ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2009-14

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  Route reference:
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-106
  Ottawa, 16 January 2009
  Astral Broadcasting Group Inc.
Eastern Canada
  Application 2008-1390-9, received 14 October 2008
 

The Movie Network – Licence amendment

1.

The Commission approves the application by Astral Broadcasting Group Inc. (Astral) to amend the broadcasting licence for the regional, English-language pay television service known as The Movie Network in order to allow it to claim the 150% time credit for qualifying dramatic programs set out in Public Notice 2000-42. The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application. The revised definition of a "new Canadian production," which will apply going forward to the service's applicable conditions of licence, is set out in paragraph 5 to this decision.

2.

The Commission notes that it approved a similar application by Corus Entertainment Inc., on behalf of its subsidiary Movie Central Ltd., in Broadcasting Decision 2008-198. In addition, in Broadcasting Decision 2009-13, also issued today, the Commission has approved a similar application by Astral for the national, French-language pay television service known as Super Écran.

3.

Under the current definition of "new Canadian production," The Movie Network is able to claim a 150% time credit for the exhibition of Canadian feature films between the hours prescribed in its relevant condition of licence. The amendment will allow The Movie Network to also claim the 150% time credit for qualifying dramatic programs described in Public Notice 2000-42, for those dramatic series that it supports and broadcasts.

4.

Further, the Commission is satisfied with the licensee's commitment that its support for Canadian feature films will not be diminished by approval of this application. However, the Commission will expect Astral, at the time of The Movie Network's licence renewal, to demonstrate in detail how it supported Canadian feature films over the current licence term and how it intends to continue to support Canadian feature films during the next licence term.

5.

Accordingly, the Commission amends as follows the definition of "new Canadian production" set out in The Movie Network's applicable conditions of licence (change in bold):

"new Canadian production" means a Canadian dramatic program that has never been broadcast in English in the licensed territory, and

(i) which exceeds 75 minutes in duration and in relation to which all financial expenditures made by the licensee were made prior to the commencement of principal photography or taping and in which principal photography or taping was completed after 1 January 1985; or

(ii) which is intended for children and exceeds 22:30 minutes in duration and in relation to which all financial expenditures by the licensee were made prior to the completion of principal photography or taping; or

(iii) which qualifies for the 150% time credit for dramatic programs as set out in Certification for Canadian Programs – A revised approach, Public Notice CRTC 2000-42, 17 March 2000.

  Secretary General
 

Related documents

 
  • Super Écran – Licence amendment, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2009-13, 16 January 2009
 
  • Movie Central – Licence amendment, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-198, 22 August 2008
 
  • Certification for Canadian Programs – A revised approach, Public Notice CRTC 2000-42, 17 March 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: http://www.crtc.gc.ca.

 

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