ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-365

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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-365

  Ottawa, 11 October 2007
  WTM World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde inc.
Across Canada
  Application 2007-0440-5, received 19 March 2007
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
27 August 2007
 

World News and Doc TV (WND) Network - Category 2 specialty service

  The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new Category 2 specialty programming undertaking.
 

Introduction

1.

WTM World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde inc. filed an application for a broadcasting licence to operate World News and Doc TV (WND) Network, a national, English-language Category 2 specialty undertaking devoted to offering news, documentaries and public affairs programming from around the world in the original language of production and to reflecting Canadian and global cultural diversity. The service would be made accessible to Canadian viewers through the use of English subtitles.

2.

The Commission has implemented a competitive, open-entry approach to licensing Category 2 services. While the Commission does not consider the impact that a Category 2 service might have on an existing Category 2 service, it does seek to ensure that Category 2 services do not compete directly with any existing Category 1 or analog pay or specialty television service. The Commission examines each application in detail, taking into consideration the proposed nature of service and the unique circumstances of the genre in question. Where appropriate, in setting conditions of licence, the Commission prevents or limits the broadcast of specific types of programming to ensure that the service is not nor will become directly competitive with any existing Category 1 or analog pay or specialty television service.

3.

In the present case, the Commission received one intervention opposing this application from Stornoway Communications Limited Partnership1 (Stornoway), an independent television broadcasting and production company. Stornoway operates the Category 1 service ichannel, which focuses exclusively on public affairs programming, as well as the Category 2 services bpm:tv and the Pet Network. The intervener noted that the applicant had proposed no restrictions on its selections from the programming categories set out in the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990. Stornoway also noted that the applicant had proposed no minimum or maximum levels for foreign-language programming. Stornoway stated that in the broadcast year ending 31 August 2006, 83% of ichannel's programming came from programming categories 2(a) (Analysis and interpretation) and 2(b) (Long-form documentary), and 29% thereof was foreign content programming.

4.

In reply to the intervener, the applicant stated that it would accept a 15% limitation on programming drawn from categories 2(a) and 2(b).
 

Commission's analysis and determinations

5.

The Commission notes that the applicant has agreed to a 15% limitation on programming drawn from categories 2(a) and 2(b). The Commission is imposing a condition of licence to that effect, as set out in the appendix to this decision. The Commission is satisfied that this will be sufficient to distinguish the proposed service from that offered by Stornaway and from other existing Category 1 or analog pay or specialty television services without the imposition of additional restrictions on programming.

6.

The Commission is further satisfied that the application is in conformity with all applicable terms and conditions announced in Public Notice 2000-171-1. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by WTM World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate the national, English-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking World News and Doc TV (WND) Network. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.
  Secretary General
 

Related documents

 
  • Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services - Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice CRTC 2000-171-1, 6 March 2001
 
  • Licensing framework policy for new digital pay and specialty services, Public Notice CRTC 2000-6, 13 January 2000
  This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca 
 

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-365

  Terms and conditions of licence for the Category 2 specialty programming undertaking World News and Doc TV (WND) Network
 

Terms

  A licence will be issued once the applicant has satisfied the Commission, with supporting documentation, that the following requirements have been met:
 
  • the applicant has entered into a distribution agreement with at least one licensed distributor; and
 
  • the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 36 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 11 October 2010. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before that date.
  The licence will expire 31 August 2014.
 

Conditions of licence

 

1. The licence shall be subject to the conditionsset out in Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services - Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice CRTC 2000-171-1, 6 March 2000.

 

2. The licensee shall provide a national, English-language Category 2 specialty programming service devoted to offering news, documentaries and public affairs programming from around the world in the original language of production and to reflecting Canadian and global cultural diversity. The service will be made accessible to Canadian viewers through the use of English subtitles.

 

3. The programming shall be drawn exclusively from the following categories set out in item 6 of Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time:

 

1 News
2 (a) Analysis and interpretation
(b) Long-form documentary
3 Reporting and actualities
11 General entertainment and human interest
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos

 

4. No more than 15% of the programming broadcast during the broadcast week shall be drawn from program categories 2(a) and 2(b).

 

5. In order to ensure that the licensee complies at all times with the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of non-Canadians), P.C. 1997-486, 8 April 1997, as amended by P.C. 1998-1268, 15 July 1998, the licensee shall file, for the Commission's prior review, a copy of any programming supply agreement and/or licence trademark agreement it intends to enter into with a non-Canadian party.

  For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, including condition of licence no. 1, broadcast day refers to the 24-hour period beginning each day at 6 a.m. or any other period approved by the Commission.
  Footnotes

[1] Stornoway Communications General Partner Inc. (the general partner) and 1403318 Ontario Limited (the limited partner), carrying on business as Stornoway Communications Limited Partnership.

Date Modified: 2007-10-11

Date modified: