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Decision CRTC 2001-459
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Ottawa, 2 August 2001 |
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OKS Cable Corporation, Regional Cablesystems (Western) Inc. and
Shaw Cablesystems Company
Various locations in British Columbia (see appendix for
application numbers and locations)
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17 April 2001 Public Hearing
National Capital Region
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Cable carriage of CIVT-TV Vancouver
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The Commission approves the applications by CTV, acting as
an agent for OKS Cable Corporation (OKS), Regional Cablesystems
(Western) Inc. (Regional) and Shaw Cablesystems Company (Shaw), for
authority to distribute CIVT-TV Vancouver as a distant signal, on
their cable systems serving various communities in British Columbia.
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Background
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1. |
The programming of the CTV national system has been available to
British Columbia residents for a number of years on both CHAN-TV
Vancouver and CHEK-TV Victoria, and on their various rebroadcasting
transmitters elsewhere in the province. Following approval of a
recent change of ownership, these two stations are now owned by
CanWest Global. The programming of the CTV national system will
cease to be broadcast on CHAN-TV and CHEK-TV as of 1 September 2001.
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2. |
On the same date, CIVT-TV Vancouver will commence full carriage
of CTV programming. Cable distributors located outside of the range
of CIVT-TV’s off-air signal who wish to make the station’s
programming available to their subscribers, were required to apply
to the Commission for authority pursuant to section 19 of the Broadcasting
Distribution Regulations (the regulations) to carry it as a
distant Canadian signal.
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Interventions
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3. |
Opposition to the carriage of CIVT-TV was expressed in a joint
intervention submitted by the licensees of local television stations
in Kamloops (CFJC-TV), Prince George (CKPG-TV), Dawson Creek (CJDC-TV)
and Terrace (CFTK-TV). The intervention set out a general concern
that local or regional advertising included in the signal of CIVT-TV
would cause financial harm to local television licensees.
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4. |
At the hearing, the interveners sought an arrangement with CIVT-TV
similar to a long-standing agreement with CHAN-TV. That agreement
permits local broadcasters in specific interior B.C. markets to
"cover over" certain advertising on the CHAN-TV signal
with commercials sold by the local broadcaster. The terms
"cover over" or "covering" are also used to
refer to the replacement of designated commercials with other
programming such as public service annoucements or program
promotions.
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5. |
Subsequent to the hearing, the Commission directed CTV and Global
to negotiate with the interveners for a resolution to the
interveners’ concerns, and to report to the Commission. On 29 June
2001, the Commission was advised that the negotiations had not been
successful.
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6. |
In a related decision of today’s date, regarding the licence
renewal of CIVT-TV, that licence has been made subject to a
condition requiring the "covering" of advertising other
than national advertising in certain communities with program
promotions or public service announcements for the duration of the
new licence term, which begins 1 September 2001 (Decision CRTC 2001-457-13).
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7. |
Additionally, the Commission has, in another related decision of
today’s date, imposed a condition of licence requiring CanWest
Global to permit the interveners to cover certain advertising
material in the signal of CHAN-TV for the duration of the new
licence term (Decision CRTC 2001-458-12).
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8. |
The Commission’s objective is to ensure the continued viability
of the local television stations that provide service to certain
communities in the Central Interior of British Columbia, while
allowing for the continued provision of CTV service to this region.
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9. |
Consistent with these objectives, the Commission approves
the applications by CTV, acting as an agent for OKS, Regional and
Shaw, for authority to distribute CIVT-TV Vancouver as a distant
signal, on their cable systems serving various communities in
British Columbia.
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10. |
In the case of the cable distribution undertakings operated by
Shaw in Kamloops, Prince George, Dawson Creek and Kelowna, and of
that operated by OKS at Terrace, the licensees must ensure that the
CIVT-TV signal they distribute contains the covered advertising.
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11. |
The Commission reminds the applicants in Kamloops, Terrace,
Prince George and Dawson Creek that, should a local television
programming undertaking wish to insert local advertising on the
"covered" portions of the CIVT-TV signal, the Commission’s
prior approval for the distributor to "alter or curtail"
the signal would be required.
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Secretary General
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This decision is to be appended to each licence. It is available
in alternative format upon request, and may be examined at the
following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
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Appendix to Decision CRTC 2001-459
Licensee and location |
Application number |
OKS Cable Corporation |
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Fernie, B.C. |
2001-0362-2 |
Hope, B.C. |
2001-0363-0 |
Kimberly, B.C. |
2001-0364-8 |
Kitimat, B.C. |
2001-0365-6 |
Prince Rupert, B.C. |
2001-0366-4 |
Terrace, B.C. |
2001-0367-2 |
Regional Cablesystems (Western) Inc. |
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Oliver and Osoyoos, B.C. |
2001-0368-0 |
Shaw Cablesystems Company |
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Castlegar, B.C. |
2001-0369-8 |
Cranbrook, B.C. |
2001-0370-6 |
Kamloops, B.C. |
2001-0371-3 |
Kelowna, B.C. |
2001-0372-1 |
Penticton, B.C. |
2001-0373-9 |
Prince George, B.C. |
2001-0374-7 |
Vernon, B.C. |
2001-0375-5 |
Creston, B.C. |
2001-0376-3 |
Dawson Creek, B.C. |
2001-0377-1 |
Fort St. John, B.C. |
2001-0378-9 |
Invermere, B.C. |
2001-0379-7 |
Merritt, B.C. |
2001-0380-5 |
Quesnel, B.C. |
2001-0381-2 |
Williams Lake, B.C. |
2001-0382-0 |
Date Modified: 2001-08-02 |