ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2000-208
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Decision CRTC 2000-208 |
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Ottawa, 21 June 2000 |
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Telemedia Radio West Inc. Dawson Creek, British Columbia; and Grande Prairie, Alberta – 199805248 |
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Application processed by Public Notice CRTC 2000-15 dated 31 January 2000 |
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Addition of a transmitter at Grande Prairie to broadcast the programs of CJDC-TV Dawson Creek – Denied |
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1. |
The Commission denies the application by Telemedia Radio West Inc. to amend the broadcasting licence for the television programming undertaking, CJDC-TV Dawson Creek (the originating station). Telemedia had requested authority to add a transmitter at Grande Prairie to broadcast programs originating from CJDC-TV, a CBC affiliate. |
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Interventions |
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2. |
In its opposing intervention, the CBC argued that Telemedia should not be allowed to establish the proposed transmitter at Grande Prairie because the community is already served by a CBC owned and operated station, CBXAT. It rebroadcasts the programming of CBXT Edmonton. The intervener stated that its affiliation agreement with Telemedia allows it to distribute CBC programs only on the applicant's current television undertakings, and to cover markets not presently served by CBC owned and operated television undertakings. The CBC further argued that the proposed transmitter would have a negative financial impact on the CBC because CBXAT would be forced to compete with U.S. programming carried on the affiliate station. According to the CBC, such competition could cost it revenue losses of between $290,000 to $725,000 a year. The intervener added that, since Dawson Creek does not change to daylight savings time, the programming offered by CBXAT would also compete, for six months of the year, with the same programming offered an hour later on the CBC affiliate. |
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3. |
Three other opposing interveners expressed concern that the proposed rebroadcasting transmitter might displace CITV-TV (IND) Edmonton on the cable system serving Grande Prairie. |
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4. |
In response, Telemedia claimed that the affiliation agreement was not intended to prevent an affiliate from expanding its coverage. Telemedia also disagreed that the proposed transmitter would generate competition that would harm the CBC financially. |
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5. |
With respect to the interveners' concerns regarding the displacement of CITV-TV, Telemedia noted that it is the local cable operator who makes decisions regarding the channel placement of a service. |
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The Commission's decision |
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6. |
Grande Prairie is currently served by CBXAT, CITV-TV, CFRN-TV (CTV) Edmonton and CKEM-TV (IND) Edmonton (A channel). According to CJDC-TV's Fall 1999 programming schedule, 21 of the total 28 hours available each week between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., the peak viewing period, were devoted to programming originating with the CBC. Four of the remaining seven hours were broadcasts of U.S. programming that was aired simultaneously on CITV-TV. While Telemedia did not propose to originate any programming from Grande Prairie, it did make a commitment to include references to that community during CJDC-TV's existing regional news programming. Accordingly, had it already been licensed during the autumn of 1999, 90% of the peak-hour programming that would have been offered by the proposed transmitter would have duplicated programming already available in the Grande Prairie market. The Commission considers that the proposed transmitter would offer minimal diversity and could have a negative effect on existing television services. |
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7. |
In its revised television policy set out in Public Notice CRTC 1999-97 and applied subsequently in Decision CRTC 99-163, the Commission reiterated its longstanding policy that television licensees seeking rebroadcasters which wish to solicit local advertising in the new area must offer separate, local programming to residents of that area. Telemedia proposed to offer only a token Grande Prairie presence during regional newscasts. |
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8. |
In Decision CRTC 2000-1 renewing the licence for the CBC's English-language television network, the Commission required the licensee, by condition of licence, to broadcast regional programming during the peak viewing period. The Commission is concerned that approval of the present application could lead to a reduction in the CBC's regional advertising revenues and could impair the licensee's ability to fulfil its obligations regarding regional programming. |
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9. |
Based on all of the foregoing, the Commission has denied Telemedia's application to add a rebroadcasting transmitter of CJDC-TV at Grande Prairie. |
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Related CRTC document |
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• Public Notice 1999-97 – Building on success - A policy framework for Canadian television |
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Secretary General |
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| This decision is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca |
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