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Public Notice
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Ottawa, 11 June 1984
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Public Notice CRTC 1984-139
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AGENDA FOR A FALL PUBLIC HEARING
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Specialty and Pay Television Programming Services
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Earlier this year at a hearing on Specialty Services, the Commission adjourned the hearing of a number of applications relating to the operation of satellite-to-cable networks for the distribution of new, complementary specialty programming services. It has also received additional applications which give rise to related policy considerations in terms of their programming, funding or distribution.
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The Commission herein announces that it intends to hold a public hearing this fall, tentatively scheduled for November, to consider all such applications deemed to be in a form satisfactory to the Commission at the time of publication in the Canada Gazette. A Notice of Public Hearing will be forthcoming in this regard.
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In the context of the hearing, the Commission will consider applications related to the outstanding matters described below.
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1. During the 24 January 1984 Public Hearing in Hull, Quebec, at the request of the applicants, the Commission adjourned the hearing of applications for new discretionary specialty programming services. In accordance with Public Notice CRTC 1984-81, should applicants amend or complete their applications by 1 September 1984, these will be considered at the November hearing.
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2. In Public Notice CRTC 1984-138 issued today, the Commission invites comments, to be submitted by 6 July 1984, on the various policy implications related to the development and distribution of a distinct national Canadian youth service. Following an assessment of the comments received, the Commission will subsequently issue its proposed criteria for the establishment of such a programming service and call for applications to be received in time for consideration at the November hearing.
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3. The Commission has received an application for a licence for a network to distribute a specialty (performing arts) pay television service; it intends to issue a call very shortly for similar applications from other interested parties for possible consideration at the November hearing.
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4. The Commission has received an application in response to a call for applications for a national, satellite-to-cable, interfaith religious programming service (Public Notice CRTC 1983-112). Should the application be complete and be deemed to be in a form satisfactory to the Commission, it will be considered at this fall hearing.
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5. The Commission has received applications by First Choice Canadian Communications Corporation (First Choice), Ontario Independent Pay Television Limited, Allarcom Limited and Aim Satellite Broadcasting Corporation for the restructuring of the First Choice and Superchannel English-language general interest pay television services; and an application by First Choice and Allarcom for a new licence to operate, as a joint venture, a national, general interest English-language pay television service to be known as "The Family Channel".
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As indicated in the Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 1984-62 issued today, the Commission will hear the applications for the restructuring of the First Choice/Superchannel services at a public hearing scheduled to be held in the National Capital Region begin ning 24 July 1984. However, the application for "The Family Channel" will not be considered at that time.
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The Commission is also in receipt of an application from Star Channel Services Limited (Star Channel), the hearing of which had been adjourned at the applicant's request (Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 1984-50).
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In view of the fact that both the Star Channel and "The Family Channel" applications proposed to operate pay television network services directed predominantly to a family-oriented and children's audience, the Commission has decided to place both of these applications on the agenda of the upcoming November hearing.
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The Commission has recently authorized the introduction of a variety of specialty programming services, both Canadian and non-Canadian, which will be launched this fall (Public Notice CRTC 1984-81 and Decisions CRTC 84-338, 84-339, 84-444 and 84-445).
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In light of rapidly evolving industry conditions, the Commission will be concerned with the financial integrity of the applicants and the viability of the proposed services. At the hearing, applicants will also be required to provide firm evidence of continued financial commitment and to demonstrate that there is a clear demand and market for their services.
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Fernand Bélisle Secretary General
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