory requirements." The CRTC did acknowledge that the proposal "has the potential to make a contribution to the broadcasting system." Although in North Star Media's case " the Commission will be pleased to consider a licence application for a community service that is clearly Canadian in content and contributes to the objectives of the Broadcasting Act."

This exemption would have spared would-be community broadcasters from the massive expense of preparing the required license application. Mired in red tape, stations now spend one hundred thousand to one million dollars just for the application, with no guarantee of ever receiving a licence.

Jan Pachul, President of North Star Media comments "The CRTC doesn't want to give up control, even if local communities benefit. The CTRC needs to encourage diversity in the face of consolidation. Give somebody new a chance to be a broadcaster.'

Jan maintains there are systemic barriers in place to prevent anyone but the very wealthy from participating in television broadcasting. Not many can afford to lose several hundred thousand dollars on an application. Who would want to invest in such a venture? The money wasted in the process is enough to put a low power station on the air. It is time the CTRC realized its policies have denied a voice in Canadian broadcasting to everyone except the weathly corporate elite.

Since much of the technical infrastruce and community contacts are already in place, Jan says he will apply for the license. North Star Media has completed studios and offices and has expertise in digital video systems. Arrangements have been already made for transmission facilities.

As part of the application process, Jan would like to hear from people who are interested in producing different types of local neighbourhood programming. Anyone wishing to put together a local community TV program should email Jan Pachul at Star Ray TV, Toronto, email: srtv at srtv.ca. Star Ray TV maintains a web site at http://srtv.ca

Open letter from Jan Pachul to Community TV supporters