ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 97-18

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Decision

Ottawa, 20 January 1997
Decision CRTC 97-18
Premier Choix:TVEC inc.
Montréal, Quebec - 199607694
Licence amendment for Super Écran
Following Public Notice CRTC 1996-145 dated 8 November 1996, the Commission approves the application by Premier Choix:TVEC inc., licensee of the French-language pay television programming undertaking known as Super Écran, to amend its broadcasting licence in order to authorize the distribution of its service across Canada.
This service was formerly a regional service authorized for distribution in Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic region.
Accordingly, the Commission amends condition of licence no. 1 regarding the nature of service by replacing the word "regional" with "national". The amended condition of licence now reads as follows:
1.  The licensee shall provide a national general interest pay television service in the French language with programming intended for all audiences. The licensee shall not distribute programming from categories 1 (news), 4 (religion), or 5 (education) of Item 6 of Schedule I to the Pay Television Regulations, 1990, and shall not devote more than 5% of its programming schedule during each semester to programming from category 6 (sports) of Item 6, with a maximum of 20 hours in any week. The licensee shall devote at least 50% of its programming schedule during each semester to dramatic programs.
Regarding the distribution that this service may now anticipate, the Commission would note that in Public Notice CRTC 1996-60 entitled "Access Rules for Broadcasting Distribution Undertakings", the Commission determined that "a broadcasting distribution undertaking to which the access rules apply 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 direct-to-home (DTH) distribution undertakings, "services appropriate for the market" means all specialty and pay television services. Accordingly, as a result of the approval granted herein, Super Écran should now be distributed by DTH undertakings across Canada.
As for cable distribution undertakings, this service should be distributed by Class 1 undertakings operating in French-language markets.
The Commission is of the view that the distribution of this service on a national basis will enhance the choice of French-language programming services that may be offered to Francophones outside Quebec.
The Commission acknowledges the interventions in support of this application.
This decision is to be appended to the licence.
Allan J. Darling
Secretary General

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