|
Broadcasting
Decision CRTC 2006-517
|
|
Ottawa, 14
September 2006 |
|
Black Walk
Corporation
Across Canada |
|
Application 2005-0971-3
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
1 May 2006 |
|
Truth Channel –
Category 2 specialty service
|
|
In this decision, the Commission
approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new
Category 2 specialty programming undertaking. |
|
The application
|
1.
|
The Commission received an application by
Black Walk Corporation for a broadcasting licence to operate a national,
English-language Category 21 specialty programming
undertaking to be known as Truth Channel. |
2.
|
The applicant proposed to offer a service
that would consist of reality TV shows and related programming from
North America and around the world. All of the programming would be
drawn from the following categories set out in Schedule 1 to the
Specialty Services Regulations, 1990: 2(a) Analysis and
interpretation; 2(b) Long-form documentary; 3 Reporting and actualities;
5(b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure; 7(c) Specials,
mini-series or made-for-TV feature films; 7(d) Theatrical feature films
aired on TV; 8(b) Music video clips; 12 Interstitials; 13 Public service
announcements; and 14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos. |
3.
|
The applicant indicated that not more than
15% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast week would be
drawn from categories 7(c) and 7(d). |
|
Interventions
|
4.
|
The Commission received an intervention in
support of this application as well as an intervention in opposition. |
5.
|
Captioning Consumers of Canada (CCC)
contended that the applicant had not proposed an adequate level of
closed captioning. In CCC’s view, all the programming offered by the
proposed service should be captioned, either by adding captioning to its
programming or by acquiring captioned programming. CCC also expressed
concern about the quality of captioning. |
6.
|
The applicant did not reply to CCC’s
intervention. |
|
Commission’s analysis
and determinations
|
7.
|
The Commission acknowledges the concerns
raised by CCC. As indicated in Review of certain aspects of the
regulatory framework for over-the-air television, Broadcasting
Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2006-5,
12 June 2006, the Commission is currently reviewing its approach
to closed captioning with a view to improving the quantity and quality
of captioning in the Canadian broadcasting system. |
8.
|
The Commission is satisfied that the application
is in conformity with all applicable terms and conditions announced
in Introductory statement – Licensing of new digital pay and
specialty services – Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice CRTC
2000-171-1, 6 March
2001 (Public Notice 2000-171-1).
Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Black
Walk Corporation for a broadcasting licence to operate the national,
English-language Category 2 specialty programming undertaking,
Truth Channel. |
9.
|
The licence will expire 31 August 2013,
and will be subject to the conditions set out in Public Notice
2000-171-1, as well
as to the conditions set out in the appendix to this decision. |
|
Issuance of the licence
|
10.
|
A licence will be issued once the applicant
has satisfied the Commission, with supporting documentation, that the
following requirements have been met: |
|
- the applicant has entered into a distribution agreement
with at least one licensed distributor; and
|
|
- 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 36 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an
extension of time is approved by the Commission before 14 September
2009. 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 2006-517
|
|
Conditions of licence
|
|
1. The licence will be subject to the conditions set out
in Introductory statement – Licensing of new digital pay
and specialty services – Corrected Appendix 2, Public Notice
CRTC 2000-171-1,
6 March 2001.
|
|
2. The licensee shall provide a national, English-language
Category 2 specialty programming service consisting of reality TV
shows and related programming from North America and around the world.
|
|
3. The programming shall be drawn exclusively from the following
categories, as set out in Schedule I to the Specialty Services
Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time:
|
|
2 (a) Analysis and interpretation
(b) Long-form documentary
3 Reporting and actualities
5 (b) Informal education/Recreation and leisure
7 (c) Specials, mini-series or made-for-TV feature films
(d) Theatrical feature films aired on TV
8 (b) Music video clips
12 Interstitials
13 Public service announcements
14 Infomercials, promotional and corporate videos
|
|
4. Not more than 15% of all programming broadcast during the
broadcast week shall be drawn from categories 7(c) and 7(d).
|
|
For the purposes of the conditions of this
licence, including condition of licence no.1, broadcast day
refers to the 24-hour period beginning each day at 6 a.m., or any other
period approved by the Commission. |
|
Footnote:
The Category 2 services are defined in Introductory statement
– Licensing of new digital pay and specialty services, Public
Notice CRTC 2000-171,
14 December 2000. |