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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-413
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Ottawa, 6 December 2007
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Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Incorporated
Across Canada
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Application 2007-1295-2, received 17 September 2007
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-118
19 October 2007
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APTN - Licence amendment
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1.
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The Commission received an application by Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Incorporated (APTN) to amend the broadcasting licence of the satellite-to-cable programming undertaking in order to allow the service to be available for distribution in high definition (HD) format.
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2.
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The applicant proposed to abide by a temporary condition of licence that would allow it to offer approximately 17 hours per week of distinctive HD programs on a version of APTN's programming service to be known as APTN HD. The applicant indicated that APTN HD would include all of the same audio and video elements of the programs that are included in APTN's main service, including advertising content. Separate advertising would not be broadcast on APTN HD.
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Interventions
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3.
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The Commission received interventions in support of this application as well as comments expressing some concerns, submitted by the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) and Inuit Tapirit Kanatami (ITK).
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4.
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IBC and ITK each commented on the potential impact that APTN's application would have on the availability of programming in the Inuktitut language. ITK noted that it has already made inquiries to the Commission regarding the availability of programming in Inuktitut on APTN.
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Applicant's reply
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5.
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In response to the comments by IBC and ITK, APTN emphasized that it has "applied for a temporary condition of licence for a transitional service that will allow [APTN] to begin to provide programming in the HD format" and that the "condition of licence will be in force only during a transitional period", and as APTN HD is developed, "APTN fully intends to increase the amount of Aboriginal language programming [offered] in HD".
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6.
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APTN also noted that "there is little HD programming being produced in Aboriginal languages" and that once APTN HD begins to broadcast in HD, "more and more Aboriginal producers will start to create programming in this format that will then be available for broadcast on APTN HD".
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Commission's analysis and determination
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7.
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The Commission is satisfied with APTN's response to the interventions and its response to ITK's concern, that it is making best efforts to broadcast programming in Inuktitut.
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8.
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Moreover, the Commission is of the opinion that APTN HD will complement APTN's role of strengthening the cultural identity of Aboriginal peoples and that it would act as a cultural bridge between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians as the Canadian broadcasting system migrates to a digital environment.
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9.
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In Broadcasting Public Notice 2003-61 and Broadcasting Public Notice 2006-74, the Commission stated that it would authorize the licensee of a Canadian pay or specialty service to make available an upgraded version of its service, by means of an amendment to the licence of the existing service. This authority would be in effect for a term of three years.
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10.
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Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Incorporated to amend the broadcasting licence for the satellite-to-cable programming undertaking in order to allow the service to be available for distribution in the HD format. APTN HD will be subject to the following condition of licence:
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The licensee is authorized to make available for distribution, for a period of three years from the date of this decision, a version of its service in high definition format, provided that the video and audio components of the upgraded version are the same as the standard definition version, inclusive of the commercial messages.
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Secretary General
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Related documents
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Regulatory framework for the licensing and distribution of high definition pay and specialty services, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-74, 15 June 2006
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The regulatory framework for the distribution of digital television signals, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2003-61, 11 November 2003
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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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Date Modified: 2007-12-06