ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-564

This page has been archived on the Web

Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. Archived Decisions, Notices and Orders (DNOs) remain in effect except to the extent they are amended or reversed by the Commission, a court, or the government. The text of archived information has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Changes to DNOs are published as “dashes” to the original DNO number. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats by contacting us.

 

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-564

  Ottawa, 28 November 2005
  History Television Inc.
Across Canada
  Application 2005-0319-5
Public Hearing at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
3 October 2005
 

Military Television - Category 2 specialty service

  In this decision, the Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new Category 2 specialty programming undertaking.
 

The application

1.

The Commission received an application by History Television Inc. (History Television) for a broadcasting licence to operate a national, English-language Category 21 specialty programming undertaking to be known as Military Television.

2.

The applicant proposed to offer a service that would be entirely dedicated to programs relating to the history, analysis and dramatization of armed conflict and military matters, peacekeeping and warfare throughout the world. The programming would consist of series, feature films, drama, documentaries and information, as well as analysis and magazine style programs.

3.

All of the programming would be drawn from the following categories set out in Schedule 1 to the Specialty Service Regulations, 1990: 2(a) Analysis and interpretation; 2(b) Long-form documentary; 3 Reporting and actualities; 7(a) Ongoing drama series; 7(c) Specials, mini-series, made-for-TV feature films; 7(d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV; 7(g) Other drama; 11 General entertainment and human interest; 12 Interstitials; 13 Public service announcements; and 14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos.

4.

The applicant indicated that it would accept a condition of licence requiring that all drama programming would have armed conflict, the military, peacekeeping and/or warfare as its central theme.

5.

The applicant also indicated that the present application is identical to a previous application that was approved in Military Television, Decision CRTC 2000-497, 24 November 2000 and 14 December 2000 (Decision 2000-497). However, the service approved in Decision 2000-497, was not implemented within the required timeframe.
 

Interventions

6.

The Commission received interventions to this application, most of which were in support. One opposing intervener questioned the desirability of a channel devoted to war, and another opposing intervener questioned whether the applicant would operate a military channel properly.
 

Applicant's response

7.

In reply to the opposing interventions, the applicant stated that Canadian viewers would enjoy a network dedicated to exploring conflict and peacekeeping through feature films, dramatic series, documentaries, information, analysis and magazine-style programming. The applicant also confirmed that the service to be offered would be separate and distinct from that offered by the existing specialty service, History Television.
 

Commission's analysis and determination

8.

The Commission is satisfied that the application is in conformity with all applicable terms and conditions announced in Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services - Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice CRTC 2000-171-1, 6 March 2001 (Public Notice 2000-171-1). Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by History Television Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate the English-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking, Military Television.

9.

The licence will expire 31 August 2012, and will be subject to the conditions set out in Public Notice 2000-171-1, as well as to the conditions set out in the appendix to this decision.
 

Issuance of the licence

10.

A licence will be issued once the applicant has satisfied the Commission, with supporting documentation, that the following requirements have been met:
 
  • the applicant has entered into a distribution agreement with at least one licensed distributor; and
 
  • the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 36 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 28 November 2008. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before that date.
  Secretary General
  This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca 
 

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-564

 

Conditions of licence

 

1. The licence shall be subject to the conditionsset out in Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services - Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice CRTC 2000-171-1, 6 March 2001.

 

2. The licensee shall provide a national, English-language Category 2 specialty programming service entirely dedicated to programming related to the history, analysis and dramatization of armed conflict and military matters, peacekeeping and warfare throughout the world.

 

3. The programming shall be drawn exclusively from the following categories set out in Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time:

 

2 (a) Analysis and interpretation
(b) Long-form documentary
3 Reporting and actualities
7 (a) Ongoing drama series
(c) Specials, mini-series or made-for-TV feature films
(d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV
(g) Other drama
11 General entertainment and human interest
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos

 

4. All programming drawn from category 7 shall have armed conflict, the military, peacekeeping and/or warfare as the central theme.

  For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, including condition of licence no. 1, 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 not 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.
 

Footnote:

1 The Category 2 services are defined in Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services, Public Notice CRTC 2000-171, 14 December 2000.

Date Modified: 2005-11-28

Date modified: