Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-281

Reference: Part 1 application posted on 8 June 2020

Ottawa, 20 August 2020

Ethnic Channels Group Limited
Across Canada

Public record for this application: 2020-0289-8

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

The Commission approves an application from Ethnic Channels Group Limited (ECGL), acting as the Canadian sponsor, to add the non-Canadian service RT France to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution (the list). The Commission received an intervention supporting this application. 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.
ECGL described RT France as a French-language service that originates from France and provides international and French news and stories. The service targets French-speaking adults with an interest in international and French news and political affairs.
As set out in Regulatory frameworks for broadcasting distribution undertakings and discretionary programming services – Regulatory policy, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-100, 30 October 2008, 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