Search

ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2009-55

This page has been archived on the Web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.

Archived

This page has been archived on the Web.

  Route reference:
Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-111
  Ottawa, 6 February 2009
  The Accessible Channel Inc.

Across Canada

  Application 2008-1519-4, received 6 November 2008
 

The Accessible Channel – Licence amendment

1.

The Commission approves the application by The Accessible Channel Inc. to amend the broadcasting licence for the national, English-language digital specialty described video programming undertaking known as The Accessible Channel to allow the service to be made available for distribution in high definition (HD) format. The Commission did not receive any interventions in relation to this application.

2.

In Broadcasting Public Notices 2003-61 and 2006-74, the Commission stated that it would authorize the licensee of a Canadian pay or specialty service to make available an upgraded version of its service by means of an amendment to the licence of the existing service. This authorization would be in effect for a term of three years. The Commission further stated in Broadcasting Public Notice 2006-74:
 

Those services that are authorized to offer HD programming by way of licence amendment will remain subject to the requirement initially imposed in Public Notice 2003-61 that the programming on the analog or SD [standard definition] service and on the upgraded service be comparable, that is, not less than 95% of the video and audio components must be the same. Further, the Commission will require that all of the programming making up the 5% allowance be provided in HD.

3.

In the present case, the applicant requested that its authorization be extended to the end of its licence term, i.e. to 31 August 2013. Given the changes to the Commission's approach to high definition specialty services announced in Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-100, the Commission is of the view that the shorter three-year authorization is no longer necessary.

4.

Accordingly, by condition of licence, the licensee is authorized to make available for distribution a version of its service in HD format, provided that not less than 95% of the video and audio components of the upgraded and standard definition versions of the service are the same, exclusive of commercial messages and of any part of the service carried on a subsidiary signal. Further, all of the programming making up the 5% allowance shall be provided in HD.
  Secretary General
 

Related documents

 
  • Regulatory frameworks for broadcasting distribution undertakings and discretionary programming services – Regulatory policy, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-100, 30 October 2008
 
  • Regulatory framework for the licensing and distribution of high definition pay and specialty services, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-74, 15 June 2006
 
  • The regulatory framework for the distribution of digital television signals, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2003-61, 11 November 2003
  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: http://www.crtc.gc.ca.

Date modified: