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| CRTC denies HDTV Networks and YES TV applications |
| Posted
on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 09:18 AM |
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today denied HDTV Networks Inc.'s (HDTV Networks) application for a licence to operate a national, English-language high-definition conventional television service. In addition, the CRTC today denied YES TV Inc.'s application for a licence to operate an English-language high-definition conventional television
service in the Greater Toronto Area.
HDTV Networks sought to launch a television station that would be the Canadian equivalent of a superstation,” said Michel Arpin, the CRTC's Vice-Chairman of Broadcasting. “The programming strategy associated with such a station is inconsistent with the objectives of the Broadcasting Act and the Commission's policies. We have never granted a licence for such a conventional television station in the past and did not find any compelling reason to do so at this time.
The requirement to make local programming available to audiences is an integral feature of the CRTC's conventional television policy. HDTV Networks would only commit to providing two hours of local programming per week in each of the eight markets it wanted to serve: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. By way of comparison, existing conventional stations offer on average more than 22 hours of local programming per week.
The Commission also found that HDTV Networks' proposal was inconsistent with its policies governing the distribution of digital television signals. The applicant requested that cable and satellite companies distribute its television signal in both analog and digital formats. Such an arrangement would not further the Commission's objective to support the transition from analog to digital broadcasting and distribution.
The Commission also denied YES TV Inc.'s application as they were not convinced that the applicant could fulfill its programming commitments, among other things.
Today's decisions follow a public process that included a public hearing, which was held on February 12 and 13, 2008.
Related documents on the CRTC's Website
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-75: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2008/db2008-75.htm
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-76: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2008/db2008-76.htm
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