OTTAWA – Telus has received a broadcasting licence to operate a national terrestrial pay-per-view (PPV) programming undertaking, just weeks after news broke that PPV service Viewer’s Choice would be shutting down in September.
The CRTC approved Telus’ application on Monday, noting that it was satisfied that the application complied with the revised regulatory framework for PPV services.
According to the application, the service will offer live and tape-delayed professional and amateur sports events, as well as live and tape-delayed special events including programs of comedy sketches, improvisations, unscripted works, stand-up comedy, music and dance, variety, and general entertainment and human interest. The service’s programming will be predominantly in English, but Telus indicated that it may also offer some French-language programming.
The PPV service must be operational at the earliest possible date and no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before July 14, 2016. The licence will expire on August 31, 2020.
