ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-366

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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-366

  Ottawa, 11 October 2007
  WTM World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde inc.
Across Canada
  Application 2007-0442-0, received 19 March 2007
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
27 August 2007
 

World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde inc. (WTM) - Category 2 specialty service

  The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new Category 2 specialty programming undertaking.
 

The application

1.

WTM World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde inc. filed an application for a broadcasting licence to operate World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde

inc. (WTM), a national, English- and French-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking that would offer news, public affairs, film and entertainment programming from Canada and around the world in the original language of production. The service would be distributed as three separate feeds of the same programming, one with French subtitles for reception across the country and two with English subtitles - one for carriage in eastern Canada and a time-shifted version for western Canada.

2.

The applicant proposed restrictions on certain categories of programming to be broadcast by WTM to ensure that the service would not directly compete with existing Category 1 or analog pay and specialty services. Specifically, the applicant indicated that:
 
  • a maximum of 10% of the programming in the broadcast week would be drawn from program categories 6(a) Professional sports and 6(b) Amateur sports, taken together;
 
  • a maximum of 20% of the programming in the broadcast week would be drawn from program subcategory 7(c) Specials, mini-series or made-for-TV films;
 
  • a maximum of 15% of the programming from subcategory 7(d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV broadcast in the broadcast week would be drawn from the North American market and a maximum of 20% thereof would be drawn from overseas markets for a maximum of 35% subcategory 7(d) programming;
 
  • a maximum of 15% of the programming in the broadcast week would be drawn from categories 8(a) Music and dance other than music video programs or clips, 8(b) Music video clips and 8(c) Music video programs, taken together;
 
  • a maximum of 20% of the non-Canadian programming aired in each quarter of the broadcast year would be produced in any one language;
 
  • programming produced in Great Britain or the U.S. would, in each case, account for a maximum of 5% of the non-Canadian programming aired in each quarter of the broadcast year; and
 
  • a maximum of 10% of the non-Canadian programming aired in each of the three-month periods commencing 1 September, 1 December, 1 March and 1 June of the broadcast year would originate from any single country other than Great Britain and the United States.

3.

The Commission received one comment in connection with the application from Quebecor Media Inc. (Quebecor). Quebecor argued that the applicant's proposed nature of service should be better defined to ensure that the service would not be competitive with conventional television services. The intervener also submitted that the applicant should be required to specify the language of the service.

4.

In reply, the applicant stated that its service was not a threat to non-specialized television services, noting that the current application is in substance identical to that approved in Decision 2001-757. The applicant added that it was willing to accept further conditions of licence should the Commission wish to impose any.
 

Commission's analysis and determinations

5.

With respect to the comment filed by Quebecor, the Commission finds that the applicant's proposed conditions of licence sufficiently restrict the applicant's proposed service to address any concerns over its competitiveness with conventional television services.

6.

The Commission is further satisfied that the application is in conformity with all applicable terms and conditions announced in Public Notice 2000-171-1. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by WTM World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate the national, English- and French-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde inc. (WTM). The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.
  Secretary General
 

Related documents

 
  • WTM is to be licensed as a new, national, Category 2 specialty television service for digital distribution; the applicant's request for guaranteed access to analog distribution on cable is denied, Decision CRTC 2001-757, 14 December 2001
 
  • Introductory statement - Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services - Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice CRTC 2000-171-1, 6 March 2001
  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 2007-366

  Terms and conditions of licence for the Category 2 specialty programming undertaking World Television Network / Le Réseau Télémonde inc. (WTM)
 

Terms

  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 11 October, 2007. 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.
  The licence will expire 31 August 2014.
 

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- and French-language Category 2 specialty programming service devoted to news, public affairs, film and entertainment programming from Canada and around the world in the original language of production. The service shall be distributed as three separate feeds of the same programming, one with French subtitles for reception across the country and two with English subtitles - one for carriage in eastern Canada and a time-shifted version for western Canada.

 

3. The programming shall be drawn exclusively from the following categories set out in item 6 of Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time:

 

1 News
2 (a) Analysis and interpretation
(b) Long-form documentary
3 Reporting and actualities
4 Religion
5 (b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure
6 (a) Professional sports
(b) Amateur sports
7 Drama and comedy
(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
(f) Programs of comedy sketches, improvisations, unscripted works, stand-up
comedy
(g) Other drama
8 (a) Music and dance other than music video programs or clips
(b) Music video clips
(c) Music video programs
9 Variety
10 Game shows
11 General entertainment and human interest
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos

 

4. A maximum of 10% of the programming in the broadcast week shall be drawn from program categories 6(a) and 6(b), taken together.

 

5. A maximum of 20% of the programming in the broadcast week shall be drawn from program subcategory 7(c).

 

6. A maximum of 15% of the programming from program subcategory 7(d) broadcast in the broadcast week shall be drawn from the North American market and a maximum of 20% thereof shall be drawn from overseas markets for a maximum of 35% subcategory 7(d) programming

 

7. A maximum of 15% of the programming in the broadcast week shall be drawn from categories 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c), taken together.

 

8. A maximum of 20% of the non-Canadian programming aired in each quarter of the broadcast year shall be produced in any one language.

 

9. Programming produced in Great Britain or the U.S. shall, in each case, account for a maximum of 5% of the non-Canadian programming aired in each quarter of the broadcast year.

 

10. A maximum of 10% of the non-Canadian programming aired in each of the three-month periods commencing 1 September, 1 December, 1 March and 1 June of the broadcast year shall originate from any single country other than Great Britain and the United States.

 

11. Where the licensee broadcasts religious programming as defined in Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993, the licensee shall adhere to the guidelines with respect to the provision of balance and ethics in religious programming set out in sections III.B.2.a) and IV of that public notice, as amended from time to time.

 

12. In order to ensure that the licensee complies at all times with the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of non-Canadians), P.C. 1997-486, 8 April 1997, as amended by P.C. 1998-1268, 15 July 1998, the licensee shall file, for the Commission's prior review, a copy of any programming supply agreement and/or licence trademark agreement it intends to enter into with a non-Canadian party.

  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: 2007-10-11

Date modified: