OTTAWA – After being told last month by the CRTC that it wasn’t allowed under its current license to distribute separate regional streams, TSN has applied for a license amendment.
In 2005, CBC complained to the Commission that CTV Specialty’s TSN had breached the conditions of its licence by broadcasting NHL hockey games using two simultaneous, national feeds last fall. The games were distributed by cable companies (BDUs) on an analog as well as a digital basis.
The Commission agreed with CBC and found that TSN’s use of two simultaneous national feeds when broadcasting a pair of games in different regions runs contrary to its conditions of license, which calls for a single, national feed.
Thursday, the CRTC announced that TSN has applied to alter its license so that it can distribute different feeds of certain programming.
TSN has applied to amend condition 1(d) of its licence which reads: "The licensee may distribute separate regional programming in place of its national service to affiliated distribution undertakings provided that the hours devoted to such regional programming do not exceed 10% of the licensee’s quarterly program schedule," by adding, "the licensee may also distribute such multiple feeds of it service in a single region on a digital-only basis."
In its application letter to the commission, TSN President Phil King wrote, "The proposed amendment would allow Canadian viewers access to sports programming that would not otherwise be available in Canada and avoid the possibility of viewers seeking illegitimate grey or black market means to access this programming. Moreover, this application, if approved, would allow viewers to continue to enjoy the programming diversity they have come to expect in the digital distribution environment and encourage the transition to digital distribution."
TSN’s application is here.
