GATINEAU — Amid ongoing concerns about Super Channel’s ability to comply with its conditions of licence regarding Canadian programming expenditures and regional outreach programs, the CRTC announced last week it is renewing the pay-TV specialty channel’s broadcasting licence for a four-year period, but was also suspending the licence at the same time.
However, the Commission says in its decision, the suspension will automatically go into effect only if:
- the licensee (Allarco Entertainment) fails to make shortfall payments or remit reimbursed funds related to required script and concept development expenditures set out in its conditions of licence; or
- the licensee obtains protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (something it has had to do twice before)
Super Channel’s shortfall in script and concept development expenditures currently totals a little more than $5 million, which the Commission says Allarco must make in six-month instalments to the Canada Media Fund, starting February 28, 2021.
Super Channel’s licence has been renewed until August 31, 2024.
The Commission also issued a mandatory order to Super Channel, saying it must devote 30% of its previous broadcast year’s gross revenues to Canadian programming expenditures. In addition, Super Channel must complete an annual production report detailing CPE by region and language, as well as CPE allocated to independent and affiliated producers, and programming produced by official language minority community (OLMC) and Indigenous producers. The annual production report must also include information about the production roles held by women.
Super Channel’s licence renewal was subject to a public hearing last year, where its non-compliance was scrutinized by the Commission during a difficult questioning of Allarco Entertainment’s president and CEO, Don McDonald.
