| |
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-173
|
| |
Ottawa, 21 April 2005 |
| |
Global Communications Limited
Vancouver, British Columbia |
| |
Application 2004-0999-7
Public Hearing at Vancouver, British Columbia
28 February 2005 |
| |
CHAN-TV Vancouver – Transitional digital television
|
| |
The Commission approves
the application by Global Communications Limited for a
broadcasting licence to operate a transitional digital television
undertaking in association with CHAN-TV Vancouver. |
| |
The application
|
|
1. |
The Commission received an application by
Global Communications Limited (Global) for a broadcasting licence to
operate a transitional digital television undertaking in association
with CHAN-TV Vancouver. The applicant proposed that the station would
simulcast the current analog programming service of CHAN-TV, except for
up to 14 hours per week of programming that would not be duplicated on
the analog service. The digital undertaking would operate from the
existing CHAN-TV tower on channel 22VL with an
average effective radiated power (ERP) of 4,300 watts. |
| |
Intervention
|
|
2. |
The Commission received one intervention by
Randy Coghill that did not raise matters directly related to the
application. The Commission notes Global’s reply. |
| |
The Commission’s analysis and determination
|
|
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).
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. Accordingly, the Commission approves
the application by Global Communications Limited for a broadcasting
licence to operate a transitional digital television undertaking in
association with CHAN-TV Vancouver. The licence will expire 31 August
2008, coincident with the expiry of the licence for CHAN-TV Vancouver. |
| |
Canadian content
|
|
4. |
In Public Notice 2002-31
, the Commission stated that: |
| |
[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.
|
|
5. |
The Commission renewed the licence for
CHAN-TV in Licence renewals for CHAN-TV, CHKM-TV, CHKL-TV and CIFG-TV,
Decision CRTC 2001-458-12,
2 August 2001 (Decision 2001-458-12).
The new transitional digital television licence will therefore be
subject to the conditions of licence that are applicable to
the analog television service CHAN-TV and to those set out in Decision
2001-458-12,
and as may be amended by the Commission. |
| |
The 14-hour program allowance
|
|
6. |
Global made a commitment to simulcast the
current programming service of CHAN-TV 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
would be broadcast in a wide screen, high definition (HD) format and
that a minimum of 50% of such programming would be Canadian. Consistent
with the applicant’s commitments, the Commission has imposed
conditions of licence, set out in the appendix to this
decision. |
| |
Simulcast of high definition and wide screen programming
|
|
7. |
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 Global would adhere to conditions of
licence requiring that: |
| |
- all simulcast programming on the undertaking produced in the wide
screen format (16:9 aspect ratio), be broadcast in that format; and
|
| |
- all simulcast programming on the undertaking aired during the
evening broadcast period produced in HD, be broadcast in HD.
|
|
8. |
In response, Global agreed to accept these
conditions of licence. Accordingly, the Commission has imposed these
conditions of licence on the new transitional digital television
undertaking. |
| |
Data transmission
|
|
9. |
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
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 quality or quantity of HD programming is not negatively affected
by its transmission. |
| |
Technical considerations
|
|
10. |
The undertaking will operate on channel
22VL with an average ERP of 4,300 watts. The Commission is satisfied
that these technical parameters will provide effective coverage to the
Vancouver area within the constraints of the Department of Industry’s
(the Department’s) DTV Transition Allotment Plan. |
| |
Issuance of the licence
|
|
11. |
The Commission will issue a transitional
digital television licence to Global, subject to the conditions of
licence set out in the appendix to this decision. |
|
12. |
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. |
|
13. |
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 April
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. |
| |
Secretary General |
| |
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
|
| |
Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-173
|
| |
Conditions of licence
|
| |
1. In addition to the conditions set out below, the licence is
subject to the terms and conditions applicable to the analog
television station CHAN-TV Vancouver, and as may be amended by the
Commission.
|
| |
2. The licensee shall ensure that all programming broadcast by the
undertaking is a simulcast of the programming broadcast on CHAN-TV
Vancouver, with the exception of up to 14 hours per week of
unduplicated, supplementary programming.
|
| |
3. The licensee shall ensure that at least 50% of the unduplicated,
supplementary programming broadcast by the undertaking is Canadian.
|
| |
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.
|
| |
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 by the licensee
in that format.
|
| |
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 by the
licensee in high definition.
|
| |
7. The licensee shall ensure that the quality or quantity of high
definition programming is not negatively affected by its transmission.
|
