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SUDBURY -- Listeners here may not be able to discern what is different at their favourite radio station, but some changes have been made.
The most significant difference has been a change of command. In September, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the sale of CKSO-AM and CIGM-FM Radio -- that's 790 AM and 92.7 FM respectively on the radio dial -- to Quebec-based Telemedia Communications Inc.
The stations had previously been locally owned by United Broadcasting Inc. Telemedia owns 21 stations in Ontario and Quebec including CKGB in Timmins, CFCH in North Bay, and CFYN in Sault Ste. Marie.
In March 1985, the CRTC gave permission to Mid-Canada Communications (Canada) Ltd., owners of the city's CBC and CTV television affiliates, to purchase three Sudbury stations, CHNO-FM, CJMX-FM and CFBR-AM -- 550 AM, 105.3 FM and 900 AM -- from Baxter Ricard's Sudbury Broadcasting Ltd. (Ricard continues to be involved with the stations at a significant shareholder in Northern Cable, the owners of Mid Canada.)
Mid Canada was also allowed to buy CJNR Blind River, CKNR in Elliot Lake and CKNS Espanola from Huron Broadcasting Ltd., and put CHUR-AM North Bay on the air.
Although media monopolies and chains are carefully scrutinized by the CRTC, chain ownership of radio stations can actually result in better radio. "Chains offer radio stations some expertise that isn't available in a single-owned station," says Barry Sarazin, head of the radio broadcasting program...