After years in limbo, Whistler FM is finally getting ready to launch the Village’s first-ever top-40 music radio station by the end of this year.
Expected to compete with established local radio station Mountain FM, the group behind Whistler FM is not yet releasing specific details about on-air content. But the station is licensed to broadcast top-40, adult contemporary music, as well as news, community updates and other spoken-word programming.
The Canadian Radio and Television Corporation (CRTC) recently granted the ownership group, Four Senses Entertainment, a second extension to its license, which pushes ahead the deadline launch date to March 2, 2013.
“We are planning to be on-air before the end of this year, but we’re waiting for some funding and finding out where we will be transmitting from before we announce a specific date to the public,” said Donovan Tildesley, one of four owners of the station.
In March 2009, the CRTC approved Four Senses’ application for a broadcasting license to operate a top-40, adult contemporary FM radio station in Whistler. The CRTC originally granted the company a two-year timeframe to launch the station, but in May 2010 Four Senses asked for a one-year extension arguing there was not enough potential advertising dollars available in the market at that time.
Since then, Four Senses has been approved for a second extension due to similar revenue concerns.
Tildesley acknowledged his group is still working through revenue issues over competition for advertising dollars, but claims they are optimistic about the economic future of Whistler and are aiming to have the radio station up and running before 2013.
Whistler FM is governed by four partners. Barry Duggan owns 45 per cent, Donovan Tildesley owns 22.5 per cent, his father Hugh Tildesley owns 22.5 per cent and Robert Wilson owns 10 per cent. All partners have experience in the radio broadcasting industry.
In mid-January, the CRTC denied an application to launch Squamish FM, a proposed new rock radio station, suggesting Squamish FM would have a difficult time competing for revenue with established Sea to Sky station, Mountain FM.
In the same ruling, the CRTC also claimed “the new FM station in Whistler will likely have an impact on the revenues and profitability of the two Rogers stations currently serving the Squamish/Whistler corridor.”
Despite the CRTC’s stance, Joe Polito, Mountain FM operations and sales manager, is not too concerned about Whistler FM taking advertising revenue away from his station.
"To be honest, I haven't given it a lot of thought. Whistler FM isn’t really on my radar. We're busy and our time is more consumed with providing service to our current clients and building and improving our business,” said Polito. "It's great that they will be offering another option — the more options the better. It gives everyone an opportunity to decide what sound they want to listen to."
Four Senses expects to release more details about a specific launch date in the coming months.
