September 14, 2000

OTTAWA-HULL — In a decision released today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the licence application jointly submitted by Radio-Canada, Télé-Québec, BCE Media Inc., Sept ARTE and Équipe Spectra.

The new French-language arts and culture specialty service, "la Télé des Arts", will be offered to distribution undertakings throughout Canada. The CRTC set out distribution requirements intended to assure the viability and quality of the service, as well as ensuring that the price remains affordable for consumers wishing to subscribe.

This decision is based on the ability of the service to further the objectives of the Broadcasting Act and to meet the criteria set out by the Commission in its call for applications dated February 1, 2000. These include:

• that the service reflect the uniqueness of Quebec culture and the needs and circumstances of French-language communities in other parts of Canada; and
• that the programming complement that of existing services, and not have a negative impact on them.

"‘La Télé des Arts’ was able to create an innovative partnership between the private and public sectors and between Canada and Europe," stated Madame Francoise Bertrand, Chairperson of the Commission. "Thanks to this partnership, the new service has all of the necessary tools to, first of all, fulfil its mandate of reflecting Quebec culture and that of other French-language communities in Canada and also to help share our programs with the entire international Francophone community."

The synergies among the various partners will help to create high quality, original programming that complements what is already being offered by the Canadian broadcasting system. With a wide range of cultural and artistic themes, the programs on "la Télé des Arts" will promote a Francophone perspective on cultural events taking place all over the country.

"The Commission believes that "la Télé des Arts" should be accessible to Francophone viewers throughout Canada," indicated Mme Bertrand. The Commission’s decision therefore includes measures to promote the distribution of "la Télé des Arts" in Canada, as well as the independent production of Francophone programs in Quebec and the other provinces.

"The successful distribution of the service, added Mme Bertrand, will enable "la Télé des Arts" to access the necessary resources to offer quality programs that will ensure the success of an arts channel. We therefore need to combine two elements here: large-scale penetration of the new service and affordable prices for viewers in order to win their loyalty."

The Commission has therefore established that, in Francophone markets, this specialty service must be distributed in analog mode by the major cable distributors on their existing discretionary service with the greatest penetration. The same requirements will apply to the smaller cable distributors that choose to offer the service. Direct-to-home satellite distribution undertakings must offer it in the service package with the most French-language programming.

In Anglophone markets, "la Télé des Arts" will be offered as a discretionary service, unless the distributor and the broadcaster agree to offer it as a basic service. The Commission also seeks to ensure that analog distribution of this service in Anglophone markets will serve to increase the total number of French-language services.

Through public consultations beginning September 19^th and a public hearing in Hull, Quebec, on October 18^th, the Commission will soon be examining other measures to ensure that this service will be made available to the greatest possible number of Francophones outside Quebec.

Reference documents: Decision CRTC 2000-386, Public Notices CRTC 2000-74-2, 2000-128, 2000-129

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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.