WSN will be devoted entirely to sports programming featuring female athletes and participants. As noted in Public Notice CRTC 2000-171 issued today, WSN and 20 other new digital specialty services will be made available to subscribers by all distributors who offer programming to the public using digital technology and by some cable operators who serve smaller markets using analog technology. The licence, when issued, will expire 31 August 2007.

WSN will provide a national English-language specialty television service consisting exclusively of sports programming featuring female athletes and participants. It will showcase sports where women are the principal competitors, or where women and men compete together or against each other. WSN will also broadcast magazine shows,
documentaries and instruction programs related to women’s sports. The program categories identified by WSN as forming the service’s content are set out in a condition of licence found in the appendix to this decision.

WSN will contribute to increased diversity in the Canadian broadcasting system since programming related to women’s sports is underrepresented in the sports coverage currently provided by conventional television stations and existing specialty services. The service will bring new sports programming to the screen that will be of special interest to Canadian women and fans of women’s sports. Sports at all levels and in a variety of disciplines will be featured in formats that include coverage of live events, magazine shows, instructional programs and drama. WSN also responds directly to several important policy objectives expressed on numerous occasions by the Commission, namely, the positive portrayal of women in programming, and the need for more on-air representation of women, especially as experts and commentators.

The licensee made a commitment to broadcast a minimum of 30% Canadian content from 6 a.m. to midnight, and from 6 p.m. to midnight, in the first year of the licence term. WSN’s commitment will be increased gradually over the licence term. By the seventh year of the term, a minimum of 50% Canadian content will be broadcast, both during the period from 6 a.m. to midnight and between 6 p.m. and midnight. A condition of licence setting out the levels of Canadian programming required annually can be found in the appendix to this decision.

Following discussions at the hearing, the licensee further committed to broadcast a minimum of 700 hours of original Canadian programs in each year of the licence term.

Beginning in the year following the first year of operation, the licensee will expend a yearly minimum of 53% of the previous year’s gross advertising, infomercial and subscription revenues on Canadian programming. The licensee estimates that, in accordance with this formula, it will spend approximately $36 million over the licence term to acquire or produce Canadian programs. A formula for the calculation of the required amounts is set out in a condition of licence found in the appendix to this decision.

The licensee indicated that, over the licence term, it would spend $14 million on program acquisitions from independent producers. WSN will broadcast an average of 525 hours per year of programming from independent and freelance producers. The Commission notes the licensee’s commitments, and as set out in Public Notice 2000-171, all Category 1 services will be subject to a standard condition of licence in this regard.

At the outset of its operations, WSN will offer a website that focuses on information, statistics and news that relates to women’s sports. This site will evolve into a complementary "web-zine" (a web-based magazine and portal). As the technology evolves, WSN will offer expanded television interactivity, including personalized viewing guides as well as virtual coaching and personal training.

CTV Inc. has effective control of NetStar via its wholly-owned subsidiary 3578704 Canada Inc. (80% of the voting interest). NetStar is the parent company of TSN. The applicant indicated that WSN would use the studios, control rooms and related equipment in the CTV facilities in Toronto. Synergies will also result from the fact that CTV owns other sport-related programming services such as Outdoor Life, RDS and pay-per-view sports. WSN will benefit significantly from NetStar’s experience in sports programming and cross promotional opportunities.

In its business plan, the licensee proposed a monthly wholesale rate of $0.16 per subscriber in the first year two years of operation, rising to $0.18 for years three, four and five, and to $0.19 for years six and seven.

The licensee has committed to install a TTY (teletypewriter) and to close caption at least 30% of the programming on WSN in the first year of operation. That level will increase by 10% each year, resulting in a minimum of 90% of programming to be closed captioned in the seventh year. The Commission expects the licensee to fulfil these commitments.

WSN noted that most of its programming will be readily accessible to the visually-impaired upon launch since all sports events broadcast will include commentary and analysis. The licensee also stated that it would make every effort to acquire the rights for descriptive video when it acquires programming. WSN further made a commitment to broadcast 100 hours a year of described video programming by the end of the licence term.

The Commission requires WSN to be technically equipped to deliver described video programming and to fulfil the commitments included in the application. In addition, the Commission encourages the licensee to provide audio description of visual information wherever possible, and to provide described video programming as outlined in Public Notice 2000-171.

The Commission notes that this licensee is subject to the Employment Equity Act that came into effect on 24 October 1996 and therefore files reports concerning employment equity with Human Resources Development Canada.

The Commission is satisfied that WSN will offer attractive and unique programming in an underserved niche that will increase the diversity of sports programming available in the Canadian broadcasting system. The Commission is confident that the expertise and experience of all of the parties involved in the new service, and the resources that will therefore be available to it, will ensure the success of WSN.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca

2. The programming must be drawn exclusively from the following categories, as set out in Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990:

News

7c

Specials, mini-series, made-for-TV feature films

Long-form documentary

7d

Informal education/recreation and leisure

12

Professional sports

13

Amateur sports

14

Broadcast day

30%

30%

30%

30%

35%

35%

40%

40%

45%

45%

50%

50%

50%

50%

The term "broadcast day" shall be defined as a 24 hour period beginning at 6 a.m. each day.