Broadcasting - Commission Letter addressed to Richard Biron (Sogetel inc.)
Ottawa, 27 October 2021
BY EMAIL
Richard Biron
Vice-President, Business Development
Sogetel inc.
111, 12 Novembre St.
Nicolet, Quebec J3T 1S3
Richard.biron@sogetel.com
Subject: Shortfall relating to Canadian programming contributions
Dear Richard Biron:
As you are aware, Sogetel inc. (Sogetel) recently provided the Commission with a letter self-identifying several instances of apparent non-compliance with the requirements relating to contributions to Canadian programming set out in paragraph 20 of Broadcasting Order 2015-544 and paragraph 20 of Broadcasting Order 2017-320. Commission staff analyzed the information and confirmed the apparent non-compliance, which was communicated to you in a letter dated 12 April 2021.
This letter is to inform you that following further analysis of this situation, the Commission finds Sogetel in non-compliance with the above-noted contribution requirements.
The non-compliance stems from the fact that Sogetel did not make the required contributions to Canadian programming for four of its exempt broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) serving more than 2,000 subscribers for the 2014-2015 through 2017-2018 broadcast years. The corresponding shortfall amounts to $911,688. However, Sogetel was also found to have over-contributed in regard to its required contributions for some of its BDUs serving more than 2,000 subscribers and for its video-on-demand undertaking for the 2010-2011 through 2018-2019 broadcast years. The corresponding over-contribution amounts to $153,320. The total net shortfall in regard to contributions to Canadian programming therefore amounts to $758,386.
In light of the above, the Commission directs Sogetel to pay the total Canadian programming contribution shortfall ($758,386) to the Canada Media Fund as follows:
- 20% ($151,677) of the shortfall to be paid within 90 days of the date of this letter; and
- the remainder of the shortfall ($606,709) to be paid in equal monthly instalments over the 24 months following the date of this letter.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Claude Doucet
Secretary General
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