News Release

February 4, 2000

OTTAWA-HULL — Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued a call for applications to operate new digital pay and specialty television services for digital distribution. This call follows the Commission's licensing policy made public on January 13^th, 2000.

The Commission will use the guidelines set out in the new licensing framework to examine applications for new services. These guidelines aim to provide Canadian viewers with a wider choice of programming services and to promote a Canadian digital presence.

Applications for new digital specialty services, including pay-per-view and video-on-demand services are to be filed with the CRTC no later than April 3^rd, 2000. Following the deadline for applications, the Commission will issue a notice identifying the date of the public hearing and the applications received. Interested parties will then have 25 days prior to the public hearing to comment on the applications. The Commission expects to release its decision on new Canadian pay and specialty services at the end of 2000. These new digital services should be available sometime in 2001.

Reference documents: Public Notice CRTC 2000-22 and Public Notice CRTC 2000-6.

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Copies of today's documents are available through our Internet site (http://www.crtc.gc.ca) or by contacting the public examination room of any CRTC office. These documents are available in alternative format upon request.