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Decision
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Ottawa, 1 December 1987
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Decision CRTC 87-906
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François N. Macerola (OBCI) a company to be called "Canadian non-commercial and public Television Inc./La télévision canadienne publique et non-commerciale, Inc." - 871216800 - 871217600
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Jean-Paul Champagne (OBCI), La Télévision des Sports (TVS-25) Limitée - 871224200
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Réseau de Musique Télévisée du Québec (MTVQ)Inc. - 871226700
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TPTV Inc. - 871214300
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Canal Santé Inc. - 871223400
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MTV Broadcasting System Incorporated, service to be called the "Multilingual Television Network" - 871218400
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Telelatino Network Inc. - 871198800
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Allarcom Limited (OBCI), service to be called «Canadian Cable News (CCN) - 871188900
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Philip B. Lind (OBCI0), service to be called"Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC)" - 871206900
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Vidéotron Ltée "Télé des jeunes" - 871227500
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The Commission denies the applications noted above for the issuance of network licences to provide a variety of specialty programming services and, in the case of Vidéotron Ltée, for renewal of the network licence of its French-language, youth programming service,
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As noted in section III(A) of Public Notice CRTC 1987-260, which outlines the Commission's licensing approach to today's specialty service and pay television decisions, the Commission has examined each application on its merits and has found serious weaknesses in the above applications. These weaknesses range from incomplete or severely inadequate programming arrangements to virtual uncertainty as to the ultimate intended ownership structure. Some applicants failed to demonstrate demand or support for their proposed services, or to provide firm proposals or commitments from their program sources. Some of the applicants submitted questionable marketing plans, unrealistic revenue projections or unacceptable Canadian content commitments, while others proposed inadequate accountability mechanisms.
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Some applicants intended to rely too heavily on shelf material without providing opportunities for new production; others intended to rely substantially on programming already being offered. The programming plans of some applicants were overly ambitious given available resources, while the budgets of others were so low that program quality would be jeopardized. Certain applicants lacked the necessary infrastructure to provide the service proposed, while others proposed services that could have had a serious impact on existing services targeted to the same audience.
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Furthermore, with respect to the applications for French-language children's, music and sports services and for an English-language news and information service, the Commission notes that in Decisions CRTC 87-896, 87-897, 87-898 and 87-904 respectively, it has today approved the issuance of licences for the provision of similar services.
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As stated earlier in Public Notice CRTC 1987-260, the Commission wishes to point out that the denials of the above applications do not necessarily indicate that the Commission does not recognize the value or desirability of some of the concepts proposed, particularly those that would offer alternative Canadian programming that is clearly complementary in nature to existing programming services and would contribute significantly to the Canadian broadcasting system. The Commission does not foreclose the possibility of accepting applications for such services in the future, provided that the present weaknesses are adequately addresses.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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