CRTC approves repeater transmitter for new Christian radio station

BY KIRK STARRATT

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Radio listeners in the eastern Valley who like the soulful sound of contemporary Christian music and meaningful messages shared by various evangelists and ministries will soon have a new frequency to tune into.

International Harvesters for Christ Evangelistic Association Inc. has received approval from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to amend the broadcasting license of CJLU (Christ Jesus Loves yoU) 93.9 FM Halifax to allow a repeater transmitter to serve the eastern Valley. The transmitter will be installed on a new tower near the Look-Off on the north mountain.

The new transmitter will operate on the frequency 88.3 FM, with an average effective radiated power of 175 watts. John Lohr, a member of a committee working on establishing the repeater transmitter, says they’ve been involved in the project for about two years. They have to raise the necessary capital to install the transmitter and Lohr is hopeful the repeater station will be operating within three to four months.

Other committee members include Don Buchanan, Angus Ells, Paul Lannan and Ken Kristiansen. Lohr said there are several other volunteers working to make the repeater transmitter a reality as well. He’s delighted the CRTC has given permission.

Lohr, perhaps better known as Farmer John of Farmer John’s Herbs, first became aware of Christian stations in the Maritimes when a fellow who used to deliver summer savory for him fell ill with cancer. Lohr decided to make the deliveries himself.

He discovered and started tuning in regularly to Christian stations while on the road throughout the Maritimes while making deliveries. One day he heard a Burnside address given for a station to which he was listening so he decided to drop in and tell them he wanted a Christian station in the Valley.

“I enjoyed listening to them and I wanted to have one in this area,” Lohr said.

Station will be non-commercial

They had a hard time getting a frequency for the repeater station because new frequencies can’t interfere with existing ones and you can pick up quite a few stations on the FM dial in the Valley.

The CRTC has given approval based on the repeater station being non-commercial, as there was concern with competition. The Christian station is expected to take about two per cent of the local listening market. Lohr points out that the repeater station will attract a different demographic than existing stations. It would be a boost to have some advertising revenue to help with operating costs and there are businesses that would be interested in targeting the audience, but it isn’t intended to be commercial.

Lohr said they need to raise about $20,000 to get the transmitter installed and they have about $5,000 now. He will approach various local churches for help and he’s willing to speak to congregations about the initiative.

“Hopefully, people will make donations,” he said. “The best way to donate is to donate directly to International Harvesters for Christ.”

People can donate at their own church and specify that the donation is to help establish the Christian radio station repeater transmitter.

The inter-denominational station will feature some local news, information and programming specifically for the Valley even though it’s essentially a repeater station. CJLU FM features news and weather on the hour. It is a sort of block format with lots of Christian talk shows and contemporary Christian music.

You can listen to CJLU FM online at www.cjlufm.com. It has a sister station, CITA FM, which broadcasts from Moncton, Amherst and Sussex. At the same time the CRTC gave permission for the repeater transmitter for the Valley, permission was granted for a new Christian station in Charlottetown, PEI, with a repeater transmitter in Summerside.

Lohr said it was Reverend Jeff Lutes, president of International Harvesters for Christ Evangelistic Association Inc., who made the CRTC application. Lutes said they now have seven licenses and it will be great to have a repeater transmitter for the Halifax station in the Valley.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Lutes said. “This was initiated by laypeople and pastors in the Valley.”

He said there’s a really strong call for the repeater station with the number of churches in the area. They feel that Christian radio can sound as professional and be as well produced as any other format and there is something to be said when the community partners with them to have good, quality broadcasts.