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Canadian Satellite Communications Inc. (Cancom)
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Across Canada - 199704466
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Addition of Radio-France outre-mer (RFO1)
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1. Following Public Notice CRTC 1997-102 dated 25 July 1997, the Commission approves the application to amend the broadcasting licence to carry on a multiple channel television and radio broadcasting relay distribution undertaking by adding Radio-France outre-mer (RFO1) Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to the list of signals that Cancom is authorized to distribute. Cancom also requested that RFO1 be added to the List of Part 2 Eligible Satellite Services (Section A) and the List of Part 3 Eligible Satellite Services.
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2. In support of its application, Cancom stated that the distribution of RFO1, a general interest French programming service featuring news, public affairs and magazine programs, would be complementary to the programming offered by the Canadian specialty service TV5 and that any similarity in the programming would be minimal.
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3. The Commission received six interventions in support of the application.
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4. The Commission also received an opposing intervention from Télé-Métropole inc. (Télé-Métropole), licensee of the TVA network. Télé-Métropole suggested that the distribution of RFO1 would be detrimental to conventional television services by adding to the audience fragmentation associated with the introduction of new specialty services. Télé-Métropole noted that a large portion of RFO1's schedule is made up of U.S. series and movies for which, in many cases, exclusive Canadian rights are held by distributors in French Canada, which would be RFO1's primary market. Télé-Métropole suggested that the application be denied or, if approved, that RFO1 be added to Section B of the list. This would limit RFO1's impact by restricting distribution of the signal to a tier that would include Canadian pay television services.
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5. In its reply to the intervention, Cancom opposed the suggestion that the signal be added to section B, stating that it would not be economic in view of the expense that it must incur in making the signal available in Canada. Cancom noted that Télé-Métropole's was the only opposing intervention and reiterated its view that distribution of RFO1 would add to the diversity of programming available to francophone subscribers by adding an international element and would ensure a better balance between French and English-language services.
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6. The Commission has examined closely the comments expressed in Télé-Métropole's intervention as well as Cancom's reply thereto. The Commission notes that RFO1 will not generate any advertising revenue in Canada and so would have limited impact on the advertising revenues of Canadian television broadcasters. The Commission is further satisfied that approval of this application is in the public interest.
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7. In Public Notice CRTC 1998-7 of today's date entitled Revised Lists of Eligible Satellite Services, the Commission has amended the lists to reflect the approval granted herein.
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This decision is to be appended to the licence.
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Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General
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This document is available in alternative format upon request.
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