Kurt_eh
07-15-2004, 08:48 AM
CRTC yanks licence of Quebec shock radio station
Last Updated Wed, 14 Jul 2004 11:12:19 EDT
QUEBEC CITY - Quebec radio station CHOI-FM says it will appeal a decision by the federal broadcast regulator not to renew its licence.
Jeff Fillion
In its ruling delivered Tuesday, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission denied the station's renewal application because of an ongoing pattern of offensive and insulting on-air content that violates the Broadcasting Act. CHOI's licence expires Aug. 31.
"I agree that freedom of speech has a limit," station owner Patrice Demers said. "It is not to the CRTC to decide what is the limit."
The decision marks the first time the federal regulator has denied a licence renewal based on a pattern of on-air content.
The CRTC said it has received 92 complaints regarding the popular Quebec City radio station since 1997. At issue is controversial morning show host Jean-François (Jeff) Fillion.
In its decision, the CRTC cited several of Fillion's on-air remarks, including his postulating about the relationship between the breast size and intelligence of a local TV personality, his opinion that psychiatric patients should be euthanized and his view that African students at Laval University are the children of brutal dictators.
Fillion also made comments about rival radio host Robert Gillet.
FROM MARCH 25, 2004: Quebec radio host convicted of sex charge (http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/03/25/canada/gillet_040325)
Gillet is suing Fillion for connecting him with a juvenile prostitution ring in Quebec. Gillet was convicted of paying for sex with a 17-year-old prostitute, but is appealing the ruling.
The CRTC ruling also singled out host André Arthur, a longtime radio personality with whom the regulator has had previous clashes.
Many have questioned the decision, with some worried it sets a precedent that threatens freedom of expression and others noting it unfairly punishes the station's other employees.
Constitutional lawyer Julius Gray disagrees, saying the commission has the power to regulate the airwaves.
"Well I think the decision ultimately must be an adjudicative one. The CRTC is adjudicative and you can go to the federal court from that," said Gray.
Genex Communications bought CHOI in 1996 and, according to Demers, turned the previously low-ranking, money-losing enterprise into a first-ranked station with up to 300,000 listeners.
According to the CTRC, CHOI will be only the sixth station removed from the airwaves since the federal regulator was created in 1968.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Copyright ©2004 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
link (http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2004/07/13/Arts/choi_040713.html)
Last Updated Wed, 14 Jul 2004 11:12:19 EDT
QUEBEC CITY - Quebec radio station CHOI-FM says it will appeal a decision by the federal broadcast regulator not to renew its licence.
Jeff Fillion
In its ruling delivered Tuesday, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission denied the station's renewal application because of an ongoing pattern of offensive and insulting on-air content that violates the Broadcasting Act. CHOI's licence expires Aug. 31.
"I agree that freedom of speech has a limit," station owner Patrice Demers said. "It is not to the CRTC to decide what is the limit."
The decision marks the first time the federal regulator has denied a licence renewal based on a pattern of on-air content.
The CRTC said it has received 92 complaints regarding the popular Quebec City radio station since 1997. At issue is controversial morning show host Jean-François (Jeff) Fillion.
In its decision, the CRTC cited several of Fillion's on-air remarks, including his postulating about the relationship between the breast size and intelligence of a local TV personality, his opinion that psychiatric patients should be euthanized and his view that African students at Laval University are the children of brutal dictators.
Fillion also made comments about rival radio host Robert Gillet.
FROM MARCH 25, 2004: Quebec radio host convicted of sex charge (http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/03/25/canada/gillet_040325)
Gillet is suing Fillion for connecting him with a juvenile prostitution ring in Quebec. Gillet was convicted of paying for sex with a 17-year-old prostitute, but is appealing the ruling.
The CRTC ruling also singled out host André Arthur, a longtime radio personality with whom the regulator has had previous clashes.
Many have questioned the decision, with some worried it sets a precedent that threatens freedom of expression and others noting it unfairly punishes the station's other employees.
Constitutional lawyer Julius Gray disagrees, saying the commission has the power to regulate the airwaves.
"Well I think the decision ultimately must be an adjudicative one. The CRTC is adjudicative and you can go to the federal court from that," said Gray.
Genex Communications bought CHOI in 1996 and, according to Demers, turned the previously low-ranking, money-losing enterprise into a first-ranked station with up to 300,000 listeners.
According to the CTRC, CHOI will be only the sixth station removed from the airwaves since the federal regulator was created in 1968.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Copyright ©2004 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
link (http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2004/07/13/Arts/choi_040713.html)