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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-63 |
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Ottawa, 19 March 2008 |
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CTVglobemedia Inc., on behalf of its subsidiary 2953285 Canada Inc.
Across Canada |
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Application 2007-1697-0, received 28 November 2007
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-142
21 December 2007 |
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The Discovery Channel - Licence amendment |
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The Commission approves an application to amend the broadcasting licence for The Discovery Channel, by adding to the list of program categories from which it may draw programming. |
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Introduction |
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The Commission received an application by CTVglobemedia Inc. (CTVgm), on behalf of its subsidiary 2953285 Canada Inc., to amend the broadcasting licence for the national, English-language specialty programming undertaking The Discovery Channel, in order to add to the list of program categories that may be broadcast by the service. |
2. |
CTVgm proposed to broaden its nature of service by amending condition of licence 1(b) set out in Decision 2001-733, which stipulates that the programming broadcast by The Discovery Channel must be drawn from categories 1, 2(a), 2(b), 5(b), 11, 12, 13 and 14, as set out in item 6 of Schedule 1 to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990. Specifically, the licensee requested authority to broadcast programming drawn from category 10 Game shows. |
3. |
The licensee further proposed to limit the amount of category 10 programming that it may broadcast to 15% of the broadcast week. |
4. |
CTVgm submitted that the addition of a limited amount of programming drawn from category 10 would make the service more attractive to its target audience. It also indicated that all programming drawn from category 10 would be consistent with The Discovery Channel's nature of service. |
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The Commission received several interventions in support of this application, as well as several interventions opposing the application. The interventions and the replies to the interventions can be found on the Commission's website at www.crtc.gc.ca under "Public Proceedings." |
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Commission's analysis and determinations |
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After examining the application, the interventions and the replies to the interventions, the Commission finds that the issue is whether it is appropriate for this service, which focuses on the exploration of science and technology, nature and the environment, and adventure, to be authorized to broadcast game shows. |
7. |
The Commission notes CTVgm's commitment that the programming to be drawn from category 10 for broadcast on The Discovery Channel would fit within its nature of service, and that any game shows to be broadcast would relate to the service's core themes. Further, the Commission considers that the limits proposed by the licensee with respect to the amount of programming to be drawn from category 10 would ensure that the nature of the service is not fundamentally altered. |
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In addition, in prior decisions, the Commission has approved the inclusion of category 10 programming for other factual-based analog and digital specialty services.1 |
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The Commission therefore considers that the inclusion of a limited amount of category 10 programming on The Discovery Channel would not result in a deviation from its mandated nature of service. |
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Conclusion |
10. |
Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by CTVglobemedia Inc., on behalf of its subsidiary 2953285 Canada Inc., to amend the broadcasting licence for the national, English-language specialty programming undertaking The Discovery Channel, in order to allow the licensee to draw up to 15% of the programs that it broadcasts in each broadcast week from category 10 Game shows. Condition of licence number 1 is therefore replaced by the following condition of licence: |
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1 (a) The Discovery Channel is a national English-language specialty service dedicated to the exploration of science and technology, nature and the environment, and adventure.
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(b) Programming provided by the licensee shall be drawn exclusively from the following categories, as set out in item 6 of Schedule 1 to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time:
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1 News
2 (a) Analysis and interpretation
(b) Long-form documentary
5 (b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure
10 Game shows
11 General entertainment and human interest
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos
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(c) The licensee shall devote not more than 15% of all programming broadcast during each broadcast week to programs drawn from category 10.
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Secretary General |
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Related documents |
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- Food Network Canada - Licence renewal, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-379, 18 August 2006
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- Discovery HD Theatre - Category 2 specialty service, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-519, 21 October 2005
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- ichannel - Licence amendment, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-167, 26 April 2004
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- Home and Garden Television Canada - Licence renewal, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-16, 21 January 2004
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- History Television - Licence renewal, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-13, 21 January 2004, as corrected by History Television - Erratum, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-13-1, 27 February 2004
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- Licence amendment for The Biography Channel - addition of program categories, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-156, 15 May 2003
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- Licence renewal for The Discovery Channel, Decision CRTC 2001-733, 29 November 2001
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- FashionTelevision - a new specialty channel, Decision CRTC 2000-452, 14 December 2000
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- New specialty television service "Food Network Canada" replaces the U.S. service "TV Food Network", Decision CRTC 2000-217, 4 July 2000
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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. |