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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-52

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Reference: Part 1 application posted on 21 October 2015

Ottawa, 10 February 2016

Jessop & Proulx LLP
Across Canada

Application 2015-1194-9

Addition of Pac-12 Network to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution

The Commission approves an application to add Pac-12 Network to the List of non?Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution (the list), and amends the list accordingly. The revised list can be found on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca, by clicking on “TV & Radio,” “Programming” and “Access to programs on TV that aren’t Canadian.”

Application

  1. The Commission received an application from Jessop & Proulx LLP, acting as the Canadian sponsor, to add Pac-12 Network, a non-Canadian English-language service, to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution (the list). The Commission received an intervention in support of this application.
  2. Jessop & Proulx LLP described Pac-12 Network as a 24-hour niche service (100% English-language) focusing exclusively on collegiate sporting events from the Pac-12 Conference in the U.S., which currently consists of: University of Arizona; Arizona State University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Colorado; University of Oregon; Oregon State University; University of Southern California; Stanford University; University of Utah; University of Washington; and Washington State University. It described its target audience as Pac-12 universities alumni of all ages in Canada, collegiate sports fans, and friends and families of Canadian students at Pac-12 universities. The service originates from the U.S.

Commission’s analysis and decision

  1. 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 discretionary (i.e., specialty or pay) television services. The Commission’s approach also takes into consideration whether the service would violate Canadian regulations, including those regarding abusive comment.
  2. In assessing the competitiveness of a service, the Commission relies primarily on the comments filed to identify the Canadian discretionary services with which a proposed non-Canadian service might be totally or partially competitive.
  3. In the absence of opposing interventions and any evidence that the service would violate Canadian regulations, the Commission approves the application by Jessop & Proulx LLP to add Pac-12 Network to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution and amends the list accordingly. The revised list can be found on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca by clicking on “TV & Radio,” “Programming” and “Access to programs on TV that aren’t Canadian,” and may be obtained in hard copy on request.

Secretary General

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