ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-218
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Route reference: 2011-675
Ottawa, 13 April 2012
NGC Channel Inc.
Across Canada
Application 2011-1131-9, received 27 July 2011
Public hearing in Miramichi, New Brunswick
16 January 2012
NatGeo Wild – Specialty Category B service
The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a specialty Category B service.
The application
1. NGC Channel Inc. filed an application for a broadcasting licence to operate NatGeo Wild, a national, English-language specialty Category B service devoted to programming featuring urban and wild landscapes by Canadian and international cinematographers. The Commission received a comment from an individual regarding the application.
2. NGC Channel Inc. is controlled by Shaw Communications Inc.
3. The applicant proposed to draw programming from the following program categories set out in item 6 of Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time: 2(a), 2(b), 5(b), 7(d), 7(g), 11(a), 11(b), 12 and 13.
4. In order to ensure that the proposed service would not be directly competitive with Category A services, the applicant indicated that it would accept a condition of licence requiring it to devote no more than 15% of all programming broadcast in each broadcast month to programs drawn from category 7(d). The applicant noted that the limitations proposed in its application were identical to those imposed on the Category 2 service Oasis HD. The applicant also stated that 100% of the programming aired during the broadcast day and the overnight period would be closed captioned.
Commission’s decision
5. The Commission is satisfied that the application complies with all applicable policies, terms and conditions, including those set out in Public Notice 2000-6, Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-100 and Broadcasting Regulatory Policies 2010-786 and 2010-786-1. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by NGC Channel Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate the national, English-language specialty Category B service NatGeo Wild. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.
Reminder
6. The Commission reminds the applicant that distribution of this service is subject to the requirements set out in the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations.
Secretary General
Related documents
- Standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for Category B pay and specialty services – Corrected Appendices 1 and 2, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-786-1, 18 July 2011
- Standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for Category B pay and specialty services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-786, 25 October 2010
- Regulatory frameworks for broadcasting distribution undertakings and discretionary programming services – Regulatory policy, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-100, 30 October 2008
- Licensing framework policy for new digital pay and specialty services, Public Notice CRTC 2000-6, 13 January 2000
*This decision is to be appended to the licence.
Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-218
Terms and conditions of licence for the specialty Category B service NatGeo Wild
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 and has provided the Commission with a launch date for the service. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 48 months from the date of this decision.
The licence will expire 31 August 2018.
Conditions of licence
1. The licensee shall adhere to the standard conditions of licence set out in Appendix 1 to Standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for Category B pay and specialty services – Corrected Appendices 1 and 2, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-786-1, 18 July 2011, as amended from time to time.
2. a) The licensee shall provide a national, English-language specialty Category B service devoted to programming featuring urban and wild landscapes by Canadian and international cinematographers.
b) The programming shall be drawn exclusively from the following program categories set out in item 6 of Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time:
2 (a) Analysis and interpretation
(b) Long-form documentary
5 (b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure
7 (d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV
(g) Other drama
11 (a) General entertainment and human interest
(b) Reality television
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
c) The licensee shall devote no more than 15% of all programming broadcast in each broadcast month to programs drawn from category 7(d)
3. The service approved hereby is designated as a Category B service.
For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, including condition of licence 1, “broadcast day” means the period of up to 18 consecutive hours, beginning each day not earlier than six o’clock in the morning and ending no later than one o’clock in the morning of the following day, as selected by the licensee, or any other period approved by the Commission.
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