Tuesday, Sept.11th, 2012

The CRTC today has decided not to award 88.1FM to a campus-community radio licensee.

Radio Ryerson is disappointed the CRTC did not preserve the campus radio presence on Toronto’s airwaves.
Rock 95 was the successful applicant.

Ryerson Student Union President Rodney Diverlus praised student efforts to win 88.1. “Students voted overwhelmingly in favour of funding a campus-community radio station through a referendum. We sent a clear message to the CRTC that we, as the future leaders and community members, see value in a radio station that is for our community and the broader Toronto community.”

Assistant Chair of the RTA School of Media, Lori Beckstead says Radio Ryerson put forth the best possible application.
“We are so proud of our volunteers and the work they put into this application: the effort given all year was inspiring,” she said.
Many notable Torontonians wrote in support of Radio Ryerson’s bid, such as Juno-winner Steele, former mayor David Crombie and local news guru Marci Ien.
Jacky Tuinstra Harrison who managed the application said the team was overwhelmed with the diversity and the volume of support.
“We thank all 850 supporters who wrote in during the Public Consultation period on our behalf. Our volunteers are keen to work on community news and local music projects, even without an FM signal. Listeners can still keep in touch the Ryerson community via RUTV and Spirit Live.”
The National Campus and Community Radio Association also appeared in support of a campus-community radio license for 88.1FM over a commercial license.
“I am very disappointed in this decision,” said NCRA’s Executive Director Shelley Robinson.  “There is already so much commercial radio available and now there is one less opportunity for people in Toronto to directly access their local airwaves and represent their communities. Radio Ryerson was a place where people would get to be citizens and creators, not just consumers.”
Radio Ryerson volunteers will meet this week to discuss next steps .

The decision is linked here: http://ryersonradio.com/blog/crtc-decision/

Who Else wants Ryerson to have a Radio Station?

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More Videos from our Referendum in October 2011