|
|
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-161
|
|
|
Ottawa, 19 December 2006
|
|
|
Addition of Ariana Television and Channel-i to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution on a digital basis
|
|
|
The Commission approves a request to add Ariana Television and Channel-i to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution on a digital basis and amends the Revised list of non-Canadian programming services authorized for distribution accordingly. The revised lists are available on the Commission's web site at www.crtc.gc.ca under "Industries at a glance."
|
|
|
Introduction
|
|
1.
|
The Commission received a request dated 30 May 2006 from Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN) for the addition of Ariana Television and Channel-i, both non-Canadian third-language services, to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution on a digital basis (the digital lists). ATN described the services as follows:
|
|
|
Ariana Television is a 24-hour, general interest programming service based in Afghanistan. The service is composed of daily news programs, documentaries on the country's history and politics, entertainment, educational and children's programming. The service provides programming primarily in Dari and Pashto with 5% of its programming in English. The service does not contain any subtitles or secondary audio program in English or French.
|
|
|
Channel-i is a 24-hour, general interest family entertainment service in the Bengali language. The service is composed of programming in genres which include drama, news, talk shows, music, magazine shows, religious programs and live phone-in programs and is currently being broadcast in Bangladesh and the United States. The service does not contain any subtitles or secondary audio program in English or French.
|
|
2.
|
The Commission subsequently issued Call for comments on the proposed addition of Ariana Television to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution on a digital basis, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-124, 29 September 2006, and Call for comments on the proposed addition of Channel-i to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution on a digital basis, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-125, 29 September 2006. The Commission did not receive any comments in connection with these public notices.
|
|
|
Commission's analysis and determinations
|
|
3.
|
In Improving the diversity of third-language television services - A revised approach to assessing requests to add non-Canadian third-language television services to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution on a digital basis, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-96, 16 December 2004 (Public Notice 2004-96), the Commission stated that, going forward, requests to add non-Canadian third-language general interest services to the digital lists would generally be approved, subject, as appropriate, to new distribution and linkage rules described in that notice. The Commission also specified the information that a Canadian sponsor would be obliged to file in order for the Commission to consider a request for the addition of non-Canadian third-language services to the digital lists.
|
|
4.
|
The Commission has examined the material filed by ATN in support of the request to add Ariana Television and Channel-i to the digital lists, and is satisfied that the services are general interest third-language services, as described by their sponsor. Thus, the services are appropriately subject to the approach for such services set out in Public Notice 2004-96.
|
|
5.
|
In light of the above, the Commission approves the addition of Ariana Television and Channel-i to the digital lists and amends the lists of eligible satellite services accordingly. The Revised list of non-Canadian programming services authorized for distribution are available on the Commission's web site at www.crtc.gc.ca under "Industries at a Glance" and may be obtained in hard copy on request.
|
|
6.
|
The Commission notes that the distribution of Ariana Television and Channel-i is subject to the distribution and linkage rules that apply to third-language general interest services added to the digital lists after 16 December 2004, as set out in Distribution and linkage requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 licensees, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-135, 20 October 2006, and Linkage requirements for direct-to-home (DTH) satellite distribution undertakings, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-134, 20 October 2006.
|
|
|
Secretary General
|
|
|
This document 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
|
Date Modified: 2006-12-19