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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-56
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Ottawa, 10 March
2006 |
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Multivan Broadcast
Corporation (the general partner), and 650504 B.C. Ltd., Douglas M.
Holtby, Geoffrey Y.W. Lau, Robert H. Lee, Joseph Segal and RCG Forex
Service Corp. (the limited partners), carrying on business as Multivan
Broadcast Limited Partnership
Vancouver, British Colombia |
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Application 2005-0550-6
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
19 December 2005 |
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CHNM-TV Vancouver – 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 CHNM-TV Vancouver. |
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The application
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1. |
The Commission received an
application by the partners of the Multivan Broadcast Limited
Partnership1 (Multivan)
for a broadcasting licence to operate a transitional digital television
undertaking in association with CHNM-TV Vancouver. The applicant
proposed that the station simulcast the current analog programming
service of CHNM-TV, 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 the existing CHNM-TV tower on
channel 20C with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 772 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. Accordingly, the Commission approves
the application by Multivan Broadcast Corporation (the general partner),
and 650504 B.C. Ltd., Douglas M. Holtby, Geoffrey Y.W. Lau, Robert
H. Lee, Joseph Segal and RCG Forex Service Corp. (the limited partners),
carrying on business as Multivan Broadcast Limited Partnership, for
a broadcasting licence to operate a transitional digital television
undertaking in association with CHNM-TV Vancouver. |
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Conditions of licence of the analog television service
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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 CHNM-TV
as of the date of this decision. |
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The 14-hour program allowance
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7. |
Multivan made a commitment to
simulcast the current programming service of CHNM-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 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 Multivan 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, Multivan agreed to
accept these conditions of licence. 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 20C with an average ERP of 772 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) 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 Multivan Broadcast
Corporation (the general partner), and 650504 B.C. Ltd., Douglas M.
Holtby, Geoffrey Y.W. Lau, Robert H. Lee, Joseph Segal and RCG Forex
Service Corp. (the limited partners), carrying on business as Multivan
Broadcast Limited Partnership, subject to the conditions set out
in the appendix to this decision. The licence will expire
31 August 2008, coincident with the expiry of the licence for CHNM-TV. |
13. |
The Commission reminds the
applicant 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 applicant 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 10
March 2008. 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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Employment equity
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15. |
In accordance with Implementation
of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59,
1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the applicant to
consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all
other aspects of its management of human resources. |
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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 2006-56
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Conditions of licence
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1. The licence will be subject to the terms and conditions
applicable to the analog television station CHNM-TV Vancouver, as of
the date of this decision.
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2. The licensee shall ensure that all programming broadcast on the
undertaking is a simulcast of the programming broadcast on CHNM-TV
Vancouver, 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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Footnote:
Multivan
Broadcast Corporation (the general partner), and 650504 B.C. Ltd.,
Douglas M. Holtby, Geoffrey Y.W. Lau, Robert H. Lee, Joseph Segal and
RCG Forex Service Corp. (the limited partners), carrying on business as
Multivan Broadcast Limited Partnership |