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Decision
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Ottawa, 2 November 1984
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Decision CRTC 84-936
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Canadian Satellite Communications Inc.
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Toronto, Ontario - 841007800For related documents
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see Decisions CRTC 83-126 dated 8 March 1983, CRTC 83-547 dated 13 July 1983 and CRTC 84-915 dated 23 October 1984.
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Following Public Notice CRTC 1984-229 dated 13 September 1984, the Commission approves the application by Canadian Satellite Communications Inc. (CANCOM) to amend its network licence by adding the distribution, in scrambled form via satellite, of the signal of WXYZ-TV (ABC) Detroit, Michigan.
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CANCOM is currently authorized to distribute the signals of the 3+1 U.S. networks, CBS (WJBK-TV Detroit), PBS (WTVS Detroit), NBC (KING-TV Seattle and WDIV Detroit) and ABC (KOMO-TV Seattle), using uplinks originating in the Eastern and Pacific time zones.
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The Commission notes that 22 interventions were received with regard to the current application of which 16 were in support and 6 in opposition. Most of the supporting interventions were from CANCOM cable television affiliates, both from Eastern and Western Canada, who supported the addition of the Detroit ABC signal essentially because they considered is to be more appropriate than the Seattle ABC signal, both in terms of time zone differences and simultaneous substitution opportunities. They also stated that a large number of subscribers preferred the Detroit signal to that of Seattle.
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Interventions in opposition to the application were received from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the CTV Television Network Ltd. (CTV), Atlantic Television System (ATV), the Interior Cable Operators Association (I.C.O.A.), representing a consortium of cable television licensees serving some 19 communities in the interior of British Columbia, Princeton Television Ltd. (Princeton) and Selkirk Cablevision Ltd. (Selkirk).
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The Commission has considered all of the arguments presented by the interveners and the applicant in assessing this application. With respect to the general issues raised by the CBC, CTV and ATV, the Commission finds, however, that most of these issues were already raised by these interveners, and dealt with by the Commission, in the context of CANCOM's original applications for the addition of the 3+1 U.S. signals, and in the recent decision approving the replacement by Saskatchewan cable television licensees of the North Dakota 3+1 U.S. signals with those received from CANCOM (Decision CRTC 84-915).
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In considering the concern raised by Princeton, Selkirk and I.C.O.A., concerning CANCOM's failure to implement its Western uplink of the ABC and NBC signals from Seattle, the Commission has noted the response submitted by CANCOM stating that, because of financial considerations and the slow build-up of its core and extra cable market in Alberta and B.C., it has had to delay implementation of the two Seattle signals.
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Notwithstanding these arguments, the Commission acknowledges the validity of the concern raised by the B.C. cable television licensees with respect to the implementation of the Western uplink, and it expects CANCOM to take all necessary measures to make available to its affiliates in Western Canada the NBC and ABC signals from Seattle at the very earliest date. Accordingly, it requires CANCOM to submit a report to the Commission, within three months of the date of this decision, setting out a firm timetable for the implementation of its Western uplink.
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Fernand Bélisle Secretary General
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