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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-208 |
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Ottawa, 22 August 2008 |
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Knowledge Network Corporation
Burnaby, British Columbia |
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Application 2008-0290-2, received 22 February 2008
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-48
28 May 2008 |
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Knowledge Network - Licence renewal |
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The Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the non-commercial satellite-to-cable television programming undertaking known as the Knowledge Network from 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2015. |
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The application |
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The Commission received an application by the Knowledge Network Corporation to renew the broadcasting licence for the non-commercial satellite-to-cable television programming undertaking known as the Knowledge Network. |
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The Commission received several interventions in support of this application as well as interventions commenting on the application by Make Believe Media Inc. and the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA). The Commission also received an intervention in opposition to the application by Mr. Joe Clark. The licensee did not respond to these interventions. |
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Commission's analysis and determinations |
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Mr. Clark submitted that Knowledge Network should be made to caption 100% of its programming beginning on the first day of the new licence term and should improve the quality of its captioning. |
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The CFTPA stressed the need for smaller broadcasters to provide Terms of Trade agreements with independent producers. It noted that the Commission has expressed in several decisions, notices and speeches its expectation that broadcasters provide draft or signed Terms of Trade agreements with independent producers as part of their licence renewal applications. |
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The Commission notes that the licensee committed in a letter to Commission staff to caption 100% of its programming broadcast during peak time in the first year of its new licence term and 100% of all programming broadcast during each broadcast day by the end of the licence term. Given Knowledge Network's non-commercial nature, the Commission is satisfied with this commitment and has no further concerns in regard to this matter. |
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As regards the CFTPA's request for Terms of Trade agreements, the Commission notes that another educational broadcaster, The Ontario Educational Communications Authority (TVOntario), has agreed to negotiate and file Terms of Trade agreements by 28 November 2008. In light of this, and of the fact that the Commission is encouraging broadcasters to establish Terms of Trade agreements with independent producers, the Commission expects Knowledge Network to enter into Terms of Trade discussions with producers within six months of its licence renewal. |
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In light of the above, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the non-commercial satellite-to-cable television programming undertaking known as the Knowledge Network from 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2015. The conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision. |
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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 2008-208 |
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Conditions of licence and encouragement |
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Conditions of licence |
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1. The licensee shall adhere to the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987.
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2. The licensee shall closed caption 100% of all programs broadcast between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. during the 2008-2009 broadcast year and 75% of all programs broadcast over the broadcast day beginning in the first year of the new term, increasing yearly to 100% beginning not later than 1 September 2013, consistent with the approach set out in A new policy with respect to closed captioning, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-54, 17 May 2007.
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3. The licensee shall adhere to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Equitable Portrayal Code, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. However, the application of the foregoing condition of licence will be suspended if the licensee is a member in good standing of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.
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4. The licensee shall adhere to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Voluntary code regarding violence in television programming, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. However, the application of the foregoing condition of licence will be suspended if the licensee is a member in good standing of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.
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Encouragement |
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Employment equity |
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In accordance with Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources. |