Today was the day we have all been waiting for. Today was the day when the decision was made. The CRTC has denied the purchase request and in turn, the desired format change put forth by Durham Radio. Power 93 will remain a Christian radio station.

For more on the CRTC decision click here.

Many are wondering what happens next. That is a question that we can’t answer. A couple of possibilities are likely though. Either the owners of Power 93 will pursue a sale once again, this time to a company that will keep the station Christian, or, they’ll simply maintain the station as it is. As this site is not directly affiliated with Power 93, we do not know what they’ll do. At this point we can only speculate.

Should the owners of the station decide to try selling it again, as it did the last time, the process will go before the CRTC. There will be another intervention process and letters will be required once more. This time around though, assuming the sale is to a Christian broadcaster, we would need to collectively submit letters of support. This would encourage the CRTC to grant the sale, making way for new owners to make a new Christian radio station that would continue to serve Brantford and the surrounding area.

Over the coming days and weeks we will try and speak to the owners of Power 93 to find out their intentions. In the event that they do decide to sell, we will use this site once again to provide the information necessary to support the process. Should they decide to keep it running themselves, we’ll continue to support them and their efforts of making Christian radio in our area.

Thank you again for all of your support. Together we have saved our Christian radio station!

Blessings,
The KeepItChristian Team

A call placed to the CRTC gave little insight as to when their decision regarding the proposed license amendment / format change for Power 93 would be made.  The best answer we could get was, “it could be a few months.”  The process can be a long and drawn out one.  The applicant, in this case, Durham Radio, will have the opportunity to respond to each of the points raised in all the letters that were sent.  This doesn’t mean they will respond to you personally, just that the CRTC will want to hear their response to our concerns.  This becomes a factor in the final CRTC decision.

So now we exercise our patience, and we pray.  God is ultimately in control.  We have all done our part.  We’ve written our letters of opposition and we’ve shown our support for Christian radio.  Now we just have to trust that God will take care of the rest according to His will.

In the event that the CRTC does rule against the license change, theoretically, Power 93 will go back up for sale.  This means that new buyers, Christian buyers we hope, will have the opportunity to present offers to the owners of Power 93.  This process itself could take a couple of months.  If the owners of Power 93 selected one of these potential buyers, then we go through the same intervention process all over again with the CRTC, only this time, we would have to write letters in support.

This web site will remain online, though, we won’t have much to report until the CRTC makes their decision.  At that time, we’ll continue to keep you informed with regards to the process.  Stay tuned, and keep praying.  We’ve got a few months of waiting ahead of us.

In the meantime, please continue to show your support for Power 93, which will continue to broadcast Christian music and messages to Brantford and the surround area.  Show them support by listening, by telling your friends, families and churches about them, by helping them financially, and buy supporting the advertisers who air commercials on their station.  Above all, continue to pray for the Schleifers and their staff as they work each day to keep our Christian station running.

Visit their web site at http://power93.ca and consider taking a moment to send them an encouraging word for the work they do.

Several months back I had a personal encounter with the power of Christian radio.  I wrote an article about it and submitted it a magazine called More Radio.  This particular publication is for Canadian Christian radio and is sent out each month.  Here is a brief excerpt from what I wrote…

The other day I was driving to work and, as I often do, I was flipping through the dial.  In Brantford we have Power 93.  A small station that no doubt has its struggles, not unlike many small Christian radio stations.  But a station that, despite it all, has soldiered through, doing the best they can.

On this particular day I was dealing with a pretty significant struggle in my personal life.  One that had me quite upset and feeling completely defeated.  I had been praying on my drive to Brantford, asking God to give me the strength I needed to pull off a show that I otherwise would be unable to do.  As I said my “amen” I hit preset number 3 on my radio.  Power 93.  A song was playing that I didn’t recognize.  It was a female vocalist.  A great pop feel.  And lyrics that said…

I’ve had days that felt like a thousand years
And years that just fly by
I’ve had times I’ve been so sure in life
And then nothing worked out right
I put my hope in so many things I thought that I would need
But it doesn’t mean anything, anything, anything to me

I’ve been around a crowd of people
And felt so all alone
Tried to give up being different
So that I could just belong
Some have tried to tell me who I’m supposed to be
But it doesn’t mean anything, anything to me

Only You, You satisfy
Only You are the love of my life
If I got everything I want, no, it still wouldn’t do
I got a whole lotta’ nothing if I don’t got You

That song touched me in a powerful way.  It was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment.  It was God giving me an answer to a prayer I had barely finished praying!  I would eventually come to learn that the song was “Only You” by Mandisa, and that night after work, I paid $0.69 to buy it on iTunes.  I’ve been listening to it non stop for 4 days!

Christian radio can change your day.  It can change your attitude.  It can change your heart.  Christian radio, when it’s done with excellence, can change your life.  I believe that with every ounce of my being.  It’s for this reason that I’ve been involved in Christian media and the Christian music industry in various capacities for 12 years.

We have something in the Brantford / Haldimand / Norfolk / Hamilton area that a lot of places don’t have in Canada.  We have a Christian radio station.  Unlike the States, where there seems to be Christian radio in nearly every city, in Canada, FM Christian radio is a rare find.  This is just one of the many reasons why we need to do everything in our power to save it.

The owners of Power 93 in Brantford want to sell their station, and I respect that.  I have been friends with the owners for many years and have supported them in many different ways during their time running Power 93.  Now they are ready to move on.  If the proposed sale and license change from Christian to rock goes through to Durham Radio Inc, we will lose our Christian radio station.  But if we let the CRTC know that we want to keep Christian radio, they have the power to stop the license change and sale to Durham Radio.  This would, in turn, allow a Christian media company the chance to step up and buy the station and we could keep Christian radio in our area.  I know for a fact, that there are Christian media companies waiting for a chance to buy the station.

It’s so easy to be apathetic about things like this.  Taking on the government, stopping the sale of a radio station, trying to save Christian radio.  It’s all bigger than one person.  But we are not one person.  We are the body of Christ and collectively, we can do this!  All it takes is each one of us writing a letter.  A couple of quick sentences jotted down to let the CRTC know that we want to keep Christian radio in our community.  A line or two to let them know that we don’t need more rock radio in this area.  We need the encouraging, uplifting, life changing power of Christian radio.  With just a few minutes of your time, we can do this!

The deadline to submit your letter is tomorrow, Thursday August 12, 2010.  Please, lend your support to this cause.  A sample letter is provided on the site here, use it as a guide if you need.  Step-by-step instructions on faxing your letter can be found here.  You can also submit your letter online and step-by-step instructions for that can be found here.

I know we can do this.  I believe it with all of my heart.  I’ve been on my knees praying for this radio station for the better part of 10 years, and I believe we can save it.  I believe our collective voices will speak to the CRTC and they’ll deny the license change from Christian to rock.  I believe a Christian media company would come in and buy the station and this entire area would be blessed with the gift that can be excellent Christian radio.  We can be changed.  Our friends and family can be changed.  Our communities can be changed!

It all starts with a letter.  My letter.  Your letter.  Please, take a moment to write yours today.

Blessings,
Marc Scott

Many of you have asked us why we don’t simply create a petition for people to sign, as it would be much easier than going through the CRTC intervention process.  The reason we didn’t do this, is that it was our understanding that petitions were not accepted by the CRTC.  Today we have learned that’s not necessarily true.

Petitions are in fact recognized by the CRTC, however, there is a catch.  They do not carry the same weight, or, influence as it were, compared to the traditional intervention letter.

Ideally, we’d like everybody to submit a letter explaining why they oppose the pending format change from Christian to Rock.  We want people to voice their opinion on how important they believe Christian radio is to this area and how we want to keep it here.  We also understand that the process can be challenging for some, which is why we explored the petition option with the CRTC.

For step by step instructions on how to submit your letter online please click here.  We guide you through the process, complete with screen shots, which hopefully make it a little less confusing.  The most important thing to remember is that after you’ve submitted your letter online, you must send a copy of it to the applicant – doug@kx96.fm.

For some of you, submitting by fax may be easier.  We’ve also created a page providing you with instructions on how to do that, just click here.  All you have to do is write and fax your letter to the number provided and then, again, make sure you email a copy to the applicant – doug@kx96.fm.

Finally, if you can’t do either of those, then we’d encourage you to please print a copy of our new petition.  Place it in your church, in your business, or just take it around to your friends and family and have them sign it.  Our petition can be downloaded here.

The most important thing to remember about the petition (or any other method) is that the deadline to deliver it to the CRTC is August 12, 2010.

Should you choose to take advantage of our petition a copy of it will need to be faxed to the CRTC by August 12, 2010.  The fax number is 819-994-0218.  A copy will also need to be faxed to the applicant.  That fax number is 905-571-1150.  These steps must be completed for the petition to be recognized.

Hopefully these pages will help you submit your letter.  As always, if you have any problems or questions please don’t hesitate to email us and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.  The email address is info@keepitchristian.ca.

Dear Friend,

We’d like to take a moment to thank each of you for your support and your prayers as we work to keep 93.9FM broadcasting as a Christian radio station.  We truly believe that, if it be God’s will, we can succeed.

Some have expressed a little confusion with regards to our overall goal.  We’d like to try and clear that up for you now.

Durham Radio Inc has filed an application with the CRTC to purchase Power 93 and turn it into a Rock station.  We are using the CRTC’s Public Proceedings process to try and keep that format change from happening.  Durham has stated that if they are unable to change the format, they would no longer desire to purchase the station.

If Durham backs out of the sale that would open the door for others to try and purchase the station.  We know for a fact, based on conversations, that at least two, possibly three Christian media companies are interested in purchasing Power 93.  All of these companies run successful radio stations in other cities in Ontario.  We know, given the chance, they could do the same with 93.9FM in Brantford.  Had they known Power 93 was for sale, they all would have came to the table sooner.  Unfortunately things didn’t work out that way.

This is where we need your help.  The more letters that are submitted to the CRTC opposing the format change of 93.9FM from Christian to Rock, the better chance there is the CRTC will deny the format change, ultimately opening the door for the Christian media companies to make their offer.

The deadline to submit your letter is August 12, 2010, so time is running short.  Thus far only about 50 letters have been received.  We were truly hoping to have hundreds by this point in our campaign.

All it will take is a few minutes of your time.  We provide a sample letter and step-by-step instructions on submitting your letter on our web site.  If you have any problems you can email us (info@keepitchristian.ca) and we’ll answer you as quickly as possible.

Please consider forwarding this email to your friends, family, and congregations.  We need to take advantage of every option for getting the word out.  Our web site address is http://keepitchristian.ca and our Facebook page is http://facebook.com/keepitchristian.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Blessings,
The Team @ KeepItChristian.ca

The answer to this has a couple elements.  First and foremost, we are not trying to stop a sale as much as we are trying to stop a format change.  Durham Radio Inc has filed two applications with the CRTC.  The first was for purchase of the station (CFWC-FM).  Then they filed a second application requesting a license amendment that would change the programming from Christian to Rock.  This is the application we are intervening against.

Before this web site was built and before this campaign was started, a great deal of research was done.  Numerous phone calls, emails and conversations took place with all kinds of people from all different walks of life.  It would be irresponsible for us to try and stop a sale leaving the owners of Power 93 high and dry if we didn’t have the means to come in and buy the station.  We would never do that.  It’s a matter of respect and integrity.

Before we started we made sure there were viable options out there.  Other Christian media companies that were offering a dollar value equal to – or in one particular case – greater than the dollar value being offered by Durham Radio.  Once we were confident this was the case, we proceeded with our campaign.

Durham Radio has stated that if they can’t get the license amendment (the application we’re fighting) they would no longer be interested in purchasing Power 93.  That’s their prerogative.  The station was licensed by the CRTC as Christian, and we want to see it stay that way.  If the amendment is denied it opens the doors for other bidders.  In this case, those bidders would be the Christian media companies that have expressed an interest in purchasing the station and keeping it Christian.

There is a reason the CRTC holds public proceedings on these matters.  It gives the public – those affected and impacted by local radio – the opportunity to voice their opinions.  It’s much like we are given the opportunity to vote in a government election.  If you don’t vote you have no right to complain.  In the same way, if we didn’t express our concerns, we’d have no right to complain should we lose our local Christian radio.  For that reason, we’ve chosen to speak up and invited others to join us.

Hopefully this clears up any misunderstandings.  Many people have stated that we should just mind our own business and let a business deal happen that doesn’t involve us.  We’re not opposed to business happening.  We’re not opposed to a sale.  We just want to keep our local Christian radio and the CRTC public proceeding process gives us an opportunity to try and make that happen.

If you haven’t submitted your opposition letter yet we’d encourage you to do so.  The deadline is August 12, 2010.  Find a copy of our sample letter here and a step-by-step guide to submitting your letter here.

Praising The Virtues Of Christian Radio

A grassroots advocacy group hopes it can convince the Canadian Radiotelevision Telecommunications Commission to keep Christian radio programming in Brantford.

The group has created a web page, http://keepitchristian.ca, and has been urging people to fight two Durham Radio applications to buy Power 93.9 FM and change its format from Christian to rock.

“I personally have been involved in broadcasting for 15 years, and a number of those years were spent in Christian radio and Christian television,” said broadcasting veteran Marc Scott, who developed the website.

The goal of its campaign is to convince people to contact the CRTC before Aug. 12, the deadline for appealing the Durham Radio application.

Scott currently hosts the afternoon drive-time show on the Jewel, CKPC’s FM station. He makes it clear that he is neither speaking nor acting on behalf of that station, but simply as a person who loves Christian broadcasting and sees the need to protect its esence in the Brantford market.

“It’s what I believe,” he said. “I understand the value and importance of Christian radio.

“I’ve had conversations with a number of individuals who feel as I feel (within the media world). And it’s also just a lot of family, friends and so on who want to see Christian radio stay on the air.”

The word is getting out, through the web page, an affiliated Facebook page and appeals to clergy throughout the city.

“I have written a letter to all 47 churches in Brantford, addressing the pastoral leadership and appealing that Christians in Brantford rally together and let their voices be heard before this sale is approved by the CRTC,” said Brad Loveday, the program director and host of Homebound and Lifesongs on Kitchener-based 94.3 Faith FM.

The group faces an uphill battle. Durham Radio has two applications before the CRTC -one to buy Power FM for $250,000 from owner Tony Schleifer, and the other to change the format to rock. It won’t purchase the station, however, unless the CRTC agrees to the format change. And that’s where the campaign comes in.

“It’s important to let our voices be heard as Christians,” Loveday said. “We want people who enjoy Christian radio to speak up and not lose it.

“From a technical-engineering standpoint, there would not be the availability for another Christian music station to open on the (FM radio) dial for another two years. If Brantford loses this, it may not get another.”

The question of format change is only part of the battle, however. The group might also be asked to show that it has a backer of its own that would purchase the station should the Durham applications be denied.

“We have not stated in the intervention that we are in a position to purchase it,” said Loveday, a Brantford resident who attends Shenstone Baptist Church. “But I believe our general manager (at 94.3 Faith FM) has talked to Tony (Schleifer). And our GM has told me there would be adequate funds to back up our application, but there’s nothing on paper at this point.”

Scott also indicated that preliminary discussions had been held with Christian media companies.

Schleifer was not available for comment but his wife, Power FM general manager Vicki Schleifer, said she believes the deal with Durham Radio complicates that idea.

“The CRTC, I think, has to make a decision on this application before it considers another,” she said.

Schleifer said she and her husband were simply looking to get out of the radio business after nine years and were approached by Durham Radio.

“We didn’t have any other offers prior to this,” she said, “and that’s something that has to be realized.”

Nonetheless, she sympathizes with those listeners who would like to maintain the current Christian format.

“The Christian community has an opportunity to voice their opinion as to whether they want to see the format change,” she said. “A lot of people were under the impression it was actually a done deal… and that’s not the case. It’s an application.

“Obviously we’ve been doing this and we believe what this station has done and the message it has delivered. It would be great if it could keep delivering that message -but without us at the helm.”

We, at Keep It Christian, have had the opportunity this week to follow up with many churches in Brantford and the surrounding area regarding our web site http://keepitchristian.ca and our campaign to keep Power 93 broadcasting as a Christian radio station.  Most of you have received the information and many have shared it with your congregation.  We thank you for your support!  Remember that resources such as a bulletin insert and power point slide are available for download on the web site on the “How To Help” page.

We can’t stress to you how important it is that we now move onto the next step of this process, which is taking action and actually submitting a letter.  People can “Like” our Facebook page (http://facebook.com/keepitchristian) and visit the web site, but if letters are not sent to the CRTC then all our combined efforts to create awareness will be of little value.

The letters received by the CRTC are what has the power to sway their decision, and trust us, if enough letters are sent in, they will take notice!  We, as a team, have had dozens of conversations with people.  Literally hundreds have visited our web site.  But to this point, only about a dozen letters have actually been sent in.  We need hundreds.  And we are praying and believing that we will get them!

The process will take less than 10 minutes of your time.  On the web site a sample letter is provided which you can use as a guide for writing your letter.  There is also a page that takes you, step by step, through the submission process.  We suggest submitting your letter electronically or by fax.  This information is all provided at http://keepitchristian.ca.  If you have any problems or questions regarding the submission process don’t hesitate to email us at info@keepitchristian.ca and we’ll do our best to assist you.

The deadline for opposition letters is August 12, 2010.  This is not our deadline, this is the CRTC deadline.  After August 12, 2010, it will be too late.  If you believe in the value and power of Christian radio, and if you want to make sure that we keep our station in Brantford, then the time to act is now.

It’s so easy for us to hear about stories in the news and say, “that’s a shame” or “we should do something about that,” but then never act.  It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or to assume that because we are only one person we can’t truly make a difference.  That is where we are wrong.  We are not one person.  We are the body of Christ and together we CAN make a difference.  Today, for this cause, for this story in the news, all it takes is a couple of minutes to submit a letter.  Please take that time.

Blessings,
The Team at KeepItChristian.ca

Opposition letters can be sent to the CRTC by fax.  The fax number is 819-994-0218.  If you chose to submit your letter this way, please remember to include the application number clearly on your letter.  That number is 2010-0618-0.

Remember that a copy must be sent to the applicant as well.  You can do that by email.  Send a copy of your letter to doug@kx96.fm.  If you forget to do this, your letter will become invalid in the intervention process.  So don’t forget!

Regardless of how you submit your letter, the deadline still remains the same.  August 12, 2010.