OTTAWA – The CRTC is calling for comments on a proposed change to the distribution of small market independent TV stations by Canada’s direct-to-home (DTH) providers.
The Commission announced last year that DTH licensees will be required to distribute at least one independently-owned local television station from each province where such stations have been licensed.
Once finalized, this requirement will be set out in the new broadcasting distribution regulations which come into force on August 31, 2011, replacing the current obligation to distribute 13 small-market independently-owned stations.
The CRTC had originally planned to address this issue in the upcoming OTA hearings, but announced Monday that it was publishing the request for comments now so that the public record can be completed prior to the November hearing.
Comments are due by October 13, 2009, and parties wishing to submit a reply to any comments have until October 27.
