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Public Notice
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Ottawa, 10 January 1985
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Public Notice CRTC 1985-6
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Cable Distribution
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- Previews of Canadian Pay Television and Specialty Programming Services
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- Stereo Audio Signals of Pay Television Services and of the Canadian Specialty Music Service
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Previews
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In Public Notice CRTC 1984-1 of 5 January 1984, the Commission authorized the cable distribution of pay television previews for a term of one year subject to limitations described therein. This period was intended to give the Commission the opportunity to examine the results of the previews conducted during that interim period so as to determine whether or not the authorization of such services should be continued and, if so, under what conditions.
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Since 5 January 1984, the Commission has received no evidence indicating that television broadcasters have been harmed by previews aired in accordance with the authorization contained in Public Notice CRTC 1984-1. On the other hand, there are indications that previews have exercised a positive influence on pay television subscription levels.
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Accordingly, the Commission authorizes the continued cable distribution of previews of Canadian pay television network services and extends this authority to include Canadian specialty programming network services. These authorizations will remain in effect only as long as the cable television licensees adhere to the following requirements:
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The previews may not be exhibited by cable television licensees during major national broadcasting rating periods such as those conducted by BBM and Nielsen. In addition, the Commission requires that programming distributed during these preview periods consist only of programs that are part of the pay television or specialty programming services actually offered to subscribers. The scheduling and content of such programming must also meet the same standards that currently apply to conventional broadcasters.
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Unscrambled previews may be distributed by cable operators on the channel normally used to distribute the Canadian pay television or specialty programming services or on any other special programming or currently unused channel, other than the community channel, provided that such previews do not cause the removal of any Canadian service that is presently being offered.
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Adherence to the requirements noted above will be reviewed with the licensees concerned at licence renewal time.
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Stereo Audio Signals
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In Decision CRTC 84-4 of 5 January 1984, the Commission approved applications to change the authorized distribution of a number of broadcasting receiving undertakings by adding the distribution of pay television stereo signals on their cable audio service. Decision CRTC 84-4 also contained the following stipulation:
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This approval is subject to the condition that the addition of these signals not cause the removal of any Canadian service. currently distributed on the cable audio service.
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As noted in Public Notice CRTC 1984-2 issued today, this authority is granted on an interim basis until 31 December 1984, so as not to prejudice the Commission's final determination which will be made in the context of its policy statement on the Review of Radio dealing with the priorities to be established for the cable carriage of radio services, which will be released shortly.
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In Public Notice CRTC 1984-124 of 28 May 1984, the Commission published a "Draft of Proposed Revisions to the a Cable Television Regulations , and in Public Notice CKTC 1984-305 of 12 December 1984 the Commission announced its proposal to introduce new "Regulations Respecting Cable and Subscription Television Regulations". Subsection 16(4) of this proposal, which was set out in the appendix to the Public Notice, makes provision for the distribution of stereo audio signals delivered by Canadian pay television or music specialty services. Written comments on the proposed Regulations are to be submitted not later than 15 February 1985.
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Accordingly, the Commission authorizes the continued cable carriage of the stereo signals of the pay television networks and of the Canadian specialty music network service. This authorization is subject to the requirement that the licensee adhere to the provisions set out in Public Notice CRTC 1984-305.
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Fernand Bélisle Secretary General
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