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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-363

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Reference: Part 1 licence renewal application posted on 2 February 2023 

Ottawa, 9 November 2023

TELUS Communications Inc.
Across Canada

Public record: 2022-0791-9

Optik TV – Licence renewal

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsections 9(1), 9.1(1) and 11.1(2) of the Broadcasting Act, to issue and renew licences and to make orders imposing conditions on the carrying on of a broadcasting undertaking that it considers appropriate for the implementation of the broadcasting policy set out in subsection 3(1) of the Broadcasting Act and to make orders respecting expenditures.
  2. Consistent with that authority, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the national on-demand service Optik TV, from 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2028.Footnote 1 The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
  3. Pursuant to subsections 49(1) and 50(2) of the Online Streaming Act, the conditions of licence that existed prior to the date of royal assent of that Act are deemed to be conditions imposed under an order made pursuant to section 9.1 of the new Broadcasting Act, or subsection 11.1(2) in the case of expenditure requirements. As such, the conditions of licence for this licensee became conditions of service and continue to apply to the licensee. For ease of reference, the Commission has set out the conditions of service for this licensee in the appendix to this decision.
  4. Further, the formal broadcasting licence document issued to a licensee may set out additional requirements for the undertaking, relating to, for example, technical parameters or prohibitions on transfer. The licensee shall also adhere to any such requirements set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.
  5. The Commission notes that the licensee uses its on-demand service, distributed through its related broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs), as a primary vehicle for fulfilling its obligations relating to local expression and community programming. Any issues relating to those obligations will be examined at the time of the next renewal proceedings for those BDUs.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-363

Terms, conditions of service, expectations and encouragements for the national on-demand service Optik TV

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2028.

Conditions of service

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of service set out in the Appendix to the Standard requirements for on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2017-138, 10 May 2017. Further, the licensee shall adhere to the requirements set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.
  2. The licensee shall adhere to all applicable requirements set out in the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, that were made under paragraph 10(1)(a) or under paragraph 10(1)(i) of the old Broadcasting Act.Footnote 2

Expectations

Standard 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.

Cultural diversity

The Commission expects the licensee to reflect the cultural diversity of Canada in its programming and employment practices.

Encouragements

Standard encouragements

The standard encouragements 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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