A dream harbored by Scott Clements, a resident of Hubbards, N.S., has finally come to fruition – owning a viable radio station. Clements candidly admitted the unexpected thrill of actualizing a dream nurtured over a lifetime.
August 29 marked the day Clements learned of the CRTC’s (Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission) approval of his bid to launch an FM radio station in Lunenburg. However, it’s likely this could be the final new license approved for the foreseeable future.
The reason for this cut-off stems from the CRTC’s summer announcement to defer new traditional radio license applications for roughly two years. The imposed hiatus is purportedly to facilitate updates on rules needed to ensure the proper execution of the Online Streaming Act, a legislative piece that became law in April. Informally referred to as the first significant broadcasting reform since 1991, the Act is set to bring substantial changes to the industry.
Under the CRTC’s purview, radio stations are required to run local programming segments such as weather forecasts, news, sports, and events. This mandate also applies to the upcoming regulatory updates that target online audio and audiovisual content.
Clements, with his vision already cast ahead, plans to have his FM station operational by mid-2024. With a music policy leaning towards rock, the station will dedicate a minimum of two hours each week to programming focused on Lunenburg. A promise in his 2021 application to the CRTC, it boasted of a 40-minute time slot for local news.
In the meantime, Lunenburg locals can still tune in to two local stations, CJHK-FM and CKBW-FM, both originating from the nearby Bridgewater.
A seasoned broadcaster with twenty-one years under his belt, Clements rekindled his appreciation for local radio during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. He keenly observed how different broadcasters conveyed information, uniquely tailored to their individual communities.
Echoing Clements’ sentiment, Ed Halverson, a Lunenburg town councillor and journalist, highlighted the criticality of radio stations in smaller communities. He added that Lunenburg’s upcoming radio station, aiming to spotlight the town and its vicinity, would indeed be a significant addition.
Clements expressed mild disappointment over the CRTC’s inability to modernize the broadcasting system simultaneously as they process new license applications. He humorously remarked on the joy of owning one station and the further happiness owning two would bring.
However, a representative from the CRTC shared that while some applications already submitted would continue to undergo processing, others would inevitably be stalled.
