Ottawa, 9 November 2001

The Comedy Network Inc.
Across Canada 2001-0566-0

The Commission approves in part the application to amend the licence for The Comedy Network by adding program category 7e (animated television programs and films) to the list of program categories that the service is authorized to provide. The licensee further proposed that programs from category 7e would be limited to 15% of the licensee’s broadcast day, with a maximum of one hour during the period from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Specifically, the Commission approves the addition of programming from category 7e to the permitted list of program categories set out in the condition of licence describing the nature of service provided by The Comedy Network. However, by condition of licence:

The Commission notes that these conditions respond to concerns raised by Teletoon Canada Inc. (Teletoon). Teletoon considered that the addition of animated programming as proposed by The Comedy Network would fundamentally change the nature of The Comedy Network’s service, allowing it to compete with Teletoon’s service which specializes in animated programming.

The Commission notes that the amendment will permit the licensee to continue to broadcast animated comedy programming as has been its practice before the revisions to the program categories were implemented by the Commission in Public Notice CRTC 1999-205. Furthermore, the animated programming broadcast by The Comedy Network will not compete with Teletoon’s animated children’s programming which comprises a large part of Teletoon’s service.

The Commission notes the interventions submitted in support of this application.

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