CJRU

CJRU
City of license Toronto, Ontario
Branding The Scope at Ryerson
Frequency 1280 kHz (AM)
First air date by January 2016 (expected)
April 2013 (Internet)[1]
Format Campus and community radio
Power 99 Watts
Class LP AM
Transmitter coordinates 43°38′33″N 79°20′22″W / 43.64250°N 79.33944°W
Callsign meaning C J Ryerson University
Owner Ryerson Radio Incorporated
(Ryerson Radio Incorporated)
Website thescopeatryerson.ca

CJRU, branded as The Scope at Ryerson, is a future low-powered AM campus and community radio station, owned and operated by Radio Ryerson Incorporated at Ryerson University in Toronto, which was granted a broadcast license by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on December 11, 2014.[2] The station will broadcast on 1280 kHz with a signal strength of 99 watts.[3][4][5][6][7][8] Under the conditions of its license the station must commence AM broadcasting by December 2016 or seek an extension,[2] however the station's management states that they aim to begin terrestrial broadcasting by January 2016.[9] The current license expires on August 31, 2021.[2] The 1280 AM frequency was previously used by CFBN.[10]

Background

The Scope has operated as an internet radio station since April 2013. In February 2014, an application was filed with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for an AM license. The CRTC held a hearing on September 25, 2014[2] and released its decision approving a license December 11, 2014.[11]

The internet station was started after Ryerson Radio's previous application to acquire a license for an FM license for CKLN-FM's former frequency of 88.1 MHz was rejected by the CRTC on September 11, 2012 in favour of indie rock station CIND-FM.[12][13] Ryerson-based CKLN-FM had previously broadcast on 88.1 from 1983 to 2011 when the station lost its license due to compliance issues.[14]

The station contrasts itself from its predecessor, CKLN. According to volunteer co-ordinator Emily Joveski: “One of the stigmas associated with radio at Ryerson is some of the mistrust [from some older students and faculty] lingering from the previous station. But we are different. We are actually accessible to all students, and we will be a positive influence on Ryerson as well as the community.”[15]

The application to the CRTC was supported by intervenors such as musician Ron Sexsmith, Blue Rodeo founding member Bob Wiseman, Toronto city councillors Kristyn Wong-Tam, Mike Layton, Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland and the National Campus and Community Radio Association.[16]

Governance

The Scope is governed by a nine-member board of directors with includes three representative of the student body, three representatives of Ryerson University's administration, one representative of the station's volunteers and two directors, chosen by the board, to represent the community at large.[2] The board's chair is Gerd Hauck, the dean of Ryerson's Faculty of Communication & Design. Ted Rogers School of Management dean Steven Murphy and Radio Television Arts chair Charles Falzon also sit on the board on behalf of the university,[1] while the president of the Ryerson Students Union sits as one of the student representatives.[17] While two individuals intervening at the CRTC hearing opposed the station's application alleging too few community directors, the station responded by telling the CRTC that "it was appropriate to restrict membership in this case to avoid governance problems such as those that led to the revocation of CKLN-FM’s licence, where a second competing board of directors was elected by members".[2] The CRTC agreed in its decision that "the proposed governance model is appropriate and provides for balanced representation from students, the community, the university and volunteers".[2]

Format

The terms of its license require the Scope to air at least 120 hours of local and Canadian programming a week with a format that will be "a mixture of pop, rock, dance, acoustic, folk, folk-oriented, world beat international, jazz, blues and experimental music"[2] with a "music discovery approach" focusing on emerging artists.[2][16] The schedule will also include "in-depth spoken word programming and programming targeted to specific groups within the community".[2]

Transmitter

CJRU will lease transmitter space from a tower in Toronto's Port Lands district, at Unwin Street and Cherry Street, now used by CHHA 1610 Voces Latina.[16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Reinventing radio for the digital age". Ryerson Today. August 7, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-644". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Government of Canada. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Welcome back Radio Ryerson". The Ryersonian. April 3, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Radio Ryerson searching for a new home". Canadian University Press. January 16, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  5. ↑ "New radio station in the works at Rye". The Ryersonian. April 2, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  6. ↑ https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/DocWebBroker/OpenDocument.aspx?AppNo=201401497
  7. ↑ "Campus radio poised for a return to the dial". The Ryersonian, September 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Scope tries to catch some waves". The Eyeopener, September 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Scope approved for an AM radio licence". The Eyeopener (December 11, 2014). Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  10. ↑ "CFBN-AM, Toronto, Greater Toronto Airport Authority (Left the air)". Radio Station History. Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-644". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, December 11, 2014.
  12. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-485, Licensing of a new radio station to serve Toronto, CRTC, September 11, 2012
  13. ↑ "Indie-rock station coming to Toronto". Toronto Star, September 11, 2012.
  14. ↑ "CKLN appeal shutdown". Toronto Star, April 15, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Celebrations for a new year of radio at Ryerson". The eyeopener. September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "CAMPUS RADIO BACK ON THE AIR AT RYERSON". NOW Magazine. December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Scoping out Ryerson's new radio station". The Ryersonian. September 10, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.

External links