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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-517
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Ottawa, 14 September 2006
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Black Walk Corporation
Across Canada
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Application 2005-0971-3
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
1 May 2006
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Truth Channel - Category 2 specialty service
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In this decision, the Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new Category 2 specialty programming undertaking.
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The application
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1.
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The Commission received an application by Black Walk Corporation for a broadcasting licence to operate a national, English-language Category 21 specialty programming undertaking to be known as Truth Channel.
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2.
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The applicant proposed to offer a service that would consist of reality TV shows and related programming from North America and around the world. All of the programming would be drawn from the following categories set out in Schedule 1 to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990: 2(a) Analysis and interpretation; 2(b) Long-form documentary; 3 Reporting and actualities; 5(b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure; 7(c) Specials, mini-series or made-for-TV feature films; 7(d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV; 8(b) Music video clips; 12 Interstitials; 13 Public service announcements; and 14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos.
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3.
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The applicant indicated that not more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week would be drawn from categories 7(c) and 7(d).
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Interventions
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4.
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The Commission received an intervention in support of this application as well as an intervention in opposition.
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5.
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Captioning Consumers of Canada (CCC) contended that the applicant had not proposed an adequate level of closed captioning. In CCC's view, all the programming offered by the proposed service should be captioned, either by adding captioning to its programming or by acquiring captioned programming. CCC also expressed concern about the quality of captioning.
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6.
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The applicant did not reply to CCC's intervention.
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Commission's analysis and determinations
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7.
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The Commission acknowledges the concerns raised by CCC. As indicated in Review of certain aspects of the regulatory framework for over-the-air television, Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2006-5, 12 June 2006, the Commission is currently reviewing its approach to closed captioning with a view to improving the quantity and quality of captioning in the Canadian broadcasting system.
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8.
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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 Black Walk Corporation for a broadcasting licence to operate the national, English-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking, Truth Channel.
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9.
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The licence will expire 31 August 2013, 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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10.
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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 14 September 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.
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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 2006-517
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Conditions of licence
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1. The licence will 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.
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2. The licensee shall provide a national, English-language Category 2 specialty programming service consisting of reality TV shows and related programming from North America and around the world.
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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 (b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure
7 (c) Specials, mini-series or made-for-TV feature films
(d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV
8 (b) Music video clips
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos
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4. Not more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week shall be drawn from categories 7(c) and 7(d).
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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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Date Modified: 2006-09-14