Search

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-86

PDF version

References: Part 1 applications posted on 14 December 2017, 21 November 2017, 22 November 2017 and 23 November 2017

Ottawa, 12 March 2018

Ethnic Channels Group Limited
Across Canada

Public record for these applications: 2017-1155-7, 2017-1072-3, 2017-1075-7, 2017-1082-2 and 2017-1084-8

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

  1. The Commission approves applications by Ethnic Channels Group Limited (ECGL), acting as the Canadian sponsor, to add the following non-Canadian programming services to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution (the list). The revised list can be found on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca and may be obtained in hard copy on request.
    Name Type Language Description of programming Country of origin Target audience
    Mello TV 24-hour niche English Programming of interest to Caribbean communities, including news, sports, weather, entertainment, lifestyle, wellness, faith, music videos, movies and documentaries Jamaica Individuals belonging to the Caribbean diaspora aged 18 years and older interested in Jamaican programming
    TVI FIÇCAO 24-hour niche Portuguese Dramatic programming, including telenovelas, dramatic and comedy series, as well as lifestyle, human interest, news and information programming Portugal Individuals 14 years and older interested in entertainment programming in the Portuguese language
    TVI24 24-hour news 90% Portuguese-language, 10% English-language Local, national and international news, as well as news and information on a range of topics, including entertainment, technology and sports, and some musical and sports programming Portugal Individuals 18 years and older interested in news and information, entertainment and sports programming in the Portuguese language
    RTP Açores Internacional 24-hour news 90% Portuguese-language, 10% English-language News, information, entertainment and lifestyle programming Portugal Individuals 18 years and older interested in news, information, entertainment and lifestyle programming in the Portuguese language
    RTP3 24-hour news 90% Portuguese-language, 10% English-language News and information programming Portugal Individuals aged 18-35 interested in news and information programming in the Portuguese language
  2. The Commission received a general comment in response to the applications from the Shaw Rocket Fund. The comment concerned the benefits of quality Canadian children’s programming and did not raise any issues with respect to the non-Canadian services in question.
  3. In regard to Mello TV, ECGL’s request is in line with the Commission’s general approach, as set out in Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-100 and reiterated in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2015-96, regarding the addition of non-Canadian English- and French-language services to the list. Further, based on the record of the proceeding and in the absence of opposing interventions, the Commission finds that the service will not be competitive with any Canadian discretionary television services.
  4. In regard to TVI FIÇCAO, as set out in Broadcasting Public Notices 2004-96 and 2008-100, requests to add non-Canadian general interest third-language services to the list are generally approved, subject to any requirements the Commission deems appropriate. Non-Canadian third-language services that provide narrowly targeted or “niche” programming are subject to the same approach as non-Canadian general interest third-language services.
  5. Finally, with respect to TVI24, RTP Açores Internacional and RTP3, as set out in Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-100, the Commission has adopted an open-entry approach to the addition of non-Canadian news services to the list, which is consistent with the importance it places on a diversity of editorial points of view. Accordingly, absent clear evidence, as determined by the Commission, that a non-Canadian news service will violate Canadian regulations, such as those regarding abusive comment, the Commission will be predisposed to authorize non-Canadian news services for distribution in Canada.

Secretary General

Related documents

Date modified: