Comments for Fagstein

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Fagstein

Fagstein — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:42:48 +0000

Interesting speculation. But I highly doubt Mitch Melnick would get up at some ungodly hour of the morning just to read sports headlines on TV. There are plenty of other people at that station who could do that job, though.

And it should also be noted that in your scenario, Bell Media is the only player owning more than one profitable property.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Fagstein

Fagstein — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:38:55 +0000

Hmm if I were to choose between Bell/Astral monopoly on English Montreal radio or the end of TSN690, I would choose keeping TSN690

That's your choice. But don't come back in a few years and complain that there isn't enough competition in radio.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Fagstein

Fagstein — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:37:55 +0000

Industry Canada is not in the content business.

That's my point.

Oh, and did anyone say "non-commercial"? I didn't.

Then I'm clearly misinterpreting what you mean by "local community / cultural community stations." Unless you're referring strictly to the class of a station's signal?

Comment on Caption Quebecor’s new CEO Robert Depatie by Ted Bird

Ted Bird — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:58:45 +0000

E...F...P...L...O...K...R...M...D? P? My right eye is a lot better...

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Ted Bird

Ted Bird — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:52:56 +0000

I pay the Gazette out of my own pocket to keep using that photo just to bug the shit out of you, Sheldon. Glad to see it's working.

Comment on Elysia Bryan-Baynes named late-night anchor at Global Montreal by John M. Baynes

John M. Baynes — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:26:30 +0000

Congrads,and God's blessingd

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by ATSC

ATSC — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:21:10 +0000

Speculation only.

Assuming the following...BellMedia buys Astral, and RogersMedia picks up CKGM-AM 690

1 - BellMedia moves all sports properties to CJAD-AM 800. Result, this will create a news hole for the upcoming TTP station on 600 AM to fill.

2 - RogersMedia uses CKGM-AM 690, and CJNT-DT 62 to create a synergy between the two stations to further establish itself in Montreal as an important media outlet. Melnick stays with CKGM-AM, and perhaps has a hand doing sports headlines on the new BT Montreal show, and is the regular host of the new sports show on CJNT-DT?

3 - We might finally start to get some baseball games on radio. Okay, Blue Jays games. But the team has to play other teams, such as the Red Sox, Yankees etc. You may not be a Blue Jays fan. But you might care a bit more about the other teams that they will be playing.

4 - In the end, the English Media in Montreal will have a much healthier market if we have more players in it.
1) BellMedia (CFCF-DT 12, CHOM-FM 97.7, CJFM-FM 95.9, CJAD-AM 800)
2) TTP Media (New 600 AM station)
3) Cogeco (CKBE-FM 92.5)
4) ShawMedia (CKMI-DT 15)
5) RogersMedia (CJNT-DT 62, CKGM-AM 690)
6) CBC (CBMT-DT 6, FM 88.5, and 93.5)
7) The Gazette

In the end, more options will probably lead to better stations, news, etc. Less options will only encourage a slow death.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Mario

Mario — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:22:11 +0000

Hmm if I were to choose between Bell/Astral monopoly on English Montreal radio or the end of TSN690, I would choose keeping TSN690 because frankly I don't think their listeners care about the background ownership issues. In the end public radio is there to serve the people.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Dilbert

Dilbert — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:40:31 +0000

"Back in 2001, Industry Canada did a report on possible available AM frequencies in Toronto. I see no reference there to reserving frequencies for non-commercial use." Industry Canada is not in the content business. They are in the purely technical of signal, contours, equipment, and the like. The CRTC is there for content and licensing of broadcast undertakings. Industry Canada can tell you what frequencies are available, subject to technical limitations, subject to agreements with the US, and so on. The CRTC decides what is on a given frequency. Oh, and did anyone say "non-commercial"? I didn't.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Fagstein

Fagstein — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:08 +0000

I thought they were going to use the same parameters CFCF/CIQC did? That being 10/5kW.

You're right. I got confused there.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Marc

Marc — Sun, 19 May 2013 02:40:14 +0000

and TTP has a licence for a 50kW/10kW station on that frequency.

Oh. I thought they were going to use the same parameters CFCF/CIQC did? That being 10/5kW.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Fagstein

Fagstein — Sun, 19 May 2013 01:10:47 +0000

With all due respect, I would much rather hear Bob Mckenzie and Darren Dregger as radio talking heads calling in than John Shannon and Doug Maclean. A Sportsnet690 without any sports properties is doomed to fail.

So what would you rather see? A Bell monopoly on English radio or the end of TSN 690?

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Fagstein

Fagstein — Sun, 19 May 2013 01:09:35 +0000

The CRTC has fairly solidly set uses for certain frequencies (ones which can only have lower power as a result of contours of other stations in other markets), generally designating them for more local community / cultural community stations.

I'm not aware of CRTC policies on frequency allocation. Can you point to one specifically? I know the FCC in the United States sets certain frequencies for certain allocations with some channels deemed "local", but those are few, and it makes no distinction between commercial and non-commercial. And the regional channels can be used at high power. It lists 600 kHz as "regional" and TTP has a licence for a 50kW/10kW station on that frequency. Back in 2001, Industry Canada did a report on possible available AM frequencies in Toronto. I see no reference there to reserving frequencies for non-commercial use.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Mario

Mario — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:55:21 +0000

With all due respect, I would much rather hear Bob Mckenzie and Darren Dregger as radio talking heads calling in than John Shannon and Doug Maclean.
A Sportsnet690 without any sports properties is doomed to fail.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Sheldon

Sheldon — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:09:09 +0000

Please, please, please...can the Gazette please come up with another photo from TSN 690 to accompany stories about the station? Bird was the last guy in at the station. How difficult could it be to get a Gazette photographer over to the station to snap a few new shots. Melnick, Marinaro and others have been around for years at the station and we keep getting Bird's photo.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Dilbert

Dilbert — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:56:56 +0000

You are correct, on a purely technical level, Industry Canada is in charge of the frequencies. However, without approval by the CRTC, it's a meaningless concept, nothing more than a nice contour map and smile. You can't run a radio station on a given frequency without the approval of the CRTC, plain and simple. You also cannot get approval from the CRTC until you have a selected frequency and all the technical requirements that must be approved by Industry Canada.

The CRTC has fairly solidly set uses for certain frequencies (ones which can only have lower power as a result of contours of other stations in other markets), generally designating them for more local community / cultural community stations. The space below 92 FM has been treated differently as well in the past, as has AM clear channels.

Comment on Caption Catherine Cullen by Trey Droll

Trey Droll — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:07:33 +0000

" Commander Hatfield is showing the audience the effects of gravity on certain body parts. But back on earth it's only like this"

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Fagstein

Fagstein — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:57:49 +0000

We won't even get into any restrictions or limitations that the CRTC might put regarding content, as they may have desired community uses for certain frequencies.

The CRTC doesn't allocate frequencies. Industry Canada does that. And frequency allocations are not based on content. It's up to the CRTC to approve a station with proposed technical parameters (which must be approved by Industry Canada). It doesn't reserve unused frequencies for specific uses.

Comment on Rogers says it’s willing to buy TSN 690 by Dilbert

Dilbert — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:41:02 +0000

The lack of frequencies is key here. As Marc mentioned, only 2 on that list are even potentials, as the rest are restricted in some manner. 1530 has a number of stations on it in the US, and would likely suffer in the evening on the edges of any contour with signals from these stations. At minimum, it would be required to be fairly low power after sunset, limiting it's value. The number of "high power" frequencies that don't come with big restrictions are very small, it's why the clear channels are so desirable and rare. We won't even get into any restrictions or limitations that the CRTC might put regarding content, as they may have desired community uses for certain frequencies.

Comment on Caption Catherine Cullen by Pefder Magfrok

Pefder Magfrok — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:28:45 +0000

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