OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC on Thursday turned down HDTV Networks Inc.’s bid for a licence to operate a national, English-language high-definition over-the-air TV service (Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-75).
“HDTV Networks sought to launch a television station that would be the Canadian equivalent of a superstation,” said CRTC vice-chair of broadcasting Michel Arpin in a media release. “The programming strategy associated with such a station is inconsistent with the objectives of the Broadcasting Act and the commission’s policies. We have never granted a licence for such a conventional television station in the past and did not find any compelling reason to do so at this time.”
The CRTC noted the requirement to make local programming available to audiences is an integral feature of its conventional television policy. During a public hearing held in February, HDTV Networks would only commit to providing two hours of local programming per week in each of the eight markets it wanted to serve.
The eight markets are Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.
The CRTC noted that existing over-the-air TV stations produce on average more than 22 hours of local programming per week.
The CRTC also stated in its decision that HDTV Networks’ proposal went against its policies governing the distribution of digital television signals.
HDTV wanted cable and satellite distributors to distribute its signal in both analog and digital, and this “would not further the commission’s objective to support the transition from analog to digital broadcasting and distribution,” said the CRTC.
The CRTC on Thursday also denied an application by YES TV Inc., which appeared at the same public hearing as HDTV, for a licence to operate an English-language high-definition conventional television station in the Greater Toronto Area (Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-76).
The regulator had concerns about YES TV’s ability to fulfill its programming commitments.
