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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-235

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Reference: 2014-368

Ottawa, 28 July 2020

TELUS Communications Inc.
Across Canada

Public record for this application: 2019-1253-5

On-demand service

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to section 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue licences for such terms not exceeding seven years and subject to such conditions related to the circumstances of the licensee as it deems appropriate for the implementation of the broadcasting policy set out in section 3(1) of the Act.
  2. Pursuant to this authority, the Commission approves an application by TELUS Communications Inc. (TELUS) for a broadcasting licence to operate a national on demand programming undertaking.
  3. The Commission previously approved an application for a broadcasting licence to operate this service on 14 July 2014 in Broadcasting Decision 2014-368. Due to issues relating to negotiating agreements with program suppliers, TELUS was unable to launch the service prior to 14 July 2018, even though the Commission had granted an extension to do so. Due to its failure to launch the service within the required timeframe, TELUS was required to re-apply for Commission authorization to commence operations. TELUS has indicated in its current application that the factors that impeded its launch in the past have since been mitigated and that it intends to launch the service within the prescribed 24 months following the publication of the decision.
  4. TELUS indicated that the programming will be in English-language and the service will offer live and tape-delayed professional and amateur sports events, as well as live and tape-delayed special events including programs of comedy sketches, improvisations, unscripted works, stand-up comedy, music and dance, variety, and general entertainment and human interest. Its programming may also include interstitials, public service announcements and filler programming.
  5. The Commission is satisfied that the application complies with the regulatory framework for on-demand services set out in the appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2017-138. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.
  6. As a part of its adherence to standard requirements, TELUS will allocate 5% of its gross annual revenues to the certified independent production fund of its choice, in this case, the “TELUS Fund”.
  7. The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding this application.
  8. The Commission is of the view that this application does not raise any concerns that would prevent TELUS from commencing its operations within the prescribed timeframe.

Employment equity

  1. Because TELUS is subject to the Employment Equity Act and files reports concerning employment equity with the Department of Employment and Social Development, its employment equity practices are not examined by the Commission.

Secretary General

Related Documents

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-235

Terms, conditions of licence and expectations for the national terrestrial pay-per-view programming undertaking to serve communities across Canada

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2025.

A licence for this undertaking will be issued once the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and, in any event, no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 28 July 2022. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before that date.

Conditions of licence

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the standard conditions of licence for discretionary services set out in the Appendix to Standard requirements for on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2017-138, 10 May 2017, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.

Expectations

The standard expectations applicable to this licensee are set out in the Appendix to Standard requirements for on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2017-138, 10 May 2017.

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