OTTAWA – The CRTC has dismissed complaints against TSN2 from rival sports networks, saying the sports channel does have the authority to time-shift the programming it offers on its authorized split-feed service.
As previously reported by Cartt.ca, CBC and Score Media complained to the Commission in September, just after TSN2’s launch, claiming that The Sports Network (TSN) did not have the regulatory authority to launch the new channel in the way it has been pitched and launched. The two broadcasters alleged that TSN had taken multiple CRTC decisions and interpreted them out of context in order to meet its needs and rebrand what was a sometimes operational TSN alternate feed to TSN2, a full-time channel carried by nearly all distributors now except for notable holdout Rogers Cable.
“It appears that by marrying (the 2002-351 language) together with the authorization granted in Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-620 for a split feed comprising no more than 10% of differentiated live national programming, TSN believes it has received express authority from the Commission for the launch of TSN2,” Score Media wrote in its letter to the CRTC.
But the CRTC disagreed, releasing its decision late last week. Acknowledging that TSN had “combined authorizations in an unexpected manner”, it ruled that TSN2 is in compliance with both its condition of licence relating to multiple feeds and with the Commission’s policy on time-shifting.
For more on the CRTC decision, click here.
