Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-463

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Ottawa, 25 November 2016

Various licensees
Various locations across Canada

Various pay television and specialty services and television stations – Administrative renewals

1. In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2015-86, the Commission set out various determinations relating to building a Canadian television system that encourages the creation of compelling and diverse programming made by Canadians. It indicated that for independent television services and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) services, certain determinations would be implemented at the time of licence renewal, currently set to take place by 31 August 2018.
2. However, the broadcasting licences for several services, set out in the appendix to this decision, are set to expire 31 August 2017. In the Commission’s view, granting these services a one-year administrative renewal would provide it with the time necessary to ensure that their regulatory requirements are in line with a) various determinations set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2015-86; b) recent amendments to the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987 (see Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2016-146); c) the proposed Discretionary Services Regulations (see Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2016-385), which are expected to come into force on 1 September 2017; and d) the standard requirements for television services set out in the appendices to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2016-436.
3. Accordingly, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for the independently-owned pay television and specialty services and television stations and the CBC specialty service listed in the appendix to this decision from 31 August 2017 to 31 August 2018, subject to the terms and conditions in effect under the current licences.
4. This decision does not dispose of any issues that may arise with respect to the renewal of these licences, including those relating to past or recurrent non-compliance. In this regard, the Commission granted short-term licence renewal periods for various television services at their last licence renewals due to significant and severe non-compliance issues. The Commission intends to examine any issues of non-compliance during the licence renewal process, which will take place before 31 August 2018 and may include a public hearing if the Commission determines that a hearing would be in the public interest.

Secretary General

Related documents

• Standard requirements for television stations, discretionary services, and on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-436, 2 November 2016
• Call for comments on Discretionary Services Regulations, Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-385, 26 September 2016
• Amendments to the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, the Pay Television Regulations, 1990, and the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, relating to target audience markers, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-146, 21 April 2016
• Let’s Talk TV – The way forward – Creating compelling and diverse Canadian programming, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-86, 12 March 2015

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-463

Independently-owned pay television and specialty services and television stations and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation service for which the broadcasting licences have been administratively renewed until 31 August 2018

Category A pay television services

Category 2 specialty services

Specialty Category A service

Specialty Category B services

Community-based, low-power television station

Commercial television station

Date modified:

2016-11-25