ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 95-641
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Ottawa, 29 August 1995
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Decision CRTC 95-641
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Saskatchewan Communications Network Corporation
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Regina, Saskatchewan - 941451700
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Licence renewal
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Following a Public Hearing in Winnipeg, beginning on 5 June 1995, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence to carry on a non-commercial satellite to cable programming undertaking issued to the Saskatchewan Communications Network Corporation (SCN) for the purpose of distributing educational programming from 1 September 1995 to 31 August 1999, subject to the conditions in effect under the current licence, as well as to those conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.
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This four-year term will enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at an earlier date in order to assess the licensee's compliance with the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987 (the Regulations).
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In Decision CRTC 91-98, which initially licensed SCN, the licensee was required, by condition of licence, to adhere to the requirements of the regulations. The Commission also noted in that decision SCN's commitment to broadcast a minimum of 60% Canadian content over the entire broadcast day and no less than 50% during the evening broadcast period. The Commission's analysis of programming broadcast for 1993-94, as confirmed by the licensee, revealed a Canadian content level of 56.8% for the broadcast year, measured on the basis of the broadcast day, which is below the 60% required by the regulations.
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The Commission views with great concern the licensee's failure to comply with this regulatory requirement. It intends to monitor the licensee's performance during the new licence term, and directs the licensee to take all necessary measures to ensure that the regulations are adhered to at all times.
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With respect to SCN's strategic and long-term plans for programs and programming production directed towards the provision of a quality educational service, the Commission notes that the licensee intends to develop interactive and multimedia programming, include more instructional programming, and provide culturally relevant programming, including telecourses and skills enhancement programs as well as more traditional informational types of programming. In addition, the Commission notes that SCN plans to increase the level of programming produced in Saskatchewan and, depending on its success in developing new revenue sources, to increase the level of its investment in Saskatchewan program production by 50% over the next five years.
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The Commission also notes SCN's plans to initiate a digital compression system that will allow for the broadcast of closed-captioned programming at any time. The Commission expects this system to be implemented as soon as possible so that maximum use might be made of closed-captioned programming. In Public Notice CRTC 1995-48, small private television stations were encouraged to close caption at least 90% of all programming during the broadcast day by the end of a seven-year licence term. The Commission considers that this is an appropriate goal for SCN, and will review progress in this regard at the time of the next licence renewal.
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In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 dated 1 September 1992 and entitled "Implementation of an Employment Equity Policy", the Commission announced that the employment equity practices of broadcasters would be subject to examination by the Commission. In this regard, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.
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Consistent with Decision CRTC 91-98, it is a condition of licence that SCN adhere to the requirements of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987.
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It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) "Sex-Role Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming", as amended from time to time and accepted by the Commission.
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It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the guidelines on the depiction of violence in television programming set out in the CAB's "Voluntary Code Regarding Violence in Television Programming", as amended from time to time and accepted by the Commission.
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The Commission acknowledges the numerous interventions submitted in support of this application.
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Allan J. Darling
Secretary General |
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- Date modified: