GATINEAU – The CRTC has approved SaskTel’s application for a national general interest pay-per-view service.
The service would air mainly live sports, concerts, and other events, as well as pre-recorded sports and events, local programming, and adult programming. Up to 85% of programs would be live sports. Most programs would be in English, though French and third-language programming would be considered based on viewer demand.
As well, the commission has approved SaskTel’s application to run a free outlet for local expression, similar to a cable community channel, as part of its PPV offering. Less than 10% of its total PPV programming would be free local expression, consisting primarily of amateur sports. The service will be allowed to broadcast sponsorship messages under the same rules that govern community channels.
Since the SaskTel PPV service will not air feature films, the commission had to come up with other ways to ensure a minimum amount of Canadian programming. As conditions of licence, the service must air at least four English-language Canadian-based events per year, and a minimum of 20% of all program titles must be Canadian.
The service must spend at least 5% of gross annual revenues to Canadian production funds; SaskTel had indicated it would support the Canadian Television Fund and the Saskatchewan Film and Video Development Corporation.
When considering the proposed service, the CRTC received interventions from, among others, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and Rogers Cable Communications, neither of whom objected to the service on principle. Both wanted to ensure that the conditions of licence were similar to other PPV offerings. Rogers suggested the commission amend its pay TV regulations to allow all video on demand and pay per view services the option of offering community programming.
The licence will expire on Aug. 31, 2013.
The commission’s decision can be found here.
