Sukhvinder Badh HeadshotSouth Fraser Broadcasting Inc. gets licensing of new FM radio station to serve Surrey

Another speciality commercial FM announced for Vancouver

Richmond: The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved an application by South Fraser Broadcasting Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a new FM radio station to serve Surrey. The Commission has also approved an application by 0971197 B.C. Ltd. for a broadcasting licence to operate a new My Surrey FM Logospeciality commercial FM radio station to serve in Vancouver. The remaining applications for broadcasting licences for radio stations to serve Surrey and Vancouver have been denied. The applications to add new transmitters in Surrey and Abbotsford have also been denied.

At a public hearing commencing 27 January 2014 in Surrey, the Commission considered eleven applications for new radio stations to serve Surrey and Vancouver, some of which are mutually exclusive on a technical basis. After this decision, South Fraser Broadcasting’s proposed service will fill a programming void by introducing a first local English-language service dedicated to a Surrey audience.

The new service will serve the needs of Surrey residents by offering local news and community information. As a new entrant to the Vancouver radio market, the radio station will enhance the diversity of news voice in the market. In its broadcasting decision report the commission noted that South Fraser Broadcasting’s programming approach “Surrey first, Surrey second and Surrey always” will distinguish itself from existing stations in the market, which are Vancouver-focused, with programming. In the Commission’s view, the proposed service’s emphasis on news and community information focused on Surrey will be a beneficial addition to the market and will not have an undue impact on the incumbent stations serving the larger market. The condition of licence is that 40% of its musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) to Canadian selections over the broadcast week.

South Fraser Broadcasting is a corporation wholly-owned and controlled by Sukhvinder Singh Badh.

While speaking with Asian Journal after the announcement, Sukhvinder said, “We are delighted at the decision and looking forward to setup a radio station that caters to need of diverse community of Surrey. It’s a great achievement for Surrey. Now entire community of city of Surrey will be able to tune into a radio station that speaks the language that all the residents understand.  The license we have got is Adult Contemporary. The name of the radio station is going to be My Surrey FM and the tag line we have decide to go with it is ‘news, views and variety.’ This radio station will build bridges and bring the communities closer and create better understanding about each other’s culture, history and events. The radio station will focus on issues pertaining to Surrey. Besides diverse music, the station will be a platform for all the residents to voice their thoughts and ideas for making the city on of the best city to work and raise families.”

Every year for next 7 years South Fraser Broadcasting is committed to devote, over and above the basic annual contribution to CCD, a total of $700,000 to CCD over seven consecutive broadcast years upon commencement of operations. Of this amount, at least 20% will be devoted to FACTOR. The remainder will be directed to eligible initiatives as follows: Fusion Festival & Canada Day in Surrey, for secondary stages featuring emerging Canadian talent; Surrey School Board, for music programs, an annual jazz festival and a program that partners professional musicians with students; Scholarships for broadcast journalism students at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Kwantlen Polytechnic University; and Evolution 107.9, for programming and volunteer training initiatives at BCIT’s student radio station.