Search

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2021-204

PDF version

Reference: Part 1 application posted on 24 March 2021

Ottawa, 16 June 2021

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Various locations across Canada

Public record for this application: 2021-0142-6

Various English- and French-language conventional television stations – Licence amendments related to coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

  1. The Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for temporary relief from conditions of licence relating to the provision of weekly local programming and described video requirements for the English- and French-language conventional television programming undertakings listed in the tables below. The relief will apply to the broadcast weeks commencing 18 July, 25 July and 1 August 2021.Footnote 1 The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.

English-language conventional television stations

Province Call sign and location
British Columbia CBUT-DT Vancouver
Alberta CBRT-DT Calgary
CBXT-DT Edmonton
Saskatchewan CBKT-DT Regina
Manitoba CBWT-DT Winnipeg
Ontario CBET-DT Windsor
CBLT-DT Toronto
CBOT-DT Ottawa
Quebec CBMT-DT Montréal
New Brunswick CBAT-DT Fredericton
Nova Scotia CBHT-DT Halifax
Prince Edward Island CBCT-DT Charlottetown
Newfoundland and Labrador CBNT-DT St. John’s
Northwest Territories CFYK-DT Yellowknife

French-language conventional television stations

Province Call sign and location
British Columbia CBUFT-DT Vancouver
Alberta CBXFT-DT Edmonton
Saskatchewan CBKFT-DT Regina
Manitoba CBWFT-DT Winnipeg
Ontario CBLFT-DT Toronto
CBOFT-DT Ottawa
Quebec CBFT-DT Montréal
CKTM-DT Trois-Rivières
CKSH-DT Sherbrooke
CBVT-DT Québec
CKTV-DT Saguenay
CJBR-DT Rimouski
New Brunswick CBAFT-DT Moncton
  1. The current described video condition of licence requires the English- and French-language stations listed above to provide described video for a minimum of four hours per broadcast week, of which two hours must be broadcast in described video for the first time on the service.
  2. Moreover, the current local programming conditions of licence for the above-noted undertakings require:
    • the French-language stations to broadcast at least five hours of local programming each broadcast week;Footnote 2 and
    • the English-language stations that operate in metropolitan and non-metropolitan markets to broadcast at least 14 and 7 hours, respectively, of local programmingFootnote 3 each broadcast week.
  3. As stated in its previous decisions dealing with requests for exceptions during the Olympic Games, the Commission considers that it is in the public interest for viewers to receive broadcast coverage of the Olympic Games, in which Canadians from all parts of the country compete and participate. Therefore, the Commission is of the view that the flexibility that the CBC has requested with respect to levels of local news and described video during the Olympic Games is appropriate and consistent with the flexibility granted by the Commission in previous decisions.
  4. To implement the relief from the described video condition of licence, the Commission adds the following condition of licence to each of the broadcasting licences for the above-mentioned stations:

    For the broadcast weeks commencing 18 July, 25 July and 1 August 2021, the licensee is relieved of the requirements set out in condition of licence 7 of Appendix 3 to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Licence renewals, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-263 and Broadcasting Orders CRTC 2013-264 and 2013-265, 28 May 2013.

  5. Moreover, to implement the relief from the local programming conditions of licence, the Commission adds the following conditions of licence:
    • for the above-mentioned English-language stations:

      For the broadcast weeks commencing 18 July, 25 July and 1 August 2021, the licensee is relieved of the requirements set out in condition of licence 21 of Appendix 3 to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Licence renewals, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-263 and Broadcasting Orders CRTC 2013-264 and 2013-265, 28 May 2013.

    • for the above-mentioned French-language stations:

      For the broadcast weeks commencing 18 July, 25 July and 1 August 2021, the licensee is relieved of the requirements set out in condition of licence 14 of Appendix 3 to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Licence renewals, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-263 and Broadcasting Orders CRTC 2013-264 and 2013-265, 28 May 2013.

  6. The Commission encourages the licensee to provide described video when possible during the Olympic Games, including but not limited to during non-sport activities such as athlete profiles and human interest pieces. The CBC indicated that it would provide described video for the opening and closing ceremonies.
  7. The Commission reminds all broadcasting licensees that they are responsible for the programming content that they air and for ensuring that they respect the conditions set out in their respective licences at all times.
  8. The Commission expects all broadcasting licensees to explore all avenues prior to applying for temporary relief from a condition of licence and will only grant such relief on an exceptional basis.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Date modified: