ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-1
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Route reference: 2014-383
Ottawa, 6 January 2015
FAQ.TV Corp.
Across Canada
Application 2014-0343-5, received 24 April 2014
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
25 September 2014
FAQ.TV – Specialty Category B service
The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new specialty Category B service.
Application
- FAQ.TV Corp. filed an application for a broadcasting licence to operate FAQ.TV, a national, English-language specialty Category B service that would be devoted to programs that offer Canadians an interactive television experience and provide access to detailed step-by-step instructions, in-depth demonstrations and tips for self-directed projects, and answers to “frequently asked questions” (FAQs) posed by viewers. The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding this application.
- FAQ.TV Corp. is a corporation controlled by its sole director and shareholder Mr. Christopher Knight.
- 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(a), 5(b), 7(a), 7(b), 7(c), 7(d), 7(e), 7(f), 7(g), 8(a), 11(a), 11(b), 12, 13 and 14.
- To ensure that the proposed service would not be directly competitive with existing Category A services, the applicant indicated that it would adhere to a condition of licence whereby no more than 15% of all programming broadcast each broadcast week must be drawn from program categories 7(a) to 7(g) combined.
Commission’s decision
- 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 FAQ. TV Corp. for a broadcasting licence to operate the national, English-language specialty Category B service FAQ.TV. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.
Reminder
- 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 2015-1
Terms, conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for the national, English-language specialty Category B service FAQ.TV
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 2021.
Conditions of licence
- The licensee shall adhere to the conditions 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.
- In regard to the nature of service:
- The licensee shall provide a national, English-language specialty Category B service devoted to programs that offer Canadians an interactive television experience and provide access to detailed step-by-step instructions, in-depth demonstrations and tips for self-directed projects, and answers to “frequently asked questions” (FAQs) posed by viewers.
- 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:
Category Description 2 (a) Analysis and interpretation (b) Long-form documentary 5 (a) Formal education and pre-school (b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure 7 (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, improvisation, unscripted works, stand-up comedy (g) Other drama 8 (a) Music and dance other than music video programs or clips 11 (a) General entertainment and human interest (b) Reality television 12 Interstitials 13 Public service announcements 14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos
- The licensee shall devote no more than 15% of the programming broadcast each broadcast week to programs drawn from program categories 7(a) to 7(g) combined.
For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, “broadcast day” means the period of up to 18 consecutive hours, beginning each day no 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.
Expectations
The standard expectations applicable to this licensee are 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.
Encouragements
The standard encouragements applicable to this licensee are 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.
- Date modified: