|
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2005-6
|
|
|
Ottawa, 14 January 2005
|
|
|
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR A BROADCASTING LICENCE TO CARRY ON A NATIONAL GENERAL INTEREST PAY TELEVISION UNDERTAKING
|
|
|
ACROSS CANADA
|
|
|
The Commission announces that it has received an application for a broadcasting licence to carry on a national English-language general interest pay television undertaking that would be distributed on a digital basis, with entitlement to access under Section 18(5)(a)(ii) of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations.
|
|
|
The Commission hereby calls for applications from other parties wishing to obtain a broadcasting licence to provide a national general interest pay television undertaking.
|
|
|
Persons interested in submitting such applications are required to file their applications with the Commission no later than 14 April 2005.
|
|
|
In making this call, the Commission has not reached any conclusion with respect to the licensing or access privileges of any such service at this time.
|
|
|
The applicant has raised a number of arguments that the current environment could absorb a new competitive English-language general interest pay service and that certain benefits would accrue to the Canadian broadcasting system from the licensing of the proposed service. Applicants should address such matters as the capacity of the market and the benefits that may be derived from the licensing of one or more of these services.
|
|
|
In addition, applicants should address why exceptions, if any, should be made with respect to any relevant aspects of the Licensing framework policy for new digital pay and specialty services set out in Public Notice CRTC 2000-6 if the Commission were to license a competitive pay television undertaking with digital access privileges.
|
|
|
Applicants will be required to provide evidence giving clear indication that there is a demand and a market for the proposed service. Without restricting the scope of the issues to be considered, the following should be addressed:
|
|
|
1. The contribution that the proposed service will make to achieving the objectives established in the Broadcasting Act, in particular, with respect to the production and presentation of programming that makes maximum use of Canadian creative and other resources.
|
|
|
2. The means by which the applicant intends to promote the availability of Canadian programming on its service. This could include, for example, the use of barker channels and the design and use of navigational systems.
|
|
|
3. The manner in which the applicant intends to add to the diversity of the Canadian broadcasting system through its programming, and to reflect Canada's cultural diversity.
|
|
|
4. A description of the nature of the programming made available by the service.
|
|
|
5. The distribution arrangement(s) and packaging proposed for the delivery of the service to subscribers.
|
|
|
6. An analysis of the markets involved with estimates of subscribers and potential audiences taking into account the results of any survey undertaken, as well as the impact on existing pay television undertakings.
|
|
|
7. Evidence as to the availability of financial resources consistent with the requirements established in the financial projections of the applicant's business plan. For the convenience of applicants, the Commission has available upon request a document entitled Documentation Required by the Commission to Support the Availability of an Applicant's Proposed Financing.
|
|
|
8. The amount and type of High Definition programming that would be offered by the proposed service.
|
|
|
The Commission also reminds applicants that they must comply with the eligibility requirements set out in the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of Non-Canadians), SOR/97-192, dated 8 April 1997, as amended by SOR/98-1268, dated 15 July 1998 and the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility to Hold Broadcasting Licences), SOR/85-627, dated 27 June 1985, as amended by SOR/97-231, dated 22 April 1997.
|
|
|
The Commission will announce at a later date the public process for considering applications and where they may be examined by the public. As part of that process, the public will be given the opportunity to comment on any application by submitting written intervention(s) to the CRTC.
|
|
|
Notice of each application will also be published in newspapers of general circulation within the area to be served.
|
|
|
Applications filed in response to this call should be forwarded to one of the following Commission offices:
|
|
|
Central Building
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
1 Promenade du Portage, Room G-5
Hull, Quebec K1A ON2
Tel: (819) 997-2429 - TDD: 994-0423
FAX: (819) 994-0218
Toll Free Tel.: 1-877-249-2782
E-Mail address: procedure@crtc.gc.ca
|
|
|
Metropolitan Place
99 Wyse Road, Suite 1410
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3A 4S5
Tel: (902) 426-7997 - TDD: 426-6997
FAX: (902) 426-2721
|
|
|
205 Viger Avenue West
Suite 504
Montréal, Quebec H2Z 1G2
Tel: (514) 283-6607
|
|
|
55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 624
Toronto, Ontario M4T 1M2
Tel: (416) 952-9096
|
|
|
Kensington Building
275 Portage Avenue, Suite 1810
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B3
Tel: (204) 983-6306 - TDD: 983-8274
FAX: (204) 983-6317
|
|
|
Cornwall Professional Building
2125 - 11th Avenue, Room 103
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3X3
Tel: (306) 780-3422
|
|
|
10405 Jasper Avenue, Suite 520
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3N4
Tel: (780) 495-3224
|
|
|
530-580 Hornby Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3B6
Tel: (604) 666-2111 - TDD: 666-0778
FAX: (604) 666-8322
|
|
|
This document is available in alternative format upon request and may also be examined at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
|
|
|
Secretary General
|
Date Modified: 2005-01-14