|
|
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-608
|
|
|
Ottawa, 25 October 2006
|
|
|
Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation
Across Canada
|
|
|
Application 2006-0761-6
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-84
12 July 2006
|
|
Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation - Licence amendment
|
|
|
The Commission approves an application to amend the broadcasting licence for the national, Category 2 specialty service known as Salt and Light in order to increase the amount of English-language programming and to reduce the amount of French- and third-language programming on the service. In light of these amendments, the Commission has also amended the licensee's conditions of licence respecting the exhibition of Canadian programming and advertising.
|
|
|
Background
|
|
1.
|
In Inner Peace Television Network, Decision CRTC 2001-687, 9 November 2001 (Decision 2001-687), the Commission approved an application by Paolo Canciani, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, for a broadcasting licence to operate a national, ethnic Category 2 specialty programming undertaking to be known as Inner Peace Television Network (IPTN). The service IPTN was launched in July 2002. In Inner Peace Television Network - Acquisition of assets, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-574, 17 November 2003 (Decision 2003-574), the Commission approved an application proposing the acquisition of the assets of IPTN, submitted by St. Joseph Corporation, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, now known as Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation (SLC). IPTN was subsequently renamed Salt and Light Television (Salt and Light).
|
|
2.
|
The current condition of licence describing Salt and Light's nature of service requires the service to provide religious programming from the single point-of-view of the Roman Catholic faith, targeting audiences that speak Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Filipino, English and French. In addition to religious programming, the service offers a limited amount of programming dealing with social and humanitarian issues. As well, in Decision 2001-687, and reiterated in Decision 2003-574, the Commission expected that, during each broadcast week, no less than 80% of all programming broadcast would be ethnic programming, and that no more than 20% of all programming would be in English and/or French.
|
|
|
The application
|
|
3.
|
The Commission received an application by SLC, to amend the broadcasting licence for Salt and Light, in order to amend its nature of service condition of licence to allow the service to broadcast up to 60% of all programming in the English language, and to reduce the amount of French- and third-language programming to a minimum of 40% of all programming. As a result of these amendments, Salt and Light would no longer operate as an ethnic programming service.
|
|
4.
|
The licensee indicated that its third-language programming would include programming in the Cantonese language. SLC also indicated that it would abide by the conditions of licence which generally apply to English-language, Category 2 specialty services relating to advertising and Canadian programming, as 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 (Public Notice 2000-171-1). Specifically, the licensee confirmed that it would devote not less than 35% of the broadcast day, and of the evening broadcast period, to the broadcast of Canadian programs, and limit its carriage of advertising to national advertising.
|
|
5.
|
The Commission received an intervention by Mr. William Scholey in support of this application.
|
|
|
Commission's analysis and determination
|
|
6.
|
In Licensing framework policy for new digital pay and specialty services, Public Notice CRTC 2000-6, 13 January 2000, the Commission implemented a competitive, open-entry approach to licensing Category 2 services. While the Commission does not consider the impact that a Category 2 service might have on an existing Category 2 service, it does seek to ensure that Category 2 services do not compete directly with any existing pay or specialty television service, including any Category 1 service.
|
|
7.
|
Consistent with its policy framework for digital specialty services, the Commission examined this application to determine whether the proposed amendment would permit Salt and Light to be directly competitive with an existing analog pay or specialty or Category 1 service. Given that the service will continue to broadcast religious programming from the single point-of-view of the Roman Catholic faith, and with a limited amount of programming dealing with social and humanitarian issues, the Commission is satisfied that approval of the proposed licence amendment to the nature of service condition of licence will not result in Salt and Light becoming directly competitive with any of these services. Further, the Commission notes that no interventions were filed in opposition to this application by analog pay or specialty or Category 1 services.
|
|
8.
|
Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation to amend the nature of service condition of licence for the national, Category 2 specialty programming undertaking known as Salt and Light Television. By replacing the condition of licence related to Salt and Light's nature of service as set out in Decision 2001-687, the licensee will now be considered a national, English-language Category 2 specialty television service devoted to religious programming. As well, Salt and Light Television is required to abide by the conditions of licence relating to advertising and Canadian programming which generally apply to all English-language Category 2 specialty services, as set out in Public Notice 2000-171-1.
|
|
9.
|
Accordingly, the Commission replaces the current conditions of Salt and Light's licence, with the conditions set out in the appendix to this decision.
|
|
10.
|
The Commission expects Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation to devote no more than 60% of its programming to English-language programming during each broadcast week and not less than 40% of its programming to third-language and French-language programming during each broadcast week.
|
|
|
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: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
|
|
|
Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-608
|
|
|
Conditions of licence
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
2. The licensee shall provide a national, English-language Category 2 specialty programming service devoted to religious programming from the single point-of-view of the Roman Catholic faith. The service will also target audiences that speak Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Filipino, Cantonese and French. In addition to religious programming, the service will offer a limited amount of programming dealing with social and humanitarian 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:
|
|
|
2 (a) Analysis and interpretation
(b) Long-form documentary
4 Religion
5 (b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure
7 (a) Ongoing drama 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
8 (a) Music and dance other than music video programs or clips
(b) Music video clips
11 General entertainment and human interest
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos
|
|
|
4. Not less than 80% of all programming broadcast during each broadcast week shall be religious programming.
|
|
|
5. Not more than 15% of the programming broadcast during each broadcast week shall be from category 7(d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV.
|
|
|
6. The licensee is authorized for distribution only at the specific request of the subscriber. Distributors are not permitted to package Salt and Light Television in such a way that subscribers are obligated to purchase it in order to purchase any other programming service. As set out in Distribution and linkage requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 licensees, Public Notice CRTC 2001-90, 3 August 2001, Salt and Light Television may be offered on a "stand-alone" digital discretionary basis. It may also be offered in a package with other Canadian single or limited point-of-view religious services or with non-Canadian religious satellite services. Distributors are not permitted to offer services such as Salt and Light Television in packages with any other type of Canadian or non-Canadian programming service.
|
|
|
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.
|
Date Modified: 2006-10-25
|