CRTC denies HDTV Networks and YES TV applications

OTTAWA-GATINEAU - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today denied HDTV Networks Inc.'s (HDTV Networks) application for a licence to operate a national, English-language high-definition conventional television service.

"HDTV Networks sought to launch a television station that would be the Canadian equivalent of a superstation," said Michel Arpin, the CRTC's Vice-Chairman of Broadcasting. "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 requirement to make local programming available to audiences is an integral feature of the CRTC's conventional television policy. HDTV Networks would only commit to providing two hours of local programming per week in each of the eight markets it wanted to serve: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. By way of comparison, existing conventional stations offer on average more than 22 hours of local programming per week.

The Commission also found that HDTV Networks' proposal was inconsistent with its policies governing the distribution of digital television signals. The applicant requested that cable and satellite companies distribute its television signal in both analog and digital formats. Such an arrangement would not further the Commission's objective to support the transition from analog to digital broadcasting and distribution.

In addition, the CRTC today denied YES TV Inc.'s application for a licence to operate an English-language high-definition conventional television service in the Greater Toronto Area. The Commission was not convinced that the applicant could fulfill its programming commitments, among other things.