ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-11

This page has been archived on the Web

Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. Archived Decisions, Notices and Orders (DNOs) remain in effect except to the extent they are amended or reversed by the Commission, a court, or the government. The text of archived information has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Changes to DNOs are published as “dashes” to the original DNO number. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats by contacting us.

 

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-11

  Ottawa, 20 January 2006
  Christian Channel Inc.
Across Canada
  Application 2005-0794-9
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
14 November 2005
 

The Christian Channel - Category 2 specialty service

  In this decision, the Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new Category 2 specialty programming undertaking.
 

The application

1.

The Commission received an application by Christian Channel Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a national, English-language Category 21 specialty programming undertaking to be known as The Christian Channel.
2. The applicant proposed to offer a service that would consist of balanced religious programs from a variety of Christian perspectives, as well as multi-faith programming that examines related spiritual, moral and ethical issues.

3.

All of the programming would be drawn from the following categories, as set out in Schedule 1 of the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990: 4 Religion; 12 Interstitials; 13 Public service announcements; and 14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos. The applicant proposed to ensure that not less than 75% of all programs would be drawn from category 4 Religion.
4. The applicant indicated that the present application is substantively similar to a previous application that was approved in The Christian Channel, Decision CRTC 2000-726, 14 December 2000. The service approved in that decision was, however, not implemented within the required timeframe.

5.

The Commission received a number of interventions in support of this application.
 

Commission's analysis and determination

6.

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 Christian Channel Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate the national, English-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking, The Christian Channel.

7.

The licence will expire 31 August 2012, 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.

8.

The Commission reminds the applicant that it must adhere to the guidelines on ethics in religious programming as set out in section IV of Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993, as may be amended from time to time. A condition of licence to this effect is set out in the appendix to this decision.
 

Issuance of the licence

9.

A licence will be issued 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 36 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 20 January 2009. 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.

  Secretary General
  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 
 

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-11

 

Conditions of licence

 

1. The licence shall be subject to the conditionsset out in Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services - Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice CRTC 2000-171-1, 6 March 2001.

 

2. The licensee shall provide a national, English-language Category 2 specialty programming service devoted to balanced religious programs from a variety of Christian perspectives, as well as multi-faith programming that examines related spiritual, moral and ethical issues.

 

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:

 

4 Religion
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos

 

4. All programming broadcast by the licensee shall be religious programming as defined in Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993, as may be amended from time to time.

 

5. Not less than 75% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week shall be drawn from category 4.

 

6. The licensee shall adhere to the requirements for balance and to the guidelines on ethics in religious programming, as set out in section IV of Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993, as amended from time to time.

  For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, including condition of licence no. 1, broadcast day means the period of up to 18 consecutive hours, beginning each day not earlier than six o'clock in the morning and ending not later than one o'clock in the morning of the following day, as selected by the licensee, or any other period approved by the Commission.
  Footnote:
1 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.

Date Modified: 2006-01-20

Date modified: