OTTAWA – The CRTC is considering amending the definition of the “broadcast day” as it applies to the standard conditions of licence for competitive mainstream sports specialty services.
The Commission said Tuesday that the proposed amendment would allow licensees of specialty Category C services operating in the mainstream sports genre to choose between an 18- or a 24-hour broadcast day. Currently, the broadcast day is defined as the period of up to 18 consecutive hours, beginning each day not earlier than six o’clock in the morning and ending not later than one o’clock in the morning of the following day, as selected by the licensee.
Bell Media requested the change, arguing that Category C services should be accorded the same flexibility as Category B services int his regard. It also noted that if its request was approved, it intended to file applications to amend the licences for its specialty Category C services Le Réseau des sports (RDS) and The Sports Network (TSN) to adopt a 24-hour broadcast day.
The deadline for comments is March 6, 2012.
