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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-526
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Ottawa, 21 October 2005 |
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Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Ottawa, Ontario |
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Application 2005-0150-4
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
15 August 2005 |
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CBOT Ottawa – Transitional digital television
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The Commission approves an
application for a broadcasting licence to operate a transitional digital
television undertaking in association with CBOT Ottawa. |
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The application
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1. |
The Commission received an application by
the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for a broadcasting licence
to operate a transitional digital television undertaking in association
with CBOT Ottawa. The applicant proposed that the station simulcast the
current analog programming service of CBOT, with the exception of up to
14 hours per week of programming that would not be duplicated on the
analog service. The digital undertaking would operate from Camp Fortune
on channel 25VL with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of
90,700 watts. |
2. |
The Commission did not receive any
interventions in connection with this application. |
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Commission’s analysis and determination
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3. |
The Commission set out its policy framework
for the transition from analog to digital television in A licensing
policy to oversee the transition from analog to digital, over-the-air
television broadcasting, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2002-31,12 June
2002 (Public Notice 2002-31).
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4. |
Based on its examination of this application,
the Commission is satisfied that it is in conformity with all applicable
terms and conditions announced in Public Notice 2002-31
and in The regulatory framework for the distribution of digital television
signals, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2003-61,
11 November 2003 (Public Notice 2003-61).
Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for a broadcasting licence to operate
an English-language transitional digital television undertaking in
association with CBOT Ottawa. |
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Canadian content
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5. |
In Public Notice 2002-31,
the Commission stated that: |
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[its] existing policies and regulations, as well as the
conditions of licence currently applicable to a broadcaster in
respect of its analog television service will also apply to any
transitional digital programming service the broadcaster may be
licensed to provide.
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6. |
Accordingly, the new transitional digital
television licence will be subject to the conditions that are
applicable to the analog television service CBOT and to those set
out in Licences for CBC English-language television and radio renewed
for a seven-year term, Decision CRTC 2000-1,
6 January 2000, as may be amended by the Commission. |
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14-hour program allowance
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7. |
The CBC made a commitment to simulcast the
current programming service of CBOT with the exception of up to 14 hours
per week of supplementary programming that would not be duplicated on
the analog service. The applicant further committed to ensure that all
unduplicated, supplementary programming broadcast on the undertaking is
broadcast in a wide screen high definition (HD) format, and that a
minimum of 50% such programming is Canadian. Consistent with the
applicant’s commitments, the Commission has imposed conditions of
licence, set out in the appendix to this decision. |
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Simulcast of high definition and wide screen programming
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8. |
As part of this proceeding, the Commission
asked the applicant to comment on the possible imposition of conditions
of licence reflecting, among other things, the two key principles
set out in Public Notice 2002-31
relating to the simulcast of HD and wide screen programming. Specifically,
the Commission asked whether the CBC would adhere to conditions of
licence requiring that: |
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- all simulcast programming on the undertaking produced in the wide
screen format (16:9 aspect ratio) be broadcast in that format; and,
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- all simulcast programming on the undertaking aired during the
evening broadcast period produced in HD be broadcast in HD.
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9. |
In response, the CBC agreed to accept these
conditions of licence. Accordingly, the Commission has imposed these
conditions of licence on the new transitional digital television
undertaking. |
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Data transmission
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10. |
In Public Notice 2002-31,
the Commission expressed the view that HD television (HDTV) should
be used to promote the development of new Canadian programming of
high quality, and to make this available to viewers in a picture format
that is superior to the current analog National Television Standards
Committee (NTSC) format. To that end, the Commission emphasized that
broadcasters should ensure that the HD programming they purchase or
produce is transmitted to viewers without loss of signal quality.
Consistent with that aim, the Commission requires, by condition
of licence, that the licensee ensure that the transmission of
data does not affect the quality or quantity of HD programming. |
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Technical considerations
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11. |
The undertaking will operate on channel
25VL with an average ERP of 90,700 watts. The Commission is satisfied
that these technical parameters will provide effective coverage to the
Ottawa area within the constraints of the Department of Industry’s (the
Department’s) DTV Transition Allotment Plan. |
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Issuance of the licence
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12. |
The Commission will issue a transitional
digital television licence to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,
subject to the conditions set out in the appendix to this
decision. The licence will expire 31 August 2007, coincident with the
expiry of the licence for CBOT. |
13. |
The Commission reminds the licensee that,
pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, no licence may
be issued until the Department notifies the Commission that its
technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting
certificate will be issued. |
14. |
Furthermore, the licence for this
undertaking will be issued once the licensee has informed the Commission
in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking
must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no
later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request
for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 21 October
2007. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely
manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before that date. |
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Secretary General |
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This decision is to be appended to the
licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may
also be examined in PDF format or in
HTML at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
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Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-526
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Conditions of licence
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1. The licence shall be subject to the terms and conditions applicable
to the analog television station CBOT Ottawa, as set out in Licences
for CBC English-language television and radio renewed for a seven-year
term, Decision CRTC 2000-1,
6 January 2000, as may be amended by the Commission.
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2. The licensee shall ensure that all programming broadcast on the
undertaking is a simulcast of the programming broadcast on CBOT
Ottawa, with the exception of up to 14 hours per week of unduplicated,
supplementary programming.
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3. The licensee shall ensure that at least 50% of the unduplicated,
supplementary programming broadcast by the undertaking is Canadian.
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4. The licensee shall ensure that all unduplicated, supplementary
programming broadcast by the undertaking is broadcast in a wide screen
(16:9 aspect ratio), high definition format.
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5. The licensee shall ensure that all programs that are simulcast
by the undertaking, and that are available to the licensee in a wide
screen (16:9 aspect ratio) format, are also broadcast in that format.
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6. The licensee shall ensure that all programs that are simulcast
by the undertaking during the evening broadcast period, and that are
available to the licensee in high definition are also broadcast in
high definition.
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7. The licensee shall ensure that the transmission of data does not
affect the quality or quantity of high definition programming.
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