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- NOTE Tb USERS This mproduction is the best 'copyavailable UMI Radio Networks and the Redefinition of Local Private Râdio Randy Lyle Taylor B. Ed. University of Alberta 1995 A THESIS SUBMlTTED IN PARTIAL FULFlLMENT OF THE REQUlREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the Schod of Communication 8 Rauây Taylor 1998 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Juiy 1998 Al1 rights reservd This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author National Umry Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisiîions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie SeMces seMces bibliographiques 395 Welligtori Street 395, rue Weiiinglm OnawaûN K1AW OnawaûN K1AW Canada canada The author bas granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive Licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Liônuy of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seii reproduire, prêter, distriiuer ou copies of this thesis in rnicroform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownersbip of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thése. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantieIs may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son ~ermission, r - autorisation. ABSmCT Radio networking has generally been the exclusive domain of the CBC as the national broadcaster with the exception of a limited number of private radio networks that emerged in the early 1920's pnor to the formation of the public broadcasting systern. For the most part it was thought that private radio would fùlfil the primary function of local broadcaster. The thesis examines the resultant impact to local radio programming sewices of the CRTC policy permitting the licensing of private networks in the late 1980's. Several relationships are examined. Foremost of these is the dialogue between pnvate radio broadcasters and the regulator. Notions of community local identity and the increasing use of broadcast technology are also taken into account Since none of these issues have remained static, and continue in a dynamic fashion, an historical perspective has been adopted illustrating a policy shift away from broadcasting as a culturaVpublic paradigm, to a market/audience paradigm. Evidence is hwnfiom local, regional and national perspectives examining concepts surrou11ding comrnunity, policy and technology. CRTC annual reports, public notices and broadcasting decisions are cited as well as documents published by the major industry lobby group, the Canadian Association of Broadcastexs (CAB). A case study method is used to investigate the local impact of the larger national issues. The thesis traces the growth of private radio networks fkom their beginnings as distributors of live sporting events to recent developments as deliverers of programming which has traditionally been let? to the local broadcaster. It is suggested that these developments have been faci li tated no t on1y by advances in broadcast/information technology, but also as a result of a graduai loosening of the regdations goveming private broadcasting in Canada. This thesis argues that local pnvate radio, especially in smaller communities, is king redefined by broadcasters, the regulator and the community. Furtherrnore, that local identity and cornrnunity are beçoming regionalized as a result of the decrease in local programming hours available. Many of the broadcaster's comrnitments to the community, once contractually articulatecl as a condition of licence, have aow ken relegated to industry self-supe~sorystatus. The thesis conciudes with a discussion of policy alternatives including the need to acknowledge local information as vital Canadian content The paper cails for increasing regdatory vigilance of existing policy governing local content. TABLE OF CONTENTS .. * ABSTRACT .............................................................. 111 II . COMMLMITY .......................................................... 8 Participation in Media and local Prograrnming ............................. 9 Broadcast Identity ................................................... 12 Radio's Cornmunity Potential .......................................... 16 The Profit Imperative ................................................. 19 m . POLICY .............................................................. 27 Early Regulation .................................................... 28 CAB Strategy ....................................................... 31 CRTC Policy Development ............................................ 35 Self-Regdation .................................................... -44 Local Programming Policy ............................................ 49 IV . NETWORKS & TECHNOLOOY .......................................... 59 The Transition to Digital ............................................. -60 Private Regional and National Networks .................................. 64 Impact of Broadcast Technology on Comrnunity ........................... 68 V . NEWORKING AND COJbfMJMTY ..................................... -70 Ownership and Cornmunity ............................................ 71 Local Programrning Reductions ......................................... 74 The Russian Newscast ................................................ 80 VI . THE TRANSFORMATION OF LOCAL RADIO ............................. -85 Neworks and Technological Intervention ................................. 85 Re-defining 'local' ...................................................89 Future of Regdation ................................................. 90 11 Appendix B ....................................................... 106 Appendix C ....................................................... 107 1, MTRODUCTION This thesis wil exmine the resultant impact on local private radio prograrnming services of Canadian Radio Television Telecommunic~tionsCommission (CRTC) policy changes to permit the licensing of private radio networks. Several temis are embedded in this study that require clarification. They include private radio, broadcasting networks, community and 'localness'. Private radio is defined as a broadcast distribution undertaking that is licensed to operate apart fiom those aspects of the Broadcasting Act (Canada, 199 1) and Radio Regdations (Canada, 1986) goveming the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), community and educational licensees. Networks are defined in Section 2 of theAct as follows: "network" includes any operation involving two or more broadcasting undertakings whereby control over al1 or any part of the programs or program schedules of any of the broadcasting undertakings involved in the operation is delegated to another undertaking or person. When we speak of 'local' and 'community', several concepts can be applied The following should be viewed as a general outline and certllinly not dl-inclusive : a local cornmunity defined primarily by geopolitical boudaries a local market defined generally by media dverüsing potential a local community defined by cultural considerations Each concept carrieswith it different notions of local identity. The Canadian regulatory structure attempts to adciress each of these perspectives. The CRTC issues a broadcasting licence to those deemed best able to 'serve7 a particular local geographic community. Several factors are usually considered, foremost among them is the financial ability of the community's commercial sector to provide the undertaking with the necessary advertising revenue to allow it to operate. As well, broadwten are expected to operate within the parameten of the Broadcasting Act (199 1 ) in order to "serve to safeguard, e~chand strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada" (Canada, 199 1). This study concems, in part, the difficulty arising fiom the forced interaction of these various communities with regard to local radio. They often hold competing interests, yet are portrayed as sharing the sarne goal. For example, refemng to the three conceptualizations above, the needs of a local advertising market can be defined quite differently than a town, which is defined by its geopolitical boudaries. Indeed, the local advertising market could extend to businesses operating outside a tom's municipal boundcines. Similady, the cultural considerations ofcommunity are not wholly dependent upon topography or advertising. It is this particular idea of 'local-ness', or local identity, that I have chosen to examine. This thesis proceeds with the underiying assumption that local radio has the potentiai to provide a community with the means to assist in defining itself Just as the medium can be utilized to advertise the goods and seMces required to fuel the consumer economy, it can also be usehl in providing timely public service information (Girard, 1992; Quinones, 1997). I also hope to show that it is not solely the content, or what is said, but also the language, or how it is said, that is equally important As a result, the local broadcaster has a unique oppominity to speak to a community using the language of that community. Local places, for example, are referenced and acknowledged in wcular ways. In the Vancouver are%for instance, most cornmuters are familiar with that stretch of road known as 'the

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