ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-21

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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-21

  Ottawa, 1 February 2008
  TamilOne Inc.
Across Canada
  Application 2007-0310-0, received 22 February 2007
Public Hearing in London, Ontario
10 December 2007
 

Tamil One - Acquisition of assets

  The Commission approves the application by TamilOne Inc. to acquire from MediaNet Canada Ltd. the assets of the national Category 2 specialty programming service known as Tamil One.
 

The application

1.

The Commission received an application by TamilOne Inc. to acquire from MediaNet Canada Ltd. (MediaNet)1 the assets of the national Category 2 specialty programming undertaking authorized in Broadcasting Decision 2002-403 (Decision 2002-403) and known as Tamil One. The applicant also requested a broadcasting licence to operate the undertaking under the same terms and conditions as those set out in Decision 2002-403. The applicant confirmed that the undertaking has been in operation since December 2002.

2.

TamilOne Inc. is wholly owned and controlled by Subanasiri Vaithilingam, a Canadian as defined in 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.

3.

The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application.
 

Commission's analysis and determination

4.

The Commission notes the specific circumstances surrounding the ownership of the authorized licensee. Originally, MediaNet was controlled by Padmini Koneswaran. Given that MediaNet was not in a position to fulfil its commitments, it was decided to transfer Tamil One to TamilOne Inc.

5.

Because the Commission does not solicit competing applications for authority to transfer the ownership or control of radio, television and other programming undertakings, the onus is on the applicant to demonstrate that the benefits proposed in the application are commensurate with the size and nature of the transaction (refer to Public Notice 1999-97 and Broadcasting Public Notice 2007-53).

6.

In the present case, the applicant submitted that the value of the transaction is $70,000 and that this value was determined based upon the current number of subscriber and advertising clients. The applicant also indicated that since the licence was issued and the service launched, several changes requiring large sums of investment have been made by MediaNet to improve programming, technology and marketing. The applicant added that the intent of this acquisition of assets by TamilOne Inc. is to improve on an existing service rather than to establish a new one.

7.

Considering the size and nature of the proposed assets transaction, the Commission will not impose a requirement for the applicant to pay tangible benefits. However, the Commission notes the applicant's commitment to providing a higher dollar amount to be allocated to local programs. The Commission expects the applicant to demonstrate at licence renewal how it has met the aforementioned commitment.

8.

The Commission is satisfied that the transaction is in the public interest and that the integrity of its licensing process would not be compromised by its approval.

9.

Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by TamilOne Inc. to acquire from MediaNet Canada Ltd. the assets of the national Category 2 specialty programming undertaking known as Tamil One and for a licence to operate the undertaking under the same terms and conditions as those set out in Decision 2002-402. The licence will expire 31 August 2009, the current licence expiry date.
  Secretary General
 

Related documents

 
  • Determinations regarding certain aspects of the regulatory framework for over-the-air television, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-53, 17 May 2007
 
  • Acquisition of assets, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-157, 15 May 2003
 
  • ITBC Television Canada - Category 2 specialty service, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-403, 5 December 2002
 
  • Building On Success - A Policy Framework for Canadian Television,Public Notice CRTC 1999-97, 11 June 1999
 
  • 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
  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.

Footnote:
1 In Broadcasting Decision 2003-157, the Commission approved an application by MediaNet to acquire from ITBC Television Canada the assets of the Category 2 specialty programming undertaking known as Tamil One.
 

Date Modified: 2008-02-01
Date modified: