ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-284

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Reference: Part 1 application posted on 16 February 2015

Ottawa, 26 June 2015

Ethnic Channels Group Limited
Across Canada

Application 2015-0139-6

Addition of EbonyLife TV to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution

The Commission approves an application to add EbonyLife TV to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution (the list) and amends the list accordingly. The revised list is available on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca, by clicking on “TV & Radio” and selecting “Programming.”

Introduction

1. The Commission received an application from Ethnic Channels Group Limited (ECGL), acting as the Canadian sponsor, to add EbonyLife TV, a non-Canadian English-language service, to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution (the list). The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding this application.
2. ECGL described EbonyLife TV as a niche service (100% English-language) providing entertainment, information and news programming produced by Africans. Its target audience is a global black audience and people interested in entertainment, information and news programming from Africa. Its service originates from Nigeria.
3. The Commission’s general approach to the addition of non-Canadian English- and French-language services to the list is set out in Public Notice 2000-173, and reiterated in Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-100. Under this approach, the Commission assesses such requests in the context of its general policy, which, among other things, precludes the addition of a non-Canadian service that can be considered either totally or partially competitive with Canadian specialty or pay television services.

Commission’s analysis and decision

4. In assessing the competitiveness of a service, the Commission relies primarily on the comments filed to identify the Canadian pay and specialty services with which a proposed non-Canadian service might be totally or partially competitive.
5. In the absence of opposing interventions, the Commission approves the application by Ethnic Channels Group Limited to add EbonyLife TV to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution and amends the list accordingly. The revised list is available on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca by clicking on “TV & Radio” and selecting “Programming,” and may be obtained in hard copy on request.
6. However, although ECGL categorized EbonyLife TV as a niche service, the Commission considers it to be a general interest service given that it consists of programming from a number of categories^{Footnote 1} and that all of the programming is provided in the English language.

Secretary General

Related documents

• Regulatory frameworks for broadcasting distribution undertakings and discretionary programming services – Regulatory policy, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-100, 30 October 2008
• Call for proposals to amend the lists of eligible satellite services through the inclusion of additional non-Canadian services eligible for distribution on a digital basis only, Public Notice CRTC 2000-173, 14 December 2000

Date modified:

2015-06-26