GATINEAU – The CRTC Tuesday said no to adding the U.S. cable channel National Geographic Wild to the eligible satellite list for distribution in Canada.
Shaw Communications had made the application and High Fidelity HDTV, which runs a similar, Canadian service here (Oasis HD) opposed the application, as did CTV.
Fox Cable Networks-owned NatGeo Wild airs wildlife and nature programming, including a variety of documentaries, series, events and specials.
CTV and HiFi said the U.S. channel would be at least partially competitive with their respective Category B specialty services Animal Planet and Oasis HD. “Specifically, CTV and High Fidelity highlighted several documentary series on NatGeo Wild that are similar if not identical to series featured on their respective services,” reads the decision.
“High Fidelity further argued that given the similarity of programming between its service and NatGeo Wild, NatGeo Wild would appeal to and compete directly with Oasis HD’s target audience, resulting in greater audience fragmentation and ultimately affecting Oasis HD’s ability to grow and to increase its contributions to the Canadian broadcasting system. High Fidelity further noted that it is required by condition of licence to air at least 35% Canadian content, while the proposed service could operate in Canada without making any such contribution to the Canadian broadcasting system.
HiFi also noted that if Shaw really believed that the wildlife genre was strong enough to support new channels, it should launch its own Category 2 specialty service under terms and conditions similar to those that apply to Oasis HD.
Shaw argued Commission policy is meant to “ensure that Canadians have legitimate access to non-Canadian services where they do not compete with Canadian services, not to obviate audience fragmentation altogether or exclude unique services for which there is audience demand. Shaw submitted that unless the Commission allows broadcasting distribution undertakings to offer the fullest range of services in attractive packages, the Canadian broadcasting system will decline in the face of competition from unregulated and illegal sources,” reads the decision.
“Based on its analysis of the nature of the service, the language of operation, the genres of programming provided and the target audience, the Commission finds that NatGeo Wild offers programming that is similar to and would overlap substantially with that provided by Oasis HD and Animal Planet. Shaw did not, in this case, provide sufficient evidence to persuade the Commission that NatGeo Wild is unique or different from what is already available to Canadians through the above-noted services,” said the Commission in denying Shaw’s request.
