Surrey’s Radio India to cease broadcasting

Expect in the long-run, as the recent CRTC television hearings and Netflix and Google testimony indicated, fighting a losing battle as more and more radio and TV shifts to the Internet, beyond the control of regulators:

The CRTC made it clear during Wednesday’s hearing, and with the consent orders, that it will no longer put up with stations that defiantly produce all their broadcasts, and collect 100 per cent of their advertising dollars, on Canadian soil without operating under Canada’s broadcasting regime.

That scenario has existed under the nose of not only federal regulators but Canadian politicians who beat a path to the doors of the pirate radio stations.

“Radio India is regarded as a must-do communications vehicle for politicians,” Gill, who last week mailed photos of himself with Canadian politicians, boasted Wednesday in the same presentation in which he promised to shut down operations. “The B.C. premier, members of parliament, MLAs, city mayors and councillors have been visitors to Radio India studios.“

Radio India has interviewed past and present prime ministers of both Canada and India. During elections, Radio India is chosen as a vehicle to connect with the South Asian community.”

Two CRTC-licensed, B.C.-based Punjabi-language competitors to the pirate stations testified by a remote hook-up Tuesday, saying their unsanctioned rivals have had an unfair advantage in scooping up millions of advertising dollars, including the estimated $2 million to $3 million that Gill says goes annually into Radio India’s coffers.

CRTC-approved broadcasters pay costly licence fees, copyright tariffs and must meet Canadian content rules, said CKYE-FM Red FM lawyer Mark Lewis, who testified along with Spice Radio formerly RJ 1200 owner Shushma Datt.

Surrey’s Radio India to cease broadcasting.