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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-367 |
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Ottawa, 2 August 2005 |
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The Family Channel Inc.
Across Canada |
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Application 2004-1430-1
Public Hearing at Niagara Falls, Ontario
6 June 2005 |
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The Parent Channel - Category 2 specialty service |
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In this decision, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new Category 2 specialty programming undertaking. |
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The application |
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The Commission received an application by The Family Channel Inc. (Family Channel) for a broadcasting licence to operate a national English-language Category 21 specialty programming undertaking to be known as The Parent Channel. |
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The applicant proposed to offer a service that would be devoted to providing informative and entertaining programming to parents and caregivers and children from infancy through the teen years. The service would focus on educational themes of interest to parents and caregivers such as discipline, safety and emotional and physical development. All of the programming would be drawn from the following categories, as set out in Schedule 1 of the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990: 2a (Analysis and interpretation), 2b (Long-form documentary), 3 (Reporting and actualities), 5a (Formal education and pre-school), 5b (Informal education/Recreation and leisure), 7a (Ongoing dramatic series), 7b (Ongoing comedy series) (sitcoms), 7c (Specials, mini-series or made-for-TV feature films), 7d (Theatrical feature films aired on TV), 7e (Animated television programs and films), 7g (Other drama), 11 (General entertainment and human interest), 12 (Interstitials), 13 (Public service announcements), and 14 (Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos). The applicant also proposed that no more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week would be drawn from Category 7 (Drama and comedy). |
3. |
The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application. |
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Commission's analysis and determination |
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The Commission is satisfied that the application 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 CRTC 2000-171-1, 6 March 2001 (Public Notice 2000-171-1). Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by The Family Channel Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate the national English-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking, The Parent Channel. |
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The licence will expire 31 August 2011, and will be subject to the conditions set out in Public Notice 2000-171-1, as well as to the conditions set out in the appendix to this decision. |
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Issuance of the licence |
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A licence will be issued once the applicant has satisfied the Commission, with supporting documentation, that the following requirements have been met: |
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- the applicant has entered into a distribution agreement with at least one licensed distributor; and
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- 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 36 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 2 August 2008. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before that date.
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Secretary General |
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This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca |
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Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-367 |
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Conditions of licence |
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1. The licence will be subject to the conditions set out in Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services - Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice CRTC 2000-171-1, 6 March 2001.
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2. The licensee shall provide a national English-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking devoted to providing informative and entertaining programming to parents and caregivers and children from infancy through the teen years. The service will focus on educational themes of interest to parents and caregivers such as discipline, safety and emotional and physical development.
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3. The programming shall be drawn exclusively from the following categories, as set out in Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time:
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2 (a) Analysis and interpretation
(b) Long-form documentary
3 Reporting and actualities
5 (a) Formal education and pre-school
(b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure
7 Drama and comedy
(a) Ongoing dramatic series
(b) Ongoing comedy series (sitcoms)
(c) Specials, mini-series or made-for-TV feature films
(d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV
(e) Animated television programs and films
(g) Other drama
11 General entertainment and human interest
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos
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4. No more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week shall be drawn from Category 7 (Drama and comedy).
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For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, including condition of licence no.1, broadcast day refers to the 24-hour period beginning each day at 6 a.m., or any other period approved by the Commission.
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Footnote:
The Category 2 services are defined in Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services, Public Notice CRTC 2000-171, 14 December 2000. |
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