ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Procedural Letter addressed to Sabine Friesinger (Independent Community TV (ICTV) Montreal)
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Ottawa, 20 February 2015
By Email
Our file number: 2013-1746-2
Sabine Friesinger
Independent Community TV (ICTV) Montreal
sabine.friesinger13@gmail.com
Re: Application by the Independent Community TV Montreal for a community broadcasting undertaking licence (application number 2013-1746-2)
Ms. Friesinger,
On 11 December 2013, the Commission received a complaint and an application from the Independent Community TV Montreal (ICTV) for a community broadcasting undertaking licence on Videotron’s broadcasting distribution network in the Greater Montreal region. According to ICTV, Vidéotron was not operating its community channel MAtv in accordance with the provisions of the Community television policy set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-622-1 (the Policy) as well as the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations (the Regulations).
In a procedural letter dated 6 February 2014, the Commission had stated that before it could consider an application for a community programming undertaking licence under the scenario contemplated by the ICTV, it would first have to determine whether the terrestrial BDU is operating the community channel in question in accordance with the Policy and/or the Regulations. Accordingly, the Commission had decided to only consider the complaint by the ICTV. The Commission also noted that the parts of the material that consist of an application for a new licence would not be dealt with until the outcome of the complaint process is known.
On 4 February 2015, the Commission issued its decision on the complaint (Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-31). In the decision, the Commission found that, in regard to the operation of its community channel MAtv, Videotron was in non-compliance with the requirements of the Regulations and was not respecting the objectives of the Policy relating to access programming and local reflection. The Commission also directed Videotron to take concrete steps to bring MAtv into compliance by August 2015, the time of Videotron’s next licence renewal. The Commission announced that it will address the licensee’s compliance with its conditions of licence and the requirements of the Regulations, and its respecting of the objectives of the Policy at that time.
On the same day, the Commission issued Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-32 in which it authorizes Videotron to launch MYtv, an English-language community channel in the Greater Montreal region. The Commission noted that the introduction of English-language community programming would allow the Anglophone community and various other cultural communities of Montréal to benefit from a new outlet for local expression.
Accordingly, Commission staff considers that the part of the documentation filed by the ICTV in which it applies for a new community programming undertaking licence is now closed. The Commission has disposed of all related documents.
Sincerely,
Scott Hutton
Executive director, Broadcasting
c.c. Ms. Peggy Tabet, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs – Broadcasting,
Quebecor Media Inc
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