Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-6

Reference: Part 1 application posted on 16 November 2021

Ottawa, 19 January 2022

VMedia Inc.
Across Canada

Public record for this application: 2021-0750-8

Addition of Ukraine24 to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution

The Commission approves an application from VMedia Inc. (VMedia), acting as the Canadian sponsor, to add the non-Canadian service Ukraine24 to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution (the list). The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding 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.
VMedia described Ukraine24 as a third-language news and information service that covers Ukrainian news through impartial large-scale interviews and analytics, supplemented by global news, music and sport highlights. It broadcasts 100% of its programming in Ukrainian and targets Ukrainian-speaking Canadians.
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