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Decision
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Ottawa, 23 May 1989
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Decision CRTC 89-284
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Sirois Câble Inc.
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Chandler, Pabos, Pabos Mills, Newport and surrounding areas, Quebec - 882878200
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In Public Notice CRTC 1989-19 dated 21 February 1989, the Commission announced that it had received an application from Sirois Câble Inc. to amend the licence for the broadcasting receiving undertaking serving the communities noted above by distributing the complete programming service of TCTV (TVA) Montreal, received via satellite from the CANCOM network, even though a local undertaking affiliated with the TVA network distributes certain programs that are identical.
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The Commission notes that, pursuant to section 24 of the regulations, this Part III licensee is required to delete duplicate programming or substitute the local TVA service when the programming is identical.
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In assessing this application, the Commission has taken into consideration the licensee's arguments that due to interference and signal reliability problems the reception quality of the local TVA affiliate service, CHAU-TV-5 Percé, is not adequate.
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Interventions were received from Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs Inc., licensee of CHAU-TV-5, and the Réseau Pathonic Inc., licensee of television stations in Quebec, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières and Rimouski, opposing the application on the grounds that the proposal would result in duplication of service, loss of revenue for the local station as network payments are calculated on the basis of audience tuning, and a proportional reduction in the amount of local originations. In reply, Sirois Câble Inc. stated that a recent technical assessment conducted by the Departement of Communications confirmed the unsatisfactory signal quality of CHAU-TV-5 on the Chandler system and expressed the view that the loss of its 2,125 subscribers would have minimal impact on the financial performance of the local station.
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In view of the foregoing, the Commission is satisfied that, unless the signal quality of the local affiliate, CHAU-TV-5, is improved, the proposed distribution of the complete TCTV service on the Chandler cable system is in the public interest and, accordingly, approves the licensee's application. The Commission intends to review this matter when it considers the renewal of the licence for this cable system in 1991.
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The Commission acknowledges the supporting interventions received from Briand et Moreau Câble Inc. and Télédistribution de la Gaspésie 25453739 Inc.
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Fernand Bélisle Secretary General
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