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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-594
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Ottawa, 19 December 2005
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CTV Specialty Television Inc., on behalf of The NHL Network Inc., CTV Television Inc., The Sports Network Inc. and 1163031 Ontario Inc.
Across Canada
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Applications 2005-0729-6, 2005-0726-2, 2005-0728-8, 2005-0727-0
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2005-96
13 October 2005
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Licence amendments
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The Commission approves the applications for licence amendments that would allow the licensees to avail themselves of the incentive program for English-language Canadian television drama set out in Incentives for English-language Canadian television drama, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-93, 29 November 2004.
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The applications
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1.
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The Commission received applications by CTV Specialty Television Inc., on behalf of The NHL Network Inc., licensee of The NHL Network; CTV Television Inc., licensee of CTV Travel; The Sports Network Inc., licensee of ESPN Classic Canada; and 1163031 Ontario Inc., licensee of Outdoor Life Network, to amend the broadcasting licences for these specialty programming undertakings.
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2.
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The proposed amendments would allow the licensees to avail themselves of the incentive program for English-language Canadian television drama set out in Incentives for English-language Canadian television drama, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-93, 29 November 2004 (Public Notice 2004-93).
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Background
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3.
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In Public Notice 2004-93, the Commission announced an incentive program designed to increase the production and the broadcast of, the viewing to, and the expenditures on, high quality, original, Canadian drama programming. The Commission stated that a licensee that meets the criteria of the drama incentive program would be permitted to broadcast additional minutes of advertising, beyond the limits set out in applicable regulations or conditions of licence. The Commission specified that such a licensee must apply for a condition of licence in order to avail itself of the incentive program.
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Intervention
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4.
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The Commission received an intervention in opposition to these applications. The intervener expressed concern that approval of the proposed licence amendment would result in a possible increase in advertising minutes broadcast by the licensees.
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5.
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CTV Specialty Television Inc. did not respond to the intervention.
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Commission's analysis and determination
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6.
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In Public Notice 2004-93, the Commission noted that the additional advertising minutes earned through the drama incentive program will be placed in popular foreign programs that already contain more than 14 minutes of program interruptions in each hour. Accordingly, the Commission is satisfied that Canadian viewers will not experience an increase in program interruptions.
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7.
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The Commission approves the applications by CTV Specialty Television Inc., on behalf of The NHL Network Inc., CTV Television Inc., The Sports Network Inc., and 1163031 Ontario Inc., to amend the broadcasting licences for the specialty programming undertakings listed in Appendix I to this decision in order to add the following condition of licence:
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In addition to the 12 minutes of advertising material during any clock hour in a broadcast day permitted by condition of licence, the licensee may broadcast such additional minutes of advertising material calculated in accordance with Incentives for English-language Canadian television drama, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-93, 29 November 2004, as may be amended from time to time.
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8.
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In addition, the Commission approves the applications to amend the broadcasting licences for the specialty programming undertakings Outdoor Life Network and CTV Travel, in order to replace the preamble to each service's condition of licence setting out its requirements for Canadian programming expenditures with the following:
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In accordance with the Commission's position on Canadian programming expenditures as set out in New Flexibility With Regard to Canadian Program Expenditures by Canadian Television Stations,Public Notice CRTC 1992-28, 8 April 1992, in The Reporting of Canadian Programming Expenditures, Public Notice CRTC 1993-93, 22 June 1993, in Additional Clarification Regarding the Reporting of Canadian Programming Expenditures,Public Notice CRTC 1993-174, 10 December 1993 and in Incentives for English-language Canadian television drama,Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-93,29 November 2004, as may be amended from time to time.
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Secretary General
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This decision is to be appended to each 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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