ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 96-694

Decision

Ottawa, 17 October 1996

Decision CRTC 96-694

Videon Cablesystems Inc.

Part of Winnipeg, Manitoba- 951608900

Licence renewal

Following Public Notice CRTC 1996-85 dated 19 June 1996 and Decision CRTC 96-527 dated 27 August 1996, the Commission renews the Class 1 licence held by Videon Cablesystems Inc. (Videon), for the cable distribution undertaking serving part of Winnipeg, from 1 December 1996 to 31 August 2003.

The operation of this undertaking is regulated pursuant to Parts I, II and IV of the Cable Television Regulations, 1986 (the regulations) and the licence will be 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.

In addition to the services required or authorized to be distributed pursuant to the applicable sections of the regulations, the licensee is authorized, by condition of licence, to continue to distribute, at its option, KARE-TV (NBC) and WCCO-TV (CBS) Minneapolis, Minnesota, as well as the Silent Network, received via satellite, as part of the basic service.

The licensee is also authorized to continue to distribute, at its option, KGFE (PBS) Grand Forks and WDAZ-TV (ABC) Devils Lake, North Dakota, received via microwave, as part of the basic service, as well as the audio programming services of KNOX-FM Grand Forks and WDAY-FM Fargo, North Dakota, received via microwave, on audio channels of the undertaking.

Further, Videon is authorized to continue to distribute, at its option, the following programming services, without advertising material: National Film Board documentaries, video programming presented in co-operation with non-profit Manitoba tourism groups, Manitoba Department of Education programming, native programming supplied by Native Communications Inc., Manitoba Jockey Club Inc., received by wireline, Videon local productions and a cable menu service.

As a consequence of amendments to the regulations announced in Public Notice CRTC 1994-7 dated 3 February 1994, the licensee's proposal to continue to distribute the distant signal of CFTM-TV (TVA) Montréal, as part of the basic service, is consistent with the amended regulations and no longer requires authorization.

Consistent with Decision CRTC 95-848 dated 15 November 1995, the licensee is authorized, by condition of licence, to insert, at its option, certain promotional material as a substitute for the "local availabilities" (i.e. non-Canadian advertising material) of non-Canadian satellite services. At least 75% of these local availabilities must be made available for use by licensed Canadian programming services for the promotion of their respective services, for the promotion of the community channel and for unpaid Canadian public service announcements. A maximum of 25% of the local availabilities may be made available for the promotion of discretionary programming services and packages, customer service information, channel realignments, cable FM service and additional cable outlets.

Consistent with Decision CRTC 91-43 dated 16 January 1991, it is a condition of licence that Videon ensure that its agreement with Shaw Cablesystems (Manitoba) Ltd. to operate and share in the ownership and control of a distant head end located at Tolstoi, Manitoba continues to be in force and effect, and that future and existing licensees are afforded the opportunity to participate in the use of the distant head end on an equitable basis.

The Commission reaffirms the particular importance it attaches to the development of community programming and has taken note of the annual budgets that will be allocated for this purpose during the new licence term. The Commission encourages the licensee to continue its efforts to develop programs that reflect community interests and concerns.

In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 dated 1 September 1992 and entitled "Imple-mentation 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.

The Commission acknowledges an opposing intervention to this renewal application and it is satisfied with the licensee's reply thereto.

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

 Allan J. Darling
 Secretary General