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ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-333

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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-333

  Ottawa, 11 August 2004
  Discovery Kids Canada Company
Across Canada
  Application 2003-1903-9
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-22
2 April 2004
 

Licence amendment for Discovery Kids

  The Commission approves the application byDiscovery Kids Canada Company to amend the licence for the national Category 2 specialty television service known as Discovery Kids in order to increase the amount of drama programming that may be broadcast by the service.
1. The Commission received an application by Discovery Kids Canada Company to amend the broadcasting licence for the national English-language Category 2 specialty television service known as Discovery Kids. The licensee proposed to amend its conditions of licence defining its nature of service in order to increase the amount of programming drawn from category 7 (Drama and comedy) specified in condition of licence 1. c) from no more than 10% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week tono more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast year.
2. The Commission received thirty-five interventions in support of this application.
3. In Discovery Kids, Decision CRTC 2000-525, 24 November 2000 and 14 December 2000, the Commission imposed the following condition of licence defining the nature of service that Discovery Kids could provide:
 

1. a) The licensee shall provide a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service that offers children of all ages a fun, entertaining way to satisfy their natural curiosity with stimulating, imaginative programming that asks the questions of how? and why? and awakens the power of the mind. The schedule shall include interactive programming as well as action-packed programs with unforgetable characters and real life young heroes.

 

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

 

c) No more than 10% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week shall be drawn from category 7.

4.

The licensee submitted that the current condition of licence 1. c) limits the amount of drama programming which may be broadcast each week to just over four hours making it difficult to schedule compelling dramatic programming that complements its infotainment offerings. According to the licensee, the current limitations on the amount of drama programming it is permitted to broadcast also create difficulties when it wishes to offer special event programming blocks.

5. In Licensing framework policy for new digital pay and specialty services, Public Notice CRTC 2000-6, 13 January 2000, the Commission implemented a competitive, open-entry approach to licensing Category 2 services. While the Commission does not consider the impact that a new Category 2 service might have on an existing Category 2 service, it does seek to ensure that newly licensed Category 2 services do not compete directly with any existing pay or specialty television service, including any Category 1 service.
6. Consistent with its policy, the Commission has examined the application to determine whether the proposed change would make Discovery Kids competitive with any existing specialty, pay or Category 1 service. The Commission has determined that approval of the proposed licence amendment would not make Discovery Kids directly competitive with any of these services. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Discovery Kids Canada Company to amend the broadcasting licence for Discovery Kids by amending condition of licence 1.c) in order to increase the amount of programming drawn from category 7 (Drama and comedy) tono more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast year.
7. The licensee's condition of licence 1. c) now reads as follows:
 

c) No more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast year shall be drawn from category 7.

  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: 2004-08-11

Date modified: