OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Videotron’s French-language community channel MAtv is not serving the diverse cultural communities in Greater Montreal, the CRTC told the Quebec broadcaster Wednesday, before approving its request for an English community channel.
MAtv is available to approximately 1.8 million homes in Montreal, Québec-Lévis, Sherbrooke, Cap-de -la- Madeleine, Sorel-Tracy, Granby, Netherlands St. Lawrence, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Ottawa. After a complaint in January 2014 by a group calling itself Independent Community TV, the Commission reviewed program logs submitted by Videotron for MAtv. Its investigation concluded that during the week in question, the channel devoted only 30.2% to access programming (the required percentage is 45%) and just 37.2% to local programming (the required percentage is 60%).
Access programming as it relates to community television is defined as “programming produced by an individual, group or community television corporation residing within the licensed area of a cable distribution undertaking”, while local programming is “programming that is reflective of the community served” and that is produced in the licensed area by either the licensee or members of the community served. Programs produced in other licensed areas within the same municipality are also considered to be local community programming.
Wednesday’s decision ordered Videotron to take “concrete steps” to comply with the local and access programming requirements before its next licence renewal in August 2015. It also said that Videotron must form a citizens' advisory committee by March 15 that will determine the mix, scope and types of programs that would best serve the needs and interests of the greater Montreal community, and “provide proof” no later than April 1, 2015.
"Community television continues to play an important role in many communities in Canada”, said the CRTC’s broadcasting vice-chairman Tom Pentefountas, in a statement. “It must reflect local identity and let people know what's happening in their region and around the world. With this decision, the CRTC is making sure that all Greater Montreal communities are better served by their community television, so that they can see themselves reflected in it and participate if they want to."
At the same time, the CRTC approved Videotron's application to create an English-language community channel to be known as MYtv to serve Montreal, Montreal West and Terrebonne. However, it denied Videotron’s request to reallocate additional contributions to fund the project.
“Given that Videotron is operating MAtv in non-compliance with regulatory requirements relating to access programming and local programming (as noted in Broadcasting Decision 2015-31) and that an additional 2% contribution to MYtv would deprive the Canada Media Fund and other funds of significant funding, the Commission denies this part of the application”, reads the decision.
Using the contributions that have already been allocated, the Commission said that Videotron may either operate a new, separate channel, or use the existing MAtv channel to serve both linguistic communities.
When contacted by Cartt.ca, Videotron expressed disappointment with the CRTC's decision. “In the coming days, the company will review the decision and assess its options”, reads the emailed statement.
The CRTC also pledged to review the regulatory framework for community television policies in 2015-2016.
