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ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2001-549

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Decision CRTC 2001-549

Ottawa, 4 September 2001

Stuart Media Group Inc.
Across Canada 2001-0524-8

24 July 2001 Public Hearing
National Capital Region

The Gaming Channel

The Commission approves a Category 2 specialty television service to be known as The Gaming Channel. The terms and conditions generally applicable to Category 2 services are set out in Public Notice CRTC 2000-171-1.

Conditions of licence

1.

The licence, when issued, will expire 31 August 2008 and will be subject to the following conditions as well as to those set out in both Public Notice CRTC 2000-171-1 andin the licence to be issued.

Nature of service

a) The licensee shall provide a national, English-language Category 2 specialty television service, providing live-event interactive programming about gaming or involving gaming. The service will offer programming including shorts and Canadian original programs about gaming that will be knowledge-based and entertaining, with a focus on providing unique insights into daily events of the gaming world and its participants. The service will also allow viewers to play along with Bingo Games, and will provide experimental, interactive and informational programming on gaming odds, lotteries, and the gaming experience in general.

b) The programming must be drawn exclusively from the following categories, as set out in Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990:
1, 2(a), 2(b), 5(b), 6(a), 6(b), 7(a), 7(b), 7(c), 7(e), 7(f), 7(g), 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

c) The licensee shall not provide coverage of traditional competitive sports such as baseball, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, golf and racing.

Definitions

2.

Broadcast day refers to the 24-hour period beginning at 6:00 a.m. each day.

Intervention

3.

CTV Inc. submitted an intervention stating that it had been unable to determine which live events the proposed service would broadcast. It also stated that all Category 2 services with a sports element should be restricted to a 5% maximum limit on the amount of live event coverage they broadcast. In addition, the intervener suggested that The Gaming Channel should be limited to a maximum of 15% drama programming per week.

4.

In response to the intervention, the applicant stated that the proposed service would fundamentally be a live events channel, with large sections of the programming to consist of live Bingos and lottery draws. The applicant confirmed, however, that it would not broadcast feature films.

5.

The Commission has considered the views of both the applicant and the intervener, and is satisfied that the conditions set out above are consistent with the provisions contained in Public Notice CRTC 2000-6, Licensing framework policy for new digital pay and specialty services.

Related CRTC documents

· Public Notices 2000-171 and 2000-171-1 - Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca

Date Modified: 2001-09-04

Date modified: