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Decision
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Ottawa, 6 April 1989
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Decision CRTC 89-137
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Mid-Canada Communications (Canada) Corporation
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Pembroke, Sudbury, Elliot Lake, North Bay, Timmins, Kearns and Kapuskasing, Ontario -881040000 -881042600 -881041800 -881043400 -881044200 -881045900 -881046700
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Following a Public Hearing in the National Capital Region commencing 22 November 1988, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for CHRO-TV Pembroke; CICI-TV Sudbury and its rebroadcasting undertaking in Elliot Lake; CKNC-TV Sudbury; CHNB-TV and CKNY-TV North Bay; CFCL-TV and CITO-TV Timmins and their respective rebroadcasting undertakings in Kapuskasing and Kearns, Ontario, from 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1994, subject to the conditions specified in the appendices to this decision and in the licences to be issued.
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Mid-Canada Communications (Canada) Corporation (Mid-Canada), licensee of the above-noted television undertakings, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northern Cable Services Limited (Northern) which is licensee of a number of cable systems in northern Ontario. In turn, 48.2% of the shares in Northern are held by CUC Broadcasting Limited which has extensive cable holdings throughout Ontario, holds 25.4% of the shares in YTV Canada Inc., a youth specialty programming service, and 100% of the shares of Amicus Communications Ltd., licensee of CKLW and CKLW-FM Windsor, Ontario. Through the Ottawa Valley Broadcasting Company Limited, Northern also owns 100% of radio station CHRO Pembroke. Mid-Canada is also licensee of thirteen radio stations in northern Ontario, and owns 45% of CHUR North Bay.
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Mid-Canada's television undertakings in Sudbury, North Bay and Timmins operate as "twin sticks": CICI-TV Sudbury, CKNY-TV North Bay and CITO-TV Timmins operate as affiliates of the CTV Television Network, while CKNC-TV Sudbury, CHNB-TV North Bay and CFCL-TV Timmins operate as affiliates of the CBC English-language television network. CHRO-TV Pembroke is also a CBC affiliate.
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At the hearing, Mid-Canada explained that it regards CHRO-TV Pembroke as an entity operating separately from its northern stations in Sudbury, North Bay and Timmins and their rebroadcasters. In line with this approach, the licensee produces certain programs for distribution only on CHRO-TV and other programs for distribution only on its northern stations. Also, in terms of advertising, the licensee sells the Sudbury, Timmins and North Bay markets as one unit, such that "... today 98% of our buys in the north are the three markets".
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At the same time, however, the Commission notes that Mid-Canada produces various television programs and specials for distribution in all of its markets and that it made certain commitments respecting its television stations for the new licence term on a system-wide or corporate basis. With this in mind, the Commission in this decision addresses the licensee's past performance and future plans for its television stations in respect of Mid-Canada on a corporate level, in respect of CHRO-TV Pembroke, and collectively in respect of the licensee's six northern stations.
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MID-CANADA
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In applying for the renewal of the licences for all seven of its television stations, Mid-Canada stated:
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Mid-Canada is especially proud of the relationship it has developed in the communities it is licensed to serve. As a result of its involvement in all areas of community life, it has gained the respect and support of its citizens and has succeeded in providing them with a meaningful regional and local television service. It is looking forward to continuing to do so in the next renewal term.
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The Commission notes that the licensee has a Regional Program Director to ensure that through its programming "all of our areas [are] reflected regionally with items that are of importance and relevance to the other areas".
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Programs which the licensee produces for distribution in all of its markets include the children's show "Take Part" as well as "Teen Machine" which features young people performing music, dance, athletics, comedy and drama segments. Also included are the information programs "Labour Forum" and "Business Week". Each of these programs is produced co-operatively by CHRO-TV and one or more of the licensee's other television stations. The Commission encourages the licensee during the new licence term to continue its co-operative production efforts as they relate to children's programming and to expand such efforts into variety and drama programming.
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The Commission also notes the licensee's on-going contribution to the development of local talent throughout its service area through its "Mid-Canada Talent Caravan". During the current licence term, twelve Mid-Canada radio stations in northern and northeastern Ontario have undertaken annual local talent searches over a two-to-four month period and the licensee has then brought the winners to Sudbury for a televised competition. Mid-Canada stated that, in the future, it plans to televise the semi-finals in each of Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins and Pembroke. It also stated that the budget for the televised portion of the competition, which currently airs on the licensee's CBC-affiliated stations, will increase in 1988/89 from $30,000 to $35,000. The licensee also referred to the possibility of co-operating with other television licensees to get "all these grand winners together" and provide further exposure for new talent. The Commission encourages the licensee to continue to participate and involve all its markets in the "Mid-Canada Talent Caravan".
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At the hearing, Mid-Canada stated that "the future of Canadian television is closely tied to the production of competitive Canadian programming and we intend to do our share". As a result, it stated, it has "upgraded to syndication quality" its local productions of "Take Part" and "Teen Machine" and has developed a series hosted by Pierre Berton entitled "The Secret of My Success", as well as a new children's series, "A Time to Read".
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The licensee also stated that, now that it has "the financial resources to contribute" to quality programming that can compete for audiences with programming produced in the United States, it has become involved in a number of other projects suitable for national and international distribution. These projects include an animated children's program entitled "The Ugly Duckling", a one-hour docudrama about the Sudbury Theatre Group called "Frontier Footlights", a made-for-television movie partly shot in Ottawa entitled "Stranger Among Friends" and the television drama series "Chestnut Avenue". Mid-Canada has also recently invested in a program entitled "Where the Spirit Lives", described by the licensee as "a sensitive story about the problems faced by a young Indian girl and her brother who are taken from their culture and forced to attend an English school", and a new television production based on the story of Jim Coode, a former Ottawa Rough Rider football player who died of Lou Gehrig's disease. Total projected cost for these productions is over $7 million, with Mid-Canada's equity involvement amounting to $723,000.
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As stated in the Public Notice introducing this and other television renewal decisions issued today, the Commission expects licensees of television stations that earned less than $10 million in total advertising revenue in 1987/88 to adhere to their projected first-year expenditures on Canadian programming, at a minimum, and to adjust such expenditures in subsequent years in accordance with the prescribed formula, which is linked to station advertising revenues. The Commission is satisfied that this approach offers an appropriate and fair means of ensuring the Canadian program expenditures of each station keep pace with changes in its revenues. Accordingly, inasmuch as Mid-Canada's Pembroke and northern Ontario television stations each earned less than $10 million in advertising revenues in 1987/88, this expectation applies in respect of each station. The licensee's first-year Canadian programming expenditure projections for each of its television stations are noted later in this decision.
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In its application, Mid-Canada committed to expend $50,000 on program development in year one of the new licence term, rising to $60,000 in year five. However, the licensee stated at the hearing that it had already expended more than $75,000 on program development for the 1988/89 broadcast year and that "it would be reasonable to assume that this is the level we would continue for five years". In this regard, the Commission refers Mid-Canada to the program development funding guidelines set out in the Public Notice introducing this and other television renewal decisions.
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The Commission notes that the licensee proposes spending $6,716,000 during the new licence term on capital expenditures for the Mid-Canada television system. Projects include building expansion in Sudbury, closed captioning equipment and the upgrading of studio equipment for all seven stations, stereo conversion in Sudbury, Pembroke and Timmins, and the upgrading of transmitters in Sudbury, North Bay and Timmins.
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In renewing these licences, the Commission authorizes the licensee to make use of the Vertical Blanking Interval. The Commission expects the licensee to adhere to the guidelines set out in Appendix A to Public Notice CRTC 1989-23 dated 23 March 1989 entitled "Services Using the Vertical Blanking Interval (Television) or Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation (FM)".
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With respect to services for the deaf and hearing impaired, Mid-Canada announced at the hearing its intention to install closed captioning equipment at all its station facilities by August 1991 at a cost of $170,000. This equipment will enable Mid-Canada to provide captioning of the scripted portions of its local news in Sudbury by August 1990 and in Timmins, North Bay and Pembroke by August 1991. The Commission notes that Mid-Canada's commitments in this respect exceed the minimum expectation the Commission is imposing on other television licensees.
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The Commission expects Mid-Canada to acquire a telephone device for the deaf (TDD) for each of its facilities during the first year of the new licence term and to install each TDD wherever is most appropriate, such as in the master control room, to ensure access to the stations by deaf and hearing-impaired viewers over the entire broadcast day.
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CHRO-TV PEMBROKE
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CHRO-TV was first licensed to serve the Ottawa Valley from a studio in Pembroke in 1961. In 1977, the Commission permitted the licensee to establish a second studio and a sales office in Ottawa. In renewal Decision CRTC 83-838 dated 20 September 1983, the Commission stated that it expected the licensee's local newscasts to "continue to concentrate on events and activities of interest to CHRO-TV's primary service area, the upper Ottawa Valley", and its local programming "to reflect the specific needs and lifestyle of the Pembroke/Renfrew County area". As well, the Commission, in line with past directives, reiterated that the licensee's Ottawa studio was to be used "predominantly for the production of public affairs programs".
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At the 22 November 1988 hearing, Mid-Canada stated:
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CHRO-TV continues to fulfill its mandate to provide a local community television service for Pembroke, Renfrew County and the Ottawa Valley ... For everyone in the Ottawa Valley, CHRO-TV is very much their local television station.
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The licensee went on to state that "we feel that the commitment we made in the number of hours and the program categories that we had committed to in 1982 through the course of our licence period have, in fact, reflected and continue to reflect Renfrew County and that end of the Ottawa Valley".
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During the current licence term, CHRO-TV has consistently exceeded its commitment to broadcast 10 hours 2 minutes per week of original local programming. As noted earlier, CHRO-TV broadcasts a number of programs which it produces in co-operation with other Mid-Canada stations, including "Teen Machine" and "Business Week". Also included in its schedule is the new program noted earlier, "The Secret of My Success", which is co-produced by Mid-Canada and My Country Productions, and the fishing program "Casting Out", which the licensee co-produces with MacDonnell Productions. As well, CHRO-TV acquires "Evangelical Answer" and the native religious program "Spirit Alive" from its Mid-Canada sister stations, CKNC-TV Sudbury and CFCL-TV Timmins respectively.
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CHRO-TV itself produces two weekday morning programs, one from its Pembroke studio entitled "Valley Close-up" which features interviews and community events, and one from its Ottawa studio entitled "Ottawa Today" which highlights "things that are happening in Ottawa that are relative to Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley".
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Over the course of the current licence term, CHRO-TV has also produced or co-produced such children's programs as "Bee Bop and Bubblegum" and the French-language instructional series "Marie Soleil". The Commission notes that another children's program originally developed and aired by CHRO-TV, "Puppcorn Family Fun", has evolved into the currently-scheduled program "Take Part". In its application, Mid-Canada stated that "new program concepts are continually being reviewed for children's programming". The Commission encourages CHRO-TV to continue to produce by itself or in co-operation with other licensees, or to co-produce with the independent production community quality children's programs during the new licence term.
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Other programs produced and broadcast by CHRO-TV which the licensee states have reflected its community have included "Valley Country", a 13-week musical series "featuring popular and amateur talent from the Upper Ottawa Valley", and "Bonnechere Cup", Pembroke's annual snowmobile competition.
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With respect to its plans for the future, Mid-Canada stated that "we will do everything possible to ensure that the excellent local service now provided to the people of Pembroke and Renfrew County and the Ottawa Valley is maintained". It committed in its application to broadcast an average of 11 hours 10 minutes per week of original local programs. The Commission expects CHRO-TV to maintain, at a minimum, this level of original local production during each year of the new licence term.
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At the hearing, Mid-Canada stated that new local programs to be added to its schedule in the first year of the new licence term include two half-hour children's dramas involving the Pembroke Little Theatre, a 13-week music series using Ottawa Valley talent, and a weekly 5-minute report from CFB Petawawa. The Commission expects the licensee to continue to ensure that CHRO-TV's local programming reflects the specific needs and lifestyle of viewers in the Pembroke/Renfrew County area.
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Local news will account for 3 hours 15 minutes of CHRO-TV's local production and will consist of late-evening weekday newscasts and regular two-to-four minute newsbreaks Monday to Friday between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. The Commission notes that while CHRO-TV does not broadcast an early evening newscast between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., it schedules programming which offers alternative viewing choices to that broadcast by other stations available in the area. The Commission expects the licensee to ensure that CHRO-TV's local news programming continues to concentrate on events and activities of interest to viewers of the Upper Ottawa Valley. Moreover, in line with past directives, the licensee's Ottawa studios should be used predominantly for the production of news and public affairs programming that is of interest to viewers of the Upper Ottawa Valley.
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According to its financial projections, CHRO-TV will spend $1,133,000 on Canadian programming in the first year of the licence term. As stated earlier, the Commission expects Mid-Canada to adhere to this projected first-year expenditure level, at a minimum, and to adjust its Canadian programming expenditures in subsequent years according to the formula set out in the introductory Public Notice.
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In an intervention presented at the hearing regarding CHRO-TV's renewal application, the Ottawa-Hull Film and Television Association (OHFTA) called upon the licensee to increase its involvement with independent producers in the Ottawa area and to devote more funds to program development. In response, Mid-Canada agreed with the intervener that it has "a responsibility to support the independent community" and pointed out that, "for the upcoming licence period we have substantially increased our budget [which] will translate into increased independent production activity". It stated further that "many of the investments that we are making corporately in major productions will directly benefit the Ottawa independent production community". The Commission is satisfied that the licensee has adequately addressed the intervener's concerns as expressed at the hearing.
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THE NORTHERN STATIONS: CICI-TV/CKNC-TV SUDBURY; CHNB-TV/CKNY-TV NORTH BAY; CFCL-TV/CITO-TV TIMMINS
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At the hearing, Mid-Canada described the area served by its six northern television stations and their rebroadcasters as encompassing approximately 85,000 square miles "from Parry Sound to Moosonee, from Rouyn to Blind River".
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For most of the current licence term, according to the licensee, the survival of its northern stations has been dependent on the financial support of CHRO-TV Pembroke. However, it went on to state:
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The year ending August 31, 1988 was a pivotal year in Mid-Canada's history. The north is well known for its economic volatility and we were always concerned as to whether or not we could handle the next downturn. We now believe that our position in the north has strengthened to the point where we are confident that we can overcome any reasonable degree of adversity.
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Mid-Canada attributed its strengthened position in the north to an improved regional economy, a new and favourable affiliation agreement with the CTV Network, and "a stepped up marketing effort designed to repatriate national [advertising] dollars lost to Global Television over the last six years". As a result of these developments, the licensee stated, its northern stations have, for the first time, become "an independently viable television system" able to function without relying on revenues diverted from CHRO-TV.
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Given Mid-Canada's extensive broadcasting holdings in Ontario, the Commission considers that the licensee has a unique role to play in addressing the local and regional programming needs of the communities it serves, particularly in the north. In this respect, the Commission notes the licensee's statement:
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One of the reasons we feel we have been so successful in our local programming efforts is our location here in northern Ontario. In comparison with the "major league" centers, local is still important and seeing local television programming that relates directly to our viewers is important. Because we know viewers in our communities "care" about local programming, this spurs us on to create the best programming we possibly can for them.
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In general, all of the programming broadcast on Mid-Canada's northern stations originate from its Sudbury facilities, except for local newscasts and certain other local programs produced by the stations in North Bay and Timmins. Programs produced by the licensee in Sudbury for distribution only in the north include the science magazine "The World Around Us", the human interest program "Sonja and Co.", and the sports show "Fishing the North". As well, Mid-Canada produces "The Today Show" in Sudbury which is a regional access/talk show broadcast each weekday on the licensee's CBC affiliates in the north. A similar type of program is produced locally each weekday by each of the licensee's northern CTV affiliates. In this way, Mid-Canada stated, "there is individual access and there is global access ... for all of northern Ontario".
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The Commission encourages the licensee to continue to include items originating from each of its markets in its regional information programs produced in Sudbury.
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A number of Mid-Canada's local productions broadcast in the north are co-operative ventures. At the hearing, the licensee stated:
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In our programming for the north, generally, in most cases when we produce something, we treat the three markets or/and the six stations as a unit and a good number of our programs are automatically done with the three...
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Such co-operatively-produced programs include the news magazine "Counterpoint" and "Sports Talk". Mid-Canada's northern stations also co-operate with Huron Broadcasting Limited, licensee of CHBX-TV and CJIC-TV in Sault Ste. Marie, to produce "Image North", a series of programs on special events, historic sites and local talent in the region.
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With respect to its news programming in the north, the licensee stated:
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Our first and foremost responsibility is to provide comprehensive news and public affairs programming for the people in this vast area. We are the only service of local television news in the north and we take very seriously our responsibility to keep our viewers informed of everything of importance locally as well as national and provincial items that will have significant impact in our northern communities.
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The Commission notes that Mid-Canada recently introduced locally-produced newscasts in both North Bay and Timmins to replace the regional Sunday newscasts previously produced in Sudbury. The licensee now provides separate local newscasts in each of its three northern markets every day of the week.
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The Commission also notes that in July 1988 Mid-Canada was the host broadcaster for the World Junior Track and Field Championships held in Sudbury. The licensee broadcast 40 hours of programming from this event over five days and produced a one-hour highlight package each day for distribution via satellite around the world. Mid-Canada stated in its application that "meeting the enormous technical and logistical challenge that the Championship posed has given us new confidence in our abilities and prepared us to undertake major projects in the future".
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The Commission further notes that the licensee donates unsold advertising time on its northern stations to promote and support such local causes as the Cancer Research Centre being developed in Sudbury, the Timmins General Hospital, Science North and The Grand Theatre.
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At the hearing, Mid-Canada explained that, in order to "maintain our share of the audience against fragmentation by the American stations and Global", it designs the program schedules of its twin stick operations so as to be competitive in each of its northern markets. According to the licensee, "if we put a weak program on one and a [strong] on the other, the combined total of our inventory is diminished. So, we do compete very heavily".
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(i) Sudbury
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Mid-Canada described the area served by its twin stick operation in Sudbury as extending as far as the communities of Elliot Lake, Blind River and Manitoulin Island.
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Over the course of the current licence term, CKNC-TV, the CBC affiliate, has consistently met its commitment to broadcast 7 hours of original local programs per week. For the new licence term, CKNC-TV's commitment in this respect will increase to 8 hours 43 minutes.
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Local programs produced by CKNC-TV include the weekday morning access/talk show "The Today Show", and the religious program "Evangelical Answer". CKNC-TV also broadcasts the co-operatively-produced local programs "Labour Forum", "Teen Machine" and "Sports Talk" and the children's programs "Time to Read" and "Take Part". It also acquires the religious program "Spirit Alive" from CFCL-TV, Mid-Canada's CBC affiliate in Timmins.
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CICI-TV, the CTV affiliate, has also consistently met its local programming commitment during the current licence term. For the new licence term, CICI-TV has increased its commitment in this respect from 12 hours 50 minutes to 13 hours 26 minutes of original local productions per week.
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Local programs produced by CICI-TV include the community access/talk show "The Peter Mallette Show", the news magazine "News Conference" as well as the science magazine "The World Around Us" and "Fishing the North". CICI-TV also broadcasts the co-operatively-produced local programs "Business Week", "Counterpoint" and "Image North", as well as "The Secret of My Success" which is co-produced by Mid-Canada and My Country Productions.
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The Commission notes that Mid-Canada produces both early and late evening local newscasts in Sudbury: the early evening newscast, which is produced seven days a week, is broadcast on CICI-TV, while the late evening newscast, which is produced every night except Saturday, is simulcast on CICI-TV and CKNC-TV.
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CKNC-TV and CICI-TV each intends to produce five musical/variety specials during the first year of the new licence term. Specials on CKNC-TV will include the "Mid-Canada Talent Caravan" and Christmas programs involving local choirs and other musical groups. Those on CICI-TV will also include Christmas programs as well as an outdoor summer concert involving northern Ontario musical groups. Also, the Commission notes that since 1985/86 CICI-TV has involved area children and the Sudbury Theatre Centre in the production of two annual half-hour drama specials entitled "Children and Television". The licensee stated that children work with local theatre people and Mid-Canada television staff to write, produce and perform in these specials. Mid-Canada intends to continue producing this type of special in Sudbury during the new licence term.
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According to Mid-Canada's financial projections, CKNC-TV and CICI-TV will expend $765,000 and $952,000 respectively on Canadian programming in the first year of the new licence term.
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(ii) North Bay
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Mid-Canada described the area served by its North Bay twin stick operation as extending "down into Huntsville and Mattawa, North Bay proper, up north, [to] Temiscaming".
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CHNB-TV, the CBC affiliate, committed in its application to broadcast an average of 4 hours 50 minutes of original local programs per week during the new licence term. CHNB-TV currently produces the real estate program "Home Buyers' Magazine"; it also produces "Sports Talk" and "Teen Machine" in co-operation with other Mid-Canada stations. In addition, it acquires a number of programs produced by the licensee's other CBC affiliates, including "Labour Forum", "The Today Show" and the children's programs "Take Part" and "A Time to Read".
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CKNY-TV, the CTV affiliate, committed in its application to broadcast an average of 10 hours 46 minutes of original local programs per week during the new licence term. CKNY-TV currently produces the weekday morning access/talk show "Everyday People" and the evening news magazine "Mid North Focus", and produces "Counterpoint" and "Business Week" in co-operation with other Mid-Canada stations. It is also involved in "Image North", which is produced in co-operation with Huron Broadcasting Limited. In addition, CKNY-TV acquires a number of programs produced by the licensee's other CTV affiliates, including "The World Around Us", "Sonja and Co." and "Fishing the North".
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The Commission notes that Mid-Canada produces both early and late evening local newscasts for its North Bay market: the early evening newscast, which is produced seven days a week, is broadcast on CKNY-TV, while the late evening newscast, which is produced every night except Saturday, is simulcast on CKNY-TV and CHNB-TV.
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CHNB-TV and CKNY-TV each intends to produce a limited number of musical/variety and other specials featuring local talent during the first year of the new licence term. These include the "Mid-Canada Talent Caravan" to be broadcast on CHNB-TV and two half-hour dramas to be patterned after the licensee's "Children and Television" drama specials in Sudbury.
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According to Mid-Canada's financial projections, CHNB-TV and CKNY-TV will expend $306,000 and $385,000 respectively on Canadian programming in the first year of the new licence term.
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(iii) Timmins
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Mid-Canada described the area served by its twin stick operation in Timmins as being "rather large because of the rebroads: We go up into Kapuskasing and then we go all the way into Rouyn." For this reason, it noted, "the numbers of the people and staff members that serve from the Timmins station are spread over a much greater area than the others". The licensee stated that, in addition to those in Timmins, it has staff members working out of Kapuskasing, Kirkland Lake and Rouyn/Noranda.
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CFCL-TV, the CBC affiliate, committed in its application to broadcast an average of 7 hours 49 minutes of original local programs per week during the new licence term. CFCL-TV, together with local native people, currently produces "Spirit Alive", which the licensee describes as "a program with spiritual values specifically directed at the native population". The Commission notes that this program is also broadcast by the licensee's CBC affiliates in Sudbury and North Bay and by CHRO-TV Pembroke. Programs produced in co-operation with the licensee's other stations or produced by them and broadcast by CFCL-TV are the same as those broadcast by CHNB-TV North Bay.
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CITO-TV, the CTV affiliate, committed in its application to broadcast an average of 10 hours 46 minutes of original local programs per week during the new licence term. CITO-TV currently produces the weekday morning access/talk show "Midday" and the evening news magazine "On the Issue". Programs produced in co-operation with the licensee's other stations or produced by them and broadcast by CITO-TV are the same as those broadcast by CKNY-TV North Bay.
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The Commission notes that Mid-Canada produces an early evening local newscast in Timmins seven days a week and a late evening local newscast every night except Saturday. Both newscasts are simulcast on CFCL-TV and CITO-TV. The Commission also notes that, by simulcasting the early evening newscast on CFCL-TV, the licensee permits viewers in Hearst to have access to a local news service.
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CFCL-TV and CITO-TV each intends to produce a limited number of musical/variety specials using local talent during the first year of the new licence term, including the "Mid-Canada Talent Caravan" to be broadcast on CFCL-TV. At the hearing, the licensee also indicated that it will begin producing its "Children and Television" drama specials in Timmins in the first year of the new term.
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According to Mid-Canada's financial projections, CFCL-TV and CITO-TV will expend $324,000 and $407,000 respectively on Canadian programming in the first year of the new licence term.
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(iv) The Commission's Expectations for the Northern Stations
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At the hearing, Mid-Canada expressed confidence concerning the future state of the economy in northern Ontario. According to the licensee, local advertising sales in Sudbury, Timmins and North Bay have increased by 6.6% over the previous year and it projected that sales would continue to grow at the same approximate rate in the future. Nevertheless, the licensee went on to state:
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... the commitments in our written application for our northern Ontario television stations are not conditional on any future event. We will meet these commitments whatever the future may bring.
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Accordingly, the Commission expects the licensee during each year of the new licence term to maintain, at a minimum, the weekly levels of original local production hours which it committed to achieve in respect of each of its northern stations. Further, as stated earlier, the Commission expects Mid-Canada to adhere to its projected first-year expenditure levels on Canadian programming for each of its stations, at a minimum, and to adjust these expenditures in subsequent years according to the formula set out in the Public Notice introducing this and other television renewal decisions issued today.
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CONCLUSION
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Based on the licensee's accomplishments as reviewed at the National Capital Region hearing, including its substantial activities in the production of high quality Canadian programming, its participation with independent producers and in co-operative productions involving its various stations and, on occasion, other licensees, and its reflection in its local programming of the specific needs and lifestyles of the communities within the vast area it is licensed to serve, the Commission is satisfied with the licensee's performance in respect of CHRO-TV and its six northern television stations during the current term of licence.
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Moreover, taking into account the licensee's commitments to make substantial contributions to the production of high quality Canadian programs over the next five years, particularly local programs, the Commission is satisfied that the licences for CHRO-TV and Mid-Canada's six northern Ontario television stations and their rebroadcasters should be renewed for a full term.
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The Commission acknowledges the supporting intervention submitted by Northcare which commended Mid-Canada for its efforts in support of the communities in northern Ontario through programs such as "Image North" and encouraged the licensee to continue its efforts in this respect in the future. The Commission also acknowledges the intervention from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) which is addressed in the Public Notice introducing this and other television renewal decisions issued today.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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APPENDIX I
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Conditions of licence for CHRO-TV Pembroke; CKNC-TV Sudbury; CHNB-TV North Bay; and CFCL-TV Timmins and its rebroadcasting undertakings CFCL-TV-2 Kearns and CFCL-TV-3 Kapuskasing, Ontario
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1. The licensee shall operate this broadcasting undertaking as part of the English-language television network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
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2. The licensee shall adhere to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' self-regulatory guidelines on sex-role stereotyping, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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3. The licensee shall adhere to the provisions of the Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children published by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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APPENDIX II
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Conditions of licence for CICI-TV Sudbury and its rebroadcasting undertaking CICI-TV-1 Elliot Lake; CKNY-TV North Bay; and CITO-TV Timmins and its rebroadcasting undertakings CITO-TV-1 Kapuskasing and CITO-TV-2 Kearns, Ontario
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1. The licensee shall operate this broadcasting undertaking as part of the network operated by CTV Television Network Ltd.
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2. The licensee shall adhere to the Canadian Association of Broadcaster's self-regulatory guidelines on sex-role stereotyping, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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3. The licensee shall adhere to the provisions of the Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children published by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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