OTTAWA – The CRTC approved an application by Natyf TV forcing broadcasters in Quebec to carry its channel on basic TV packages for five years.
The regulator approved a monthly wholesale cost per subscriber to carry the channel of 12 cents for the term, which will run from September 1 this year to August 31, 2028.
The channel, owned by Melkisedek Media Inc., caters to Francophone “racialized” communities in the province, “with the aim of reflecting those communities’ interests and encouraging a new group of Francophone creators from ethnocultural communities,” the CRTC said. The programming is entirely broadcast in French and focuses on themes including culture, fashion, wellness, the arts and education.
The company said in its application it wouldn’t be able to meet its objectives if it did not receive a wider distribution to connect with its target audience.
The application was opposed by Bell, Rogers, Cogeco, Quebecor and SaskTel, largely arguing that the application provided no support for the need for mandatory distribution.
“The Commission finds that the applicant has demonstrated that there is a need to serve Francophone racialized communities in Quebec and that NATYF’s proposal for the service would meet this need,” the CRTC said in its decision. “Furthermore, the Commission finds that the service will provide a window for new French-speaking content creators from ethnocultural communities.”
