ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-344

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-344

Ottawa, 6 November 2002

Jamil Nowwarah, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated
Across Canada

Application 2001-0955-5
Public Hearing at Québec, Quebec
18 February 2002

Arabic Television Network - Category 2 specialty service

In this decision, the Commission approves an application to operate a new Category 2 specialty television service.

1.

The Commission received an application by Jamil Nowwarah, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated (Jamil Nowwarah, OBCI), for a broadcasting licence to operate an ethnic Category 2¹ specialty television service to be known as Arabic Television Network.

2.

The applicant proposed to offer general interest programming targeting Arab-speaking audiences, with not less than 75% of all programming in the Arabic language.

3.

The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application.

4.

Based on its examination of this application, the Commission is satisfied that it is in conformity with all applicable terms and conditions announced in Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services - Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice 2000-171-1, 6 March 2001 (Public Notice 2000-171-1). Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Jamil Nowwarah, OBCI for a licence to operate the Arabic Television Network programming service.

Conditions of licence

5.

The licence will expire 31 August 2009, and will be subject to the conditions set out in Public Notice 2000-171-1 as well as to the following conditions:

For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, broadcast day refers to the 24-hour period beginning at 6:00 a.m. each day.

Issuance of the licence

6.

A licence will be issued once the licensee has satisfied the Commission, with supporting documentation, that the following requirements have been met:

• an eligible Canadian corporation has been incorporated in accordance with the application in all material respects;

• the licensee has entered into a distribution agreement with at least one licensed distributor; and

• the licensee has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 36 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 6 November 2005. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before this date.

Secretary General