ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-8

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Route reference: 2012-370

Additional reference: 2012-370-1

Ottawa, 9 January 2013

HGTV Canada Inc.
Across Canada

Application 2012-0482-5, received 12 April 2012
Public hearing in Montréal, Quebec
10 September 2012

Quest – Specialty Category B service

The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new specialty Category B service.

The application

1. HGTV Canada Inc. (HGTV Canada) filed an application for a broadcasting licence to operate Quest, a national, English-language specialty Category B service that would be devoted to science and technology, nature and the environment, adventure, animal behaviour, pet care, wildlife, travel and world cultures. The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application.

2. HGTV Canada is ultimately controlled by J.R. Shaw.

3. The applicant proposed to draw programming from the following program categories set out in Item 6 of Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time: 1, 2(a), 2(b), 3, 5(a), 5(b), 7(a), 7(b), 7(c), 7(d), 7(e), 7(f), 7(g), 10, 11(a), 11(b), 12, 13, and 14.

4. To ensure that the proposed service would not be directly competitive with existing Category A services, the applicant indicated that it would accept a condition of licence stating that not more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week would be drawn from program category 7 (i.e., all program category 7 subcategories combined).

Commission’s decision

5. The Commission is satisfied that the application complies with all applicable policies, terms and conditions, including those set out in Public Notice 2000-6, Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-100, and Broadcasting Regulatory Policies 2010-786 and 2010-786-1. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by HGTV Canada Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate the national, English-language specialty Category B service, Quest. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Reminder

6. The Commission reminds the applicant that distribution of this service is subject to the requirements set out in the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations.

Secretary General

Related documents

*This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-8

Terms, conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for the specialty Category B service Quest

Terms

A licence will be issued once the applicant has satisfied the Commission with supporting documentation that the following requirements have been met:

The licence will expire 31 August 2019.

Conditions of licence

1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions set out in Appendix 1 to Standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for Category B pay and specialty services – Corrected Appendices 1 and 2, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-786-1, 18 July 2011, as amended from time to time.

2. In regard to the nature of service:

(a) The licensee shall provide a national, English-language specialty Category B service devoted to science and technology, nature and the environment, adventure, animal behaviour, pet care, wildlife, travel and world cultures.

(b) The programming shall be drawn exclusively from the following program 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
5   (a) Formal education and pre-school
     (b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure
7   Drama and comedy
     (a) Ongoing dramatic series
     (b) Ongoing comedy series (sitcoms)
     (c) Specials, mini-series or made-for-TV feature films
     (d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV
     (e) Animated television programs and films
     (f)  Programs of comedy sketches, improvisation, unscripted works, stand-up           comedy
     (g) Other drama
10 Game shows
11 (a) General entertainment and human interest
     (b) Reality television
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos

(c) The licensee shall devote not more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week to programming drawn from program category 7.

3. The service approved hereby is designated as a Category B service.

For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, “broadcast day” means the period of up to 18 consecutive hours, beginning each day not earlier than six o’clock in the morning and ending no later than one o’clock in the morning of the following day, as selected by the licensee, or any other period approved by the Commission.

Expectations

The standard expectations applicable to this licensee are set out in Appendix 1 to Standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for Category B pay and specialty services – Corrected Appendices 1 and 2, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-786-1, 18 July 2011, as amended from time to time.

Encouragements

The standard encouragements applicable to this licensee are set out in Appendix 1 to Standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for Category B pay and specialty services – Corrected Appendices 1 and 2, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-786-1, 18 July 2011, as amended from time to time.

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