OTTAWA — The CRTC is proposing to amend the general authorizations for BDUs to authorize the satellite-to-cable CTV Two Alberta service to be included as part of the basic service in Alberta, but the Commission wants to hear from interested parties first.
In May 2017, the CRTC approved Bell Media’s request to continue to allow CTV Two Alberta to be offered on the basic service in Alberta, as part of its Broadcasting Decision 2017-149. At the same time, the Commission announced it would issue a notice of consultation calling for comments on amendments to the general authorizations applicable to terrestrial and direct-to-home BDUs in order to permit BDUs to include CTV Two Alberta as part of the basic service.
An amendment is necessary because sections 16.1 and 45.1 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations limit the content of the basic service that BDUs can distribute to specified local television stations and certain other services. BDUs would require an exception to the regulations in order to distribute the satellite-to-cable service CTV Two Alberta as part of their basic service in Alberta, the CRTC explained.
As such, the CRTC is proposing to add the following amendment to the General authorizations for broadcasting distribution undertakings (the latest version of which is published in the appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2018-271):
8. As an exception to sections 16.1 and 45.1 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, the licensee may distribute CTV Two Alberta as part of the basic service offered to subscribers located in Alberta.
On Thursday, the CRTC issued Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-51 to solicit comments on the appropriateness of the proposed amendment and its proposed wording. Comments should be limited to the addition of CTV Two Alberta only. The deadline for the submission of comments is March 25, 2019.
