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Report on the Carriage of Ethnic Services by Canadian Broadcasting Distribution Undertakings

January 2003

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
    1.1 Purpose of the report

2. Overview of licensed ethnic services
    2.1 Ethnic specialty services licensed for analog distribution
    2.2 Category 2 ethnic digital specialty and pay services
    2.3 Other types of ethnic television services available in Canada
    2.4 Market information on ethnic specialty services
          2.4.1 Financial information

3. Carriage of ethnic services
    3.1 Overview of existing CRTC rules on carriage of ethnic services
    3.2 Defining Sample Markets
    3.3 Distribution of Canadian ethnic pay and specialty services licensed for analog
          distribution
          3.3.1 Distribution of the 5 ethnic specialty services licensed for analog on
          cable in selected markets
          3.3.2 Distribution of Category 2 ethnic digital specialty and pay services
          3.3.3 Distribution of foreign ethnic television services
          3.3.4 Distribution of over-the-air ethnic television and radio services on
          cable, DTH or MDS

4. Service to ethnic communities in large, medium and small markets
    4.1 Description of charts in the Appendix
          4.1.1 Interpretation of the Statistics Canada data listed on sample market
          charts in the Appendix
    4.2 Service to ethnic groups in large markets
    4.3 Service to ethnic groups in medium-sized markets
    4.4 Service to ethnic groups in small markets

5. General observations concerning service provided to ethnic groups under the existing regulatory framework

Appendix: Service to ethnic communities in large, medium and small markets
    Part I - Large markets
    Part II - Medium-sized markets
    Part III - Small markets

 

1. Introduction

 

The present document presents an overview of the ethnic services carried, both on an analog and digital basis, by Canadian broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs). The data and information were gathered from examining the ethnic services provided in 40 sample markets of different sizes across Canada. The document also provides a brief overview of the number of Category 2 ethnic services that are licensed and their distribution status. The information contained in this report is compiled from data obtained prior to November 2001. Since this data was first compiled, some changes to the financial status of a particular programming service, its subscriber figures, and the distribution status of each service with the various distributors may have occurred.

 

1.1 Purpose of the report

 

Under the Broadcasting Act (the Act), the Commission is mandated to ensure that the Canadian broadcasting system reflects the needs and interests of the composite population of Canada.

 

Section 3(1)(d)(iii) of the Act states that the Canadian broadcasting system should:

 

through its programming and the employment opportunities arising out of its operations, serve the needs and interests, and reflect the circumstances and aspirations, of Canadian men, women and children, including equal rights, the linguistic duality and multicultural and multiracial nature of Canadian society and the special place of aboriginal peoples within that society.

 

In Ethnic broadcasting policy, Public Notice CRTC 1999-117, 16 July 1999 (PN 1999-117), the Commission recognized that the basic framework of the 1985 ethnic broadcasting policy had led to a substantial increase in the diversity of the Canadian broadcasting system through the emergence of many new ethnic broadcasting services. In the 1999 policy, the Commission introduced changes designed to provide more flexibility to the broadcasting industry and to streamline regulatory requirements, while ensuring that the core objectives of the policy be met.

 

This document provides an overview of the variety of ethnic programming services available within the Canadian broadcasting system, as well as observations on the carriage of these services.

 

2. Overview of licensed ethnic services

 

2.1 Ethnic specialty services licensed for analog distribution

 

The Commission has licensed five ethnic specialty services for distribution on an analog basis:

  1) Telelatino (Telelatino Network Inc.) is distributed nationally and provides a minimum of 90 hours of ethnic programming per week. A maximum of 55% of this programming is directed to Italian audiences and a minimum of 45% to Hispanic/Spanish audiences.
  2) Fairchild TV (Fairchild Television Ltd.) is distributed nationally as a predominantly Cantonese specialty programming service.
  3) SATV (South Asian Television Canada Limited) is distributed nationally and is licensed to serve South Asian communities in 15 South Asian languages, principally Hindi, supplemented by programming in English.
  4) Odyssey (Odyssey Television Network Inc.) is distributed nationally and is licensed to serve Greek-language communities across Canada.
  5) Talentvision (Fairchild Television Ltd.) provides programming predominantly in Mandarin complemented by Vietnamese- and Korean-language programming. Talentvision's request for a licence amendment to change its status from that of a regional British Columbia service to one that has national distribution was approved in Decision CRTC 2001-270. While Talentvision remains an analog service in B.C., the Commission granted it digital carriage status outside of B.C.
 

2.2 Category 2 ethnic digital specialty and pay services

 

Since the issuance of Licensing framework policy for new digital pay and specialty services, Public Notice CRTC 2000-6, 13 January 2000, the Commission had approved, as of 31 October 2001, 44 Category 2 ethnic digital services.

 

As indicated in the licensing framework policy, the Commission will license an unlimited number of Category 2 services that meet basic licensing criteria and that are not directly competitive with any existing pay or specialty, or Category 1 services. These Category 2 services may be competitive with one another and are not assured digital access.

 

The distributor generally has the option to distribute a Category 2 service. Certain independent Class 3 cable systems (i.e. small systems not interconnected with a Class 1 or 2 distribution system) may, by condition of licence, be authorized to distribute a Category 2 service on an analog basis. The Commission would consider, for instance, cases where a Category 2 ethnic programming service is particularly suitable for distribution in a given market where a digital service is not available. The 44 Category 2 ethnic services are listed below:

 

Category 2 ethnic digital services (as of 31 October 2001)

Decision
2000-

Licensee

Name of Service

Target Audience

470

1395047 Ontario Inc.

Festival Portuguese Television

Portuguese

498

Ana Canada

Ana Canada

Arabic

644

Asian Television Network Inc.

Arab TV Network

Arabic

645

Television Network International Limited

Caribbean & African Network

Caribbean & African

511

Caribe Canada

Caribe Canada

Caribbean & African

513

CFMT, a division of Rogers Broadcasting Ltd.

International Film Festival Channel (IFFC)

20+ different groups

521

Corus Entertainment Inc.

RAI Canada

Italian

704

Fairchild Media Group The Fairchild Body and Soul Channel Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Vietnamese and other East Asian communities

705

Fairchild Media Group The Fairchild Children's Channel

706

Fairchild Media Group The Fairchild Food Channel

707

Fairchild Media Group The Fairchild Movie Channel

708

Fairchild Media Group The Fairchild Music Channel

709

Fairchild Media Group The Fairchild News Channel

710

Fairchild Media Group The Fairchild Spiritual Channel

731

Fairchild Media Group The Fairchild Technology Channel

583

Global Television Network Inc.

Tele-Filipino

Filipino

594

HTV Canada

HTV Canada

Spanish

595

I.T. Productions Ltd.

Rang Punjabi

Punjabi

596

I.T. Productions Ltd.

Garvi Gujarat

Gujarati

599

Jang Sung Lee

Doragi Television Network

Korean

635

Network Italia

Network Italia

Italian

636

Network Television International

NTI Tamil Service

Tamil

641

NRT Canada

NRT Canada

Russian

642

Odyssey Television Network Inc.

Odyssey II

Greek

647

PSN Canada

PSN Canada

Spanish

648

Ravinder Singh Pannu

SSTV

Punjabi

676

Sitcom Canada

Sitcom Canada

Italian

646

South Asian Television Network International Limited

ATN MultiCultural Channel

Various cultures

681

South Asian Television Network International Limited

Telegu Channel

Telegu

682

South Asian Television Network International Limited

Gujarati Channel

Gujarati

683

South Asian Television Network International Limited

Hindi Movie Channel

Hindi

684

South Asian Television Network International Limited

Urdu Channel

Urdu

685

South Asian Television Network International Limited

(ATN) Tamil Channel

Tamil

Decision
2000-

Licensee

Name of Service

Target Audience

686

South Asian Television Network International Limited

Punjabi Channel

Punjabi

700

Teletoon Canada Inc.

TELETOON MULTI

Various

703

The Eurasian Canadian Television Network

NTV International

Russian

722

TV Chile Canada

TV Chile Canada

Hispanic

694

Telemundo Canada

Telemundo Canada

Hispanic

723

TV Italy

TV Italy

Italian

724

Video Italia

Video Italia

Italian

728

Xybermedia Inc.

Balkan Express

Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Rumanian, Macedonian Slovenian, Albanian and Turkish

730

Xybermedia Inc.

Luso! TV

Portuguese

Decision
2001-

Licensee

Name of Service

Target Audience

300

Persian Vision Inc.

Persian Vision

Persian

420

Tamil Vision Inc.

Tamil Channel

Tamil

 

2.3 Other types of ethnic television services available in Canada

 

Over-the-air ethnic television stations

 

In addition to Canadian ethnic specialty services, the Commission has licensed or authorized other sources of ethnic television programming services in Canada. These include the following:

Licensee

Station

CanWest Global

CJNT-TV Montréal

Rogers Broadcasting Inc.

CFMT-TV Toronto &
CFMT-TV-1 London
CFMT-TV-2 Ottawa

 

Foreign ethnic satellite services

 

In addition to licensed Canadian ethnic services, the following foreign ethnic services are included on the CRTC's List of Eligible Satellite Services:

  • ART America (Arabic)

  • Deutsche Welle (German)

  • Black Entertainment Television

  • The Filipino Channel

  • TV Japan

  • TV Polonia (Polish)

  • WMNB-TV: Russian-American Broadcasting Company

 

An overview of the distribution of Canadian ethnic specialty services, over-the-air ethnic services, and foreign ethnic services in small, medium and large sample markets is outlined later in this document.

 

2.4 Market information on ethnic specialty services

 

2.4.1 Financial information

 

The following table illustrates the financial performance of the ethnic specialty services distributed on analog in 1996 and from 1998 to 2000.

 

Table 1

Undertaking

Revenue Source

1996

1998

1999

2000

Telelatino Network Inc.

No. of Subscribers(000)
Total Advertising revenue (Local + National)($000)
Total Subscription revenue ($000)
Total PBIT ($000)*
PBIT Margin (%)

1,934
2,295

1,687

277
7

2,806
3,924

2,297

919
14

2,938
5,673

2,997

2,160
24

2,939
6,828

3,374

3,854
36

Fairchild Television Ltd.

No. of Subscribers(000)
Total Advertising revenue (Local + National)($000)
Total Subscription revenue($000)
Total PBIT ($000)
PBIT Margin (%)

288
8,451

5,329

1,891
13

273
11,405

6,213

2,142
12

282
10,962

6,349

1,682
10

291
12,785

6,571

2,264
11

South Asian Television Canada Limited

No. of Subscribers(000)
Total Advertising revenue (Local + National)($000)
Total Subscription revenue($000)
Total PBIT ($000)
PBIT Margin (%)

 

16
212

76

(1,005)
(348)

19
208

131

(676)
(198)

22
430

573

(75)
(7)

Talent-vision (Fairchild Television Ltd.)

No. of Subscribers(000)
Total Advertising revenue (Local + National)($000)
Total Subscription revenue($000)
Total PBIT ($000)
PBIT Margin (%)

15
318

645

(808)
(82)

14
452

692

(970)
(79)

13
1,359

584

(140)
(7)

15
1428

633

(319)
(15)

Source: CRTC Financial Database System

*PBIT is Profit before Interest and Taxes

Note: As of 31 October 2001, Odyssey Television Network Inc. had not filed Annual Returns since its inception.

  • All services have seen an increase in their total advertising revenues from 1996 to 2000.
  • In 2000, Telelatino, with a 36% PBIT, has a profitability double that of the total average of English- and French-language specialty services (18% for English Pay, PPV and Specialty, 17% for French-language services).
  • Newer services, such as SATV and Talentvision, are slowly improving their subscription revenue and Total PBIT.
  • Given their launch on digital in September 2001, these services are now available in a greater number of markets. As a result, they may see further increases in revenue and profitability.
  • Part of the initial negative returns by SATV and Talentvision can be attributed to start-up costs, the need to negotiate and obtain carriage and the need to attract subscribers.

3. Carriage of ethnic services

3.1 Overview of existing CRTC rules on carriage of ethnic services

In Access Rules for Broadcasting Distribution Undertakings, Public Notice CRTC 1996-60, 26 April 1996 (PN 1996-60), the Commission determined that the access rules should apply to the following BDUs: direct-to-home satellite (DTH), Class 1 cable, and to radiocommunication or multipoint distribution systems (MDS) having the size and operating under circumstances comparable to those of Class 1 cable systems.

The Commission also established that a BDU should distribute, as a general rule, the services of all licensed specialty and pay television undertakings appropriate for its market, to the extent of available channel capacity.

For cable and MDS, "services appropriate for the market" means those specialty and pay television services operating in the official language of the market, as defined in the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations (the Regulations), the originators of which are licensed to provide the service to all or part of the area served by the distribution undertaking. The criteria to determine services appropriate for the market also included ethnic programming services of undertakings that are licensed to provide service to all or part of the area served by the distribution undertaking, where:

  • the distributor was carrying the service on 16 May 1994, or
  • the distributor is operating in a market in which 10% or more of the total population is of one or any combination of the ethnic origins to which the programming service is intended to appeal.

The guiding principles relating to the carriage of ethnic services were enshrined in the Regulations that came into effect on 1 January 1998. Section 18(5)(c) of the Regulations applies to cable and multipoint distribution undertakings.

With respect to DTH undertakings, section 38(2)(a) of the Regulations states that a licensee shall distribute, to the extent of available channels, each specialty service, other than a single or limited point-of-view religious specialty service. 

Cable and DTH licensees can be relieved, by condition of licence, from the obligation to carry ethnic services. In the case of both Bell ExpressVu and StarChoice, in their respective licensing decisions, the Commission stated: "The licensee is required to distribute, at its own cost, all licensed English- and French-language specialty and pay television programming services." Since the Commission did not include "third-language" or "ethnic" services in this requirement, both Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice have not considered it a requirement to carry all five analog ethnic services. As of 31 October 2001, Bell ExpressVu carried Fairchild, SATV and Telelatino, and Star Choice carried SATV, Odyssey and Telelatino.

3.2 Defining sample markets

To facilitate comparative analysis, in the discussion of the distribution of various ethnic services, the 40 sample markets across Canada have been divided into three groups as follows:

  • Large markets: defined, for the purposes of this report, as markets with a population of over 300,000 people. Within this group, a total of 14 markets were surveyed: Halifax, Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa-Hull, Toronto, Kitchener, London, Hamilton, St. Catharines-Niagara, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.
  • Medium-sized markets: defined, for the purposes of this report, as markets with populations of between 100,000 and 299,999 people. The survey included the following 10 markets: Saint John in New Brunswick and St. John's in Newfoundland and Labrador, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Guelph, and Windsor in Ontario, Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, and Kelowna and Abbotsford in British Columbia.
  • Small markets: defined, for the purposes of this report, as markets with populations of under 100,000 people. The survey included 16 communities: Charlottetown in P.E.I., Pembroke, Sault Ste. Marie, Stratford, Chatham, Leamington, and Strathroy in Ontario, Yorkton, Moose Jaw, and Estevan in Saskatchewan, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Lloydminster in Alberta, and Penticton and Chilliwack in British Columbia.

For a sample market to be included, generally it would have to contain at least one ethnic group1, representing 5% or more of the community's population. The sample markets met this criterion in large, medium and small communities, with the exception of Charlottetown, St. John's and Saint John. While these three communities did not meet the 5% criterion, they have been included to provide a regionally-representative sample.

3.3 Distribution of Canadian ethnic pay and specialty services licensed for analog distribution

The following table includes a breakdown of the distribution of each analog ethnic service, as indicated by an X next to the sample markets surveyed. It also provides the total basic subscribers to each system (as opposed to each service). All data in the table have been provided by Mediastats based on June 2001 data.

Four of the five ethnic specialty services licensed for distribution on analog have broad distribution throughout most of Canada on both cable and DTH. Cable distributors offer Telelatino, Fairchild, Odyssey, and SATV in at least 34 of the 40 sample markets. These services are also offered on a digital standalone basis meaning that the customer must purchase each service on an individual basis for a set monthly fee. Talentvision is only distributed in 9 of the 40 markets. However, the service has only recently been made available to systems outside of British Columbia. This may result in an increased distribution of the Talentvision service in the remaining sample markets.

3.3.1 Distribution of the five ethnic specialty services licensed for analog on cable in selected markets

Large Markets

Distributor & Basic Subscribers

Telelatino

Fairchild

SATV

Odyssey

Talent-
vision

Halifax

Eastlink
46,719

 

X

X

X

 

Québec City

Vidéotron
181,746

X

X

X

X

 

Montréal

Vidéotron
870,939
Cable VDN Inc.
6,310

X

X

X

X

X

 

Ottawa-Hull

Rogers Ottawa
248,916
Vidéotron Hull
65,136

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Toronto

Rogers
1,312,549

X2

X

X

X

X

Large Markets

Distributor & Basic Subscribers

Telelatino

Fairchild

SATV

Odyssey

Talent-
vision

Hamilton

Cogeco
85,410
Mountain
38,815
Southmount
16,635

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

 

Kitchener

Rogers
169,380

X

X

X

X

X

London

Rogers
114,999

X

X

X

X

X

St. Catharines-Niagara

Cogeco
101,896

X

X

X

X

 

Winnipeg

Shaw
212,382

X

X

X

X

 

Calgary

Shaw
281,477

X

X

X

X

 

Edmonton

Shaw
249,950

X

X

X

X

 

Vancouver

Shaw
619,491
Delta
28,308
Novus
n/a

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Victoria

Shaw
82,410

X

X

X

X

X

Medium Markets

Distributor & Basic Subscribers

Telelatino

Fairchild

SATV

Odyssey

Talent-
vision

Guelph

Rogers
35,648

X

X

X

X

X

Windsor

Cogeco
55,470

X

X

X

X

 

Sudbury

Regional
42,348

X

X

X

X

 

Thunder Bay

Shaw
34,021

X

X

X

X

 

Regina

Access
53,241

X

X

X

X

 

Saskatoon

Shaw
53,542

X

X

X

X

 

Abbotsford

Shaw
n/a

 

X

X

X

X

Kelowna

Shaw
39,863

X

X

X

X

 

St. John's

Rogers
51,065

 

X

X

X

 

Saint John

Rogers
34,735

 

X

X

   

Small Markets

Distributor & Basic Subscribers

Telelatino

Fairchild

SATV

Odyssey

Talent- vision

Pembroke

Cogeco
8,356

X

X

X

X

 

Sault Ste. Marie

Shaw
25,916

X

X

X

X

 

Chatham

Cogeco
14,685

X

X

X

X

 

Strathroy

Rogers
3,308

X

X

X

X

X

Stratford

Rogers
n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Leamington

Cogeco
6,017

X

X

X

X

 

Yorkton

Access
4,177

X

X

X

X

 

Moose Jaw

Shaw
10,978

X

X

X

X

 

Estevan

Access
3,116

X

X

 

X

 

Lethbridge

Shaw
20,221

X

X

X

X

 

Medicine Hat

Monarch
18,609

X

X

X

X

 

Red Deer

Shaw
23,677

X

X

X

X

 

Lloydminster

Shaw
n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Penticton

Shaw
17,984

X

X

X

X

 

Chilliwack

Shaw
20,076

X

X

X

X

 

Charlottetown

Eastlink
17,870

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

X

 

 

n/a = information not available

Other Distributors

Name of Distributor

Telelatino

Fairchild

SATV

Odyssey

Talent- vision

DTH

Bell ExpressVu (nationally)
591,155
Star Choice (nationally)
408,499

X

X

X

X

X


X

 

MDS

Look (Montréal, Milton, Ottawa-Hull)

SkyCable (Southern Manitoba)

X

 

X

X

X

 

X

 

3.3.2 Distribution of Category 2 ethnic digital specialty and pay services

The following Category 2 ethnic services are available on a digital standalone basis in 21 markets served by Rogers Cable, including the sample markets of Ottawa, Kitchener, London, Toronto, Guelph and Strathroy. As of 31 October 2001, Rogers was the only BDU that distributed any of the Category 2 ethnic services.

Licensee

Name of Service

1395047 Ontario Inc.

Festival Portuguese Television

Jang Sung Lee

Doragi Television

Network Television International

NTI Tamil Service

Ravinder Singh Pannu

SSTV

South Asian Television Network Intl. Ltd.

Hindi Movie Channel

South Asian Television Network Intl. Ltd.

(ATN) Tamil Channel

South Asian Television Network Intl. Ltd

Punjabi Channel

Tamil Vision Inc.

Tamil Channel

Xybermedia Inc.

Balkan Express

Xybermedia Inc.

Luso! TV

South Asian Television Network Intl. Ltd.

Urdu Channel

DTH distribution of Category 2 services:

According to information provided by Mediastats in June 2001, none of the Category 2 ethnic services authorized for distribution were being carried on DTH.

3.3.3 Distribution of foreign ethnic television services

The following charts list the distribution areas and subscriber numbers for each foreign ethnic satellite service in the sample markets . In cases where none of these services are distributed in a sample market, the market is not included on this table.

Large Markets

Distributor & Basic Subscribers

ART America

Deutsche Welle

TV Japan

BET

Halifax

Eastlink
46,719

     

X

Québec City

Vidéotron
181,746

X

   

X

Montréal

Vidéotron
870,939
Cable VDN Inc.
6,310

X

   

X

Large Markets

Distributor & Basic Subscribers

ART America

Deutsche Welle

TV Japan

BET

Ottawa-Hull

Rogers Ottawa
248,916
Vidéotron Hull
65,136

X


X

X

X

X


X

Toronto

Rogers
1,312,549

X3

X

X

X

Hamilton

Cogeco
85,410
Mountain
38,815
Southmount
16,635

     

X

Kitchener

Rogers
169,380

X

X

X

X

London

Rogers
114,999

X

X

X

X

St. Catharines-Niagara

Cogeco
101,896

     

X4

Winnipeg

Shaw
212,382

     

X

Calgary

Shaw
281,477

 

X

X

X

Edmonton

Shaw
249,950

 

X

X

X

Vancouver

Shaw
619,491
Delta
28,308
Novus
n/a

 

X

X

X

Victoria

Shaw
82,410

     

X

Medium Markets

Distributor & Basic Subscribers

ART America

Deutsche Welle

TV Japan

BET

Guelph

Rogers
35,648

X

X

X

X

Windsor

Cogeco
55,470

     

X

Regina

Access
53,241

     

X

Medium Markets

Distributor & Basic Subscribers

ART America

Deutsche Welle

TV Japan

BET

Saskatoon

Shaw
53,542

     

X

Abbotsford

Shaw
n/a

 

X

X

X

Kelowna

Shaw
39,863

 

X

   

Small Markets

Distributor & Basic Subscribers

ART America

Deutsche Welle

TV Japan

BET

Pembroke

Cogeco
8,356

     

X

Sault Ste. Marie

Shaw
25,916

     

X

Chatham

Cogeco
14,685

     

X

Strathroy

Rogers
3,308

X

X

X

X

Stratford

Rogers
n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Leamington

Cogeco
6,017

     

X

Yorkton

Access
4,177

     

X

Moose Jaw

Shaw
10,978

     

X

Lethbridge

Shaw
20,221

 

 

 

X

 

X

 

 

Red Deer

Shaw
23,677

 

X

X

 

Lloydminster

Shaw
n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Penticton

Shaw
17,984

 

X

X

 

Other Distributors

Name of Distributor

ART America

Deutsche Welle

TV Japan

BET

TV Polonia

DTH

Bell ExpressVu (nationally)
591,155

Star Choice (nationally)
408,499

 

X

 

X

 


X

 

Other Distributors

Name of Distributor

ART America

Deutsche Welle

TV Japan

BET

TV Polonia

MDS

Look (Montréal,
Milton, Ottawa-Hull)

SkyCable
(Southern Manitoba)


X

   

 

X
X

 

 


X
X
X

 

 

 
  • Of all the foreign ethnic satellite services, Black Entertainment Television (BET), which is an English-language U.S. service, receives the widest distribution on cable, i.e. in 26 out of the 40 sample markets. BET is also distributed on DTH through Star Choice and Bell ExpressVu and on MDS through Look in Ontario.
 
  • Deutsche Welle also has fairly wide distribution across Canada, being available in 14 out of the 40 sample markets. However, it should be noted that Deutsche Welle is distributed in a significant number of smaller communities. Bell Express Vu, but not Star Choice, distributes Deutsche Welle on DTH. This service is not distributed on MDS.
 
  • Of the 40 sample markets, ART America is distributed on cable systems in 8 markets, and TV Japan in 7 markets. According to MediaStats, ART America is not distributed on DTH, but is distributed on MDS by Look in Quebec. TV Japan is not distributed by DTH or MDS undertakings.
 
  • Mediastats confirms that as of June 2001, neither The Filipino Channel nor WMNB-TV was distributed by any Canadian BDU. With respect to the distribution of TV Polonia, as of June 2001, this service was available only on Look.
 

3.3.4. Distribution of over-the-air ethnic television and radio services on cable, DTH or MDS

 

This section provides an overview of the availability of over-the-air ethnic television and ethnic radio stations.

 

In PN 1999-117, the Commission set out the following definitions and requirements for ethnic broadcasting services:

 
  • An ethnic program is one, in any language, that is specifically directed to any culturally or racially distinct group other than one that is Aboriginal Canadian or from France or the British Isles.
 
  • Ethnic television stations must devote at least 60% of each broadcast month to ethnic programming.
 
  • Ethnic radio stations must devote at least 60% of each broadcast week to ethnic programming.
 
  • Third-language programming is defined as programming in languages other than French, English or those of Aboriginal Canadians. Ethnic television and radio stations must air at least 50% third-language programming.
 

Television services

 

CJNT-TV Montréal

 

In New Multilingual Television Service - Approved, Decision CRTC 95-569, 18 August 1995, the Commission approved the application for a broadcasting licence for CJNT-TV, a multilingual television station in Montréal.

 

CJNT-TV is available over the air. It is also distributed by Look on its MDS undertaking in Montréal. It is not carried by the DTH distributors. The service is provided by cable BDUs as follows:

Sample market

System

No. of subscribers

How is it offered?

Principal target audience

Montréal

Cable VDN Inc. & Vidéotron

877,249

Basic

Italian, Chinese, & Greek

CFMT-TV Toronto

CFMT-TV is available over the air in Toronto and through rebroadcasters in Ottawa and London. Both Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice distribute this service nationally and Look provides CFMT-TV on its MDS undertakings in Montréal and in Milton. In the sample markets, the service is distributed by cable BDUs as follows:

Sample market

System

No. of subscribers

How is it offered?

Principal target audience

Toronto5

Rogers & Cogeco (Oakville)

1,312,549

Basic

Italian & Portuguese

Hamilton

Cogeco & Mountain & Southmount

149,783

   

Kitchener

Rogers

169,380

   

Radio Services

Station

Sample market of originating station

Availability in sample markets on cable

No. of subscribers

Principal target audience

CFMB

Montréal

Vidéotron
Montréal & Terrebonne

897,271

Italian & Greek

CHIN

Toronto

Cogeco-Belleville
Rogers-Pickering, Richmond Hill, York, Downsview, Rexdale, Scarborough, Toronto Metro

1,202,152

Italian & Chinese

CHIN-FM

Toronto

Eastlink Halifax;
Cogeco, Mountain and Southmount in Hamilton; Rogers in Kitchener, London, Toronto, Ottawa, and Cogeco Oakville

2,775,195

Chinese, Italian, Polish & South Asian

CIAO

Toronto

Rogers Toronto Metro and Downsview

567,473

Caribbean, German, South Asian & Polish

CIRV-FM

Toronto

Cogeco Oakville and Rogers Toronto Metro, Pickering, Richmond Hill, York, Downsview, Rexdale, Scarborough

1,266,301

Portuguese, Spanish, Greek & Chinese

CJMR

Toronto

Cogeco Oakville

94,664

Chinese, & South Asian

CKJS

Winnipeg

Shaw Winnipeg

212,382

Filipino, Italian, & Ukranian

CKER-FM

Edmonton

Shaw Calgary and Edmonton

582,548

Italian, Chinese, Spanish & South Asian

CHMB

Vancouver

Shaw Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Vancouver, White Rock and Delta Cable in Delta

669,506

Chinese

Station

Sample market of originating station

Availability in sample markets on cable

No. of subscribers

Principal target audience

CJVB

Vancouver

Shaw Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Vancouver, White Rock and Delta Cable in Delta

669,506

Chinese

CHKG-FM

Vancouver

Shaw North Vancouver, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and Vancouver as well as Delta Cable in Delta

608,109

Chinese

 

CHKT Toronto and CHKF-FM Calgary are the only licensed ethnic radio stations that are not distributed on cable.

 

DTH distribution of ethnic radio stations: Star Choice distributes CHIN.

 

4. Service to ethnic communities in large, medium and small markets

 

4.1 Description of charts in the Appendix

 

The Appendix to this document contains charts that illustrate ethnic populations and corresponding broadcasting services available in the 40 sample markets across Canada. These charts set out the ten largest groups by ethnic origin for each market based on 1996 data from Statistics Canada. The data is then compared to the ethnic services available to the corresponding groups in each market. As described earlier in this document, these markets have been divided into three groups for analytical purposes: small, medium and large markets.

 

Since DTH distribution data is excluded from the Appendix, the charts do not illustrate the fact that four of the five analog ethnic specialty services are available on a national basis through DTH undertakings. As of 31 October 2001, Bell ExpressVu distributed Fairchild, SATV, and Telelatino, and Star Choice distributed SATV, Odyssey, and Telelatino. Talentvision was the only analog ethnic specialty service not offered by a DTH BDU.

 

Two foreign ethnic specialty services were also offered on DTH undertakings: Deutsche Welle on Bell ExpressVu and Black Entertainment Television on Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice.

 

Other sources of ethnic programming: this column is based on the most recent information available to the Commission, as taken from the individual market radio and television station files. It is important to note that television and radio stations can program up to 15% ethnic programming without prior Commission authority. In these cases, it is difficult to accurately confirm the availability of such programming since there is no requirement for stations to advise the Commission. This column does not include information with respect to ethnic programming that may be available through campus or community stations.

 

SCMO is defined as an auxiliary radio service and its programming is not receivable with standard equipment. Listeners must use a special receiver.

 

4.1.1 Interpretation of the Statistics Canada data listed on sample market charts in the Appendix

 

The charts in the Appendix contain the ten largest groups by ethnic origin in that particular sample market based on 1996 data from Statistics Canada. The data collected contains information from respondents who reported one ethnic origin only.6

 

Sample market areas were chosen based on the criteria as outlined in section 3.2 of this report.

 

The last group listed in each sample market table is defined as "Other". For the purposes of this report, "other" includes the total of other ethnic groups in each market other than British, French, Canadians and Aboriginal Canadians.

 

4.2 Service to ethnic groups in large markets

 

The following observations can be made about the 14 large markets included in the Appendix.

 

Ethnic population

 
  • With the exception of the Chinese population in Vancouver, the other 13 large markets do not have a single ethnic group that meets the 10% threshold to trigger the carriage of one of the five analog ethnic specialty services in accordance with the Regulations.
 
  • In Toronto, the combination of the Chinese and South Asian populations, which together exceed the 10% threshold, gives Talentvision analog carriage rights in Toronto as the result of its new national carriage status. However, the Commission asked distributors affected by this to file applications for authority to distribute Talentvision on a digital only basis and subsequently, approved one by Rogers Cable Inc. for Richmond Hill and Scarborough.
 
  • Of the three largest markets, Montréal has a sizeable Italian population (5%), Toronto has significant populations of Chinese (8%), Italian (8%) and South Asian (7%) and Vancouver has a significant South Asian population (6%). Each of the remaining ethnic groups in these markets, however, accounts for 3% or less of the total population.
 

Carriage

 
  • With the exception of Talentvision, all the analog ethnic services are available in large markets through DTH.
 
  • Of the 14 large markets, 6 of them (Ottawa-Hull, Toronto, London, Kitchener, Vancouver and Victoria) are carrying all five analog ethnic specialty services on cable either on an analog or digital basis.
 
  • In the remaining 8 markets, with the exception of Halifax, 4 out of 5 of the analog specialty services are available on cable either on an analog or digital basis. Halifax carries three out of five. Talentvision is the one analog service not carried in these markets.
 
  • All markets except Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa-Hull and Kitchener, make one or more of these services available on an analog tier. This usually corresponds to the existence of a significant population (>5%) of the targeted ethnic group. However, in some markets, a service like Telelatino is still part of the analog tier despite very small corresponding ethnic populations. For example, Telelatino is carried on an analog tier in London where the combined Italian and Spanish population is probably around 1%.
 
  • It should be noted that Halifax is the only large market where Telelatino is not carried on cable. The Italian population in Halifax at 970 represents less than 1% of the total population
 
  • Other ethnic groups at, or exceeding, 5% include the population of German origin in Kitchener (8%), Winnipeg (6%), and Edmonton (5%). There is no licensed Canadian ethnic specialty service targeted to the German community. However, the foreign satellite service Deutsche Welle is available on a digital basis to the German population in both Kitchener and Edmonton, but not Winnipeg. Customers in Winnipeg and elsewhere, however, can receive Deutsche Welle through Bell ExpressVu.
 
  • The populations of Italian origin in Hamilton (6%) and St. Catharines-Niagara (7%) have access to Telelatino as part of an analog tier.
 
  • The population of Ukrainian origin in Winnipeg and Edmonton are 6% and 5%, respectively. While there is no Canadian or foreign television service targeted to Ukrainians, other sources of programming are available to Ukrainians in these two markets.
 

4.3 Service to ethnic groups in medium-sized markets

 

The following observations can be made about the 10 medium-sized markets included in the Appendix:

 

Ethnic Population

 
  • Of the 10 medium-sized markets, not one of them has a single ethnic group that meets the 10% threshold to trigger the carriage of one of the five analog ethnic specialty services pursuant to the Regulations.
 

Carriage

 
  • Four of the five services licensed for analog are available to all of the 10 medium-sized markets. Nine out of 10 markets do not carry Talentvision.
 
  • With the exception of Talentvision, all the analog ethnic services are available in medium-sized markets through DTH BDUs.
 
  • Telelatino is carried on an analog tier in six of the medium-sized markets with the four remaining markets carrying it on a digital basis. Three of the 10 markets have populations of Italian origin of between 4% to 6%, whereas the remaining seven markets have less than 2%.
 
  • The Windsor market has a significant number of persons of South Asian origin representing 7 % of the population. SATV is available in this market on a digital basis on cable and on DTH.
 
  • The sample markets of Regina (9%), Saskatoon (9%), Kelowna (8%) and Abbotsford (7%) have a sizeable number of persons who are of German origin. Kelowna and Abbotsford have access to the foreign German service, Deutsche Welle, on cable. This service is available to all of these communities on DTH through Bell ExpressVu.
 
  • Neither Saskatoon residents of Ukranian origin (5%) nor the residents of Abbotsford of Dutch origin (5%), have access to any ethnic services that are targeted to their specific ethnic origin.
 

4.4 Service to ethnic groups in small markets

 

The following observations can be made about the 16 small markets included in the Appendix:

 
  • With the exception of Talentvision, all the analog ethnic specialty services are available in small markets through DTH.
 
  • In Sault Ste. Marie and Leamington, Ontario, the population of Italian origin represents 12% and 6%, respectively. Telelatino is carried on an analog basis in both of these markets.
 
  • In 11 of the 16 small markets, there is a significant population of German origin. The representation of this population ranges from 5% of the total population in Red Deer, Alberta to 12% of the total population in Pembroke, Ontario and 17% of the total population in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
 
  • The foreign service, Deutsche Welle, is distributed on DTH by Bell ExpressVu and is carried on cable in Red Deer, Lethbridge (6% German population), and Strathroy (1% German population).
 
  • Strathroy, Ontario has a significant population of Portuguese origin, representing 14% of the total population. The Commission has licensed a category 2 ethnic service aimed at the Portuguese audience (Festival Portuguese). This service is available on a digital basis through Rogers Cable in Strathroy, Ontario.
 
  • Both Strathroy and Chatham have sizeable Dutch populations at 5% and 10%, respectively. There is no Canadian or foreign television service targeted to people of Dutch origin.
 
  • Both Chilliwack, B.C. and Yorkton, Saskatchewan have significant Ukrainian populations at 7% and 18% of the total population, respectively. There is no Canadian or foreign television service targeted to Ukrainians.
 
  • It should be noted that many of the 16 small markets also offer some of the five analog ethnic services, even though the ethnic groups targeted by these services are very small.
 
  • In Strathroy, a total of 11 category 2 digital services are available serving a diverse range of ethnic and linguistic communities, including: Portuguese, Korean, Tamil, Punjabi, and Hindi.
 

5. General observations concerning service provided to ethnic groups under the existing regulatory framework

 

Based on the data collected and a review of the information regarding service to ethnic communities in the sample 40 markets, the following general observations are made:

 
  • The 10% threshold that would trigger the mandatory carriage of one of the five analog ethnic specialty services is met in only a few markets. Notwithstanding this, all five of these analog ethnic specialty services enjoy wide distribution across Canada.
 
  • In the 14 most populated markets in Canada, either four out of five or all five of these services are carried on cable, regardless of the size of the corresponding ethnic population. Many of these services are also carried on cable in medium-sized and small markets. As of 31 October 2001, of the 40 markets sampled, the analog ethnic specialty services were carried in the following total number of markets:

Telelatino

31

Fairchild

37

SATV

35

Odyssey

35

Talentvision

6

 
  • In addition, four services out of the five were available on a national basis through DTH - Fairchild, SATV and Telelatino on Bell ExpressVu and SATV, Odyssey and Telelatino on Star Choice.
 
  • In large markets, the majority of the ten largest ethnic groups have access to one or more sources of ethnic programming. Groups that are not being served in those markets represent 2% or less of the total population.
 
  • As indicated above, many of the small and medium-sized markets also receive one or more of the five analog ethnic specialty services on cable and DTH, even though the ethnic groups targeted by these services are very small.
 
  • As a result of the initial launch of digital specialty services, a total of 11 category 2 digital ethnic services are available in 21 markets served by Rogers. These services provide programming to a diverse range of ethnic and linguistic communities, including: Portuguese, Korean, Tamil, Punjabi, and Hindi.
 
  • From a financial perspective, Telelatino and Fairchild are showing healthy profit margins. SATV and Talentvision had negative profit margins in 2000, although the latter showed great improvement from 1996.

Appendix

Service to ethnic communities in large, medium and small markets

Part I

Large markets

Halifax, Nova Scotia
Population: 329,754

Ethnic service provided to the largest groups by ethnic origin
Single responses

Group

Population

% of Total
Population

Specialty services available on analog

Specialty
services available on digital cable

Other sources of ethnic programming

German

4,445

1%

     

Arab

3,430

1%

   

1

African

2,500

1%

   

1

South Asian

2,090

1%

 

SATV

1

Chinese

2,015

1%

 

Fairchild

 

Dutch

1,790

1%

     

Greek

1,000

<1%

 

Odyssey

1

Italian

970

<1%

     

Polish

800

<1%

     

Other

7,405

2%

     

Source: Statistics Canada Census 1996

Other source of ethnic programming: (1) CKDU-FM (Dalhousie University). 

Québec City, Quebec
Population: 663,885

Ethnic service provided to the largest groups by ethnic origin
Single responses

Group

Population

% of total
population

Specialty services available on analog

Specialty
services available on digital cable

Other sources of ethnic programming

German

1,335

<1%

     

Italian

1,145

<1%

 

Telelatino

 

Chinese

1,090

<1%

 

Fairchild

 

Haitian

865

<1%

     

Portuguese

760

<1%

     

Vietnamese

690

<1%

     

Belgian

670

<1%

     

Spanish

655

<1%

     

Polish

475

<1%

     

Other

16,630

2.5%

 

Odyssey
SATV

 

Source: Statistics Canada Census 1996

Montréal, Quebec
Population: 3,287,645

Ethnic service provided to the largest groups by ethnic origin
Single responses

Group

Population

% of total
population

Specialty services available on analog

Specialty
services available on digital cable

Other sources of ethnic programming

Italian

158,495

5%

Telelatino

Telelatino

1, 4, 5

Haitian

63,690

2%

   

1, 4, 5

Greek

45,255

1%

 

Odyssey

1, 2, 3, 5

Chinese

43,870

1%

 

Fairchild

1, 2, 5

South Asian

40,660

1%

 

SATV

1, 5

Lebanese

32,065

1%

   

4, 5

Portuguese

31,455

1%

   

1, 2, 5

Vietnamese

22,335

1%

   

1, 5

Polish

17,765

1%

   

1, 5

Spanish

17,195

1%

 

Telelatino

1, 2, 5

German

14,660

<1%

   

1, 5

Other

324,030

10%

     

Source: Statistics Canada Census 1996

Other sources of ethnic programming: (1) CFMB, (2) CINQ-FM, (3) CHCR (closed circuit), (4) SCMO Services, and (5) CJNT-TV. 

Ottawa, Ontario/ Hull, Quebec
Population: 1,000,935

Ethnic service provided to the largest groups by ethnic origin
Single responses

Group

Population

% of total
population

Specialty services available on analog

Specialty
services available on digital cable

Other sources of ethnic programming

Arab

21,610

2%

   

1

Chinese

17,950

2%

 

Fairchild

1, 3

Italian

16,495

2%

 

Telelatino

1, 3

Lebanese

14,945

1%

   

1, 3

South Asian

14,675

1%

 

SATV

1, 3

African

13,535

1%

     

German

10,175

1%

   

1, 3

Polish

7,780

1%

   

1, 3

Dutch

6,915

1%

   

3

Portuguese

6,555

1%

   

1, 2, 3

Vietnamese

5,675

1%

 

Talentvision

1, 3

Jewish

5,580

1%

     

Russian

5,035

1%

   

1, 3

Jamaican

4,240

<1%

   

1, 3

Norwegian

4,210

<1%

     

Haitian

3,790

<1%

   

3

Other

19,520

2%

 

Odyssey

 

Source: Statistics Canada Census 1996

Other sources of ethnic programming: (1) CFMT-TV-2 Ottawa (retransmitter of CFMT-TV Toronto) and (2) SCMO service. The Commission also approved the application by (3) Radio 1540 Ltd. for a new ethnic FM station.

Toronto, Ontario
Population: 4,595,200

Ethnic service provided to the largest groups by ethnic origin
Single responses

Group

Population

% of total
population

Specialty services available on analog

Specialty
services available on digital cable

Other sources of ethnic programming

Chinese

319,675

8%

Fairchild

Fairchild

1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9

Italian

318,160

8%

Telelatino

 

1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9

South Asian

300,890

7%

 

SATV
NTI Tamil
Service
SSTV
Hindi Movie
Channel
(ATN) Tamil
Channel
Punjabi Channel
Tamil Channel

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

Portuguese

128,995

3%

 

Festival Portuguese Television

1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

Jamaican

100,230

2%

   

1, 2, 4, 5, 9

Polish

90,780

2%

   

2, 4, 5, 6, 9

Greek

63,280

1%

 

Odyssey

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9

German

60,970

1%

   

2, 4, 5, 8, 9

Ukrainian

43,955

1%

   

1, 5, 6, 9

Dutch

36,395

1%

   

5

Vietnamese

33,745

1%

 

Talentvision

3, 9

Korean

28,775

1%

 

Talentvision
Doragi
Television
Network

3, 4, 8, 9

Spanish

27,885

1%

   

1, 4, 5, 8, 9

Sri Lankan

24,950

1%

   

1, 6, 8, 9

Persian

24,575

1%

   

1, 3, 8, 9

Pakistani

14,330

<1%

   

1,2, 3, 4, 6,

Other

449,485

11%

     

Source: Statistics Canada Census 1996

Other sources of ethnic programming: (1) CHIN, (2) CHIN-FM, (3) CHKT, (4) CIAO, (5) CIRV-FM, (6) CJMR, (7) CHIR (closed circuit service), (8) SCMO service, and (9) CFMT-TV.

Kitchener, Ontario
Population: 379,345

Ethnic service provided to the largest groups by ethnic origin
Single responses

Group

Population

% of total
population

Specialty services available on analog

Specialty
services available on digital cable

Other sources of ethnic programming

German

30,615

8%

   

2

Portuguese

14,065

4%

   

1, 2

South Asian

7,250

2%

 

SATV

1

Polish

7,225

2%

   

2

Dutch

5,495

1%

     

Chinese

3,740

1%

 

Fairchild

1

Italian

3,600

1%

 

Telelatino

2

Vietnamese

2,455

1%

 

Talentvision

 

Ukrainian

2,105

1%

     

Croatian

2,065

1%

   

1, 2

Hungarian

1,930

1%

     

Other

30,025

8%

 

Odyssey

 

Source: Statistics Canada Census 1996

Other sources of ethnic programming: (1) CKMS-FM (University of Waterloo) and (2) CKWR-FM. 

London, Ontario
Population: 393,900

Ethnic service provided to the largest groups by ethnic origin
Single responses

Group

Population

% of total
population

Specialty services available on analog

Specialty
services available on digital cable

Other sources of ethnic programming

South Asian

3,355

<1%

 

SATV

1

Portuguese

2,975

<1%

   

1

Lebanese

2,295

<1%

   

1

Spanish

1,135

<1%

Telelatino

 

1

German

1,125

<1%

   

1

Haitian

825

<1%

     

Italian

760

<1%

Telelatino

 

1

Vietnamese

515

<1%

 

Talentvision

1

Chinese

455

<1%

 

Fairchild

1

Belgian

405

<1%

     

Polish

385

<1%

   

1

Dutch

305

<1%

     

Hungarian

255

<1%

     

African

225

<1%

     

Iranian

220

<1%

   

1

Other

73,495

19%

 

Odyssey

 

Source: Statistics Canada Census 1996

Other source of ethnic programming: (1) CFMT-TV-1 London (retransmitter of CFMT-TV Toronto). 

Hamilton, Ontario
Population: 617,810

Ethnic service provided to the largest groups by ethnic origin
Single responses

Group

Population

% of total
population

Specialty services available on analog

Specialty
services available on digital cable

Other sources of ethnic programming

Italian

39,185

6%

Telelatino

Telelatino

 

Dutch

15,325

2%

     

Polish

14,115

2%

     

German

12,805

2%

   

1

Portuguese

10,225

2%

     

South Asian

9,140

1%

 

SATV

 

Ukrainian

7,530

1%

     

Croatian

7,155

1%

     

Chinese

6,155

1%

 

Fairchild

 

Hungarian

5,010

1%

     

Serbian

3,735

<1%

     

Other

47,690

8%

 

Odyssey

 

Source: Statistics Canada Census 1996

Other source of ethnic programming: (1) SCMO service. 

St. Catharines-Niagara, Ontario
Population: 367,795

Ethnic service provided to the largest groups by ethnic origin
Single responses

Group

Population

% of total population

Specialty services available on analog

Specialty
services available on digital cable

Other sources of ethnic programming

Italian

25,475

7%

Telelatino

Telelatino

1

German

13,230

4%

     

Dutch

11,835

3%

     

Polish