Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Two Radio Station News Shorts by Stephen Weir Scarborough’s Second FM Station Still Two Years Away! You wouldn't think there's any more room for another radio in Toronto, but the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) has decided to squeeze in one more. The CRTC gave the station the nod back in April and made it official last month when it approved a licence for the International Harvesters for Christ Evangelistic Association and their new station 105.3 FM. Don’t go looking and listening for the station just yet, the new Scarborough outlet – CKSC - says that it will be up and broadcasting by April 28th, 2023. The new micro-broadcasting station’s 150-watt signal won’t reach too far outside of Scarborough – in contrast G.98.7’s FM signal at its peak time is 1,000 Watts (and has difficulty being heard in downtown Toronto. According to the CRTC the new station “indicated that it would broadcast 126 hours of programming each broadcast week on the proposed station, of w...

 CRTC Says No to Ajax and Pickering New FM Radio Stations sweirsweir Art Bites: It happened this morning.  The Canadian Radio and Television Commission issued a ruling Wednesday that officially puts the kibosh on a bid to operate an ethnic radio station in Ajax and Pickering.  As well, the CRTC said that it will not accept any applications for new ethnic radio stations in Ajax and Pickering for the next two years. Durham Diversity Radio (DDR) approached the CRTC in January 2020 just prior to the Covid shutdown with an application to operate an 880-watt ethnic station at 91.7 FM servicing the communities of Ajax and Pickering. The FM station was to broadcast programmes in a variety of different languages for people living in the community. The Federal government agency turned the application down because the GTA already has 35 radio stations, of which 10 are considered to be ethnic stations. The CRTC  believes that the Ajax and Pickering market can’t sustain another ...

Black History Month  The # 22 Willie Coin Is Worth $20 And Sells For A C-Note Art Bites: By Stephen Weir: Fresh on last week’s announcement that Canada Post has issued a new stamp to honour Black History Month, the Royal Canada Mint matched their Ottawa crosstown rivals by releasing a $20 pure silver coin in tribute to Willie O’Ree , the first Black hockey player to appear in the National Hockey League.    Willie O'Ree's determination to play at the highest level of professional hockey has inspired generations of Black players to carve their own paths as NHL legends.   “The Mint is delighted to immortalize his special place in history on a skillfully crafted silver coin," explained Marie Lemay, President of the Royal Canadian Mint. O’Ree had a very short NHL career – just 43 games with the Boston Bruins –  but that was all it took to take down the NHL colour barrier and open the doors for Black players.  He was called up as a short-term replaceme...

Bidding Deadline Extended    By Stephen Weir Deadline for interested parties to submit written letters of intent with respect to the purchase of the station was Friday, August 7. But A.Farber & Partners Inc., the court-appointed receiver of the company that is currently operating Radio Station G98.7-FM, said earlier this week that the deadline for purchase proposals has been extended to Sept 25, as requested by the bidders in good standing Little information has been released about the proposed sale beyond a list of what the successful buyer will receive.  It consists of the broadcast studio and equipment at 34 Kerns Road in North York, the station’s advertising list, all accounts receivable, the lease for the downtown broadcast antenna and the station’s Canadian Radio and Television Commission licence to broadcast. The estimated price for the station that tags itself as “The Way We Groove,” will be in the range of $2 -5-million dollars. Business and Community interes...