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ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-127

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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-127

  Ottawa, 19 March 2004
  AJIT Broadcasting Corporation Inc.
Across Canada
  Application 2003-0710-0
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
12 January 2004
 

Voice of Asia - Specialty audio service

  In this decision, the Commission approves the operation of a new Punjabi-, Urdu-, Hindi- and English-language specialty audio service.
 

The application

1.

The Commission received an application by AJIT Broadcasting Corporation Inc. (AJIT) for a broadcasting licence to operate a Punjabi-, Urdu-, Hindi- and English-language specialty audio service to be known as Voice of Asia.

2.

The applicant proposed a programming service that would be available for national distribution by broadcasting distribution undertakings. The applicant also proposed that a minimum of 65% of the spoken word programming aired in each broadcast week would be in the Punjabi language, 15% would be in the Urdu language, a minimum of 15% would be in the Hindi language, and the remainder would be in English. The applicant further proposed that no more than 25 hours of the service's spoken word programming would be religious programming. The service would provide the Canadian South Asian community with news and information programming, as well as music and entertainment content.

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 New licensing framework for specialty audio programming services, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2002-53, 12 September 2002. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by AJIT Broadcasting Corporation Inc. for a licence to operate the Voice of Asia programming service.
 

Issuance of the licence

5.

The Commission will issue a licence once the applicant has satisfied the Commission, with supporting documentation, that the following requirements have been met:
 
  • the applicant has entered into a distribution agreement with at least one licensed distributor; and
 
  • the applicant 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 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 19 March 2006. 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.

6.

The licence will expire 31 August 2010, and will be subject to the conditions set out in the appendix to this decision.
 

Employment equity

7.

In accordance with Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992, 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. 
  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: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
 

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-127

 

Conditions of licence

 

1. The licensee shall provide a national specialty audio programming service directed to the Canadian South Asian community. Of the spoken word programming aired in each broadcast week, a minimum of 65% shall be in the Punjabi language, a minimum of 15% shall be in the Urdu language, a minimum of 15% shall be in the Hindi language, and the remainder shall be in English. In each broadcast week, a minimum of 50% of the vocal musical selections aired shall be in the Punjabi language, a minimum of 10% shall be in the Urdu language and a minimum of 8% shall be in the Hindi language. In addition, a minimum of 80% of the spoken word programming in each broadcast week shall be produced in Canada.

 

2. No more than 25 hours of the spoken word programming in each broadcast week shall be religious programming.

 

3. The licensee shall adhere to the provisions set out in Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993.

 

4. The licensee shall adhere to the provisions of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Broadcast code for advertising to children and to the CAB's Sex-role portrayal code for television and radio programming, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

 

5. The licensee shall adhere to sections 2.2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986.

 

6. The licensee shall adhere to the Broadcasting Licence Fee Regulations, 1997 if its revenues derived from broadcasting activities exceed the threshold amount of $2 million.

 

For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, broadcast day shall have the same meaning as that set out in section 2 of the Radio Regulations, 1986.

Date Modified: 2004-03-19

Date modified: