OTTAWA – Today, the CRTC added six new foreign, third-language TV channels to the eligible satellite list.
Sponsored by the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association, the new additions are: Channel One Russia Worldwide TV, NTDTV, Phoenix North American Chinese Channel, PTV-Prime USA, RTPi, and TV Globo.
"The authorization of additional foreign third-language services allows distributors in specific markets to offer diverse programming to many ethnocultural communities," said Michael Hennessy, CCTA president. "Third-language services often provide a different perspective to world events and are an excellent complement to the current Canadian line-up.
“The addition of new services reflects the cable industry’s continued desire to offer the best services from Canada and around the world," he added.
And yesterday, the CRTC said it’s adopted a “new approach” to licensing new Canadian ethnic/third language category two digital channels.
After gathering information for the better part of a year, the Commission said in its decision yesterday that the new approach has been designed to maximize the availability of such services for Canadians and to encourage their carriage by BDUs when available, while protecting the existing incumbent Canadian analog ethnic channels.
Click here for the full decision.
As for the newest foreign services, their descriptions are below.
Channel One Russia Worldwide TV is a 24-hour Russian-language channel targeted to Russian speaking communities in North America. The channel originates in Moscow and is the international version of Channel One, Russia’s major television network. Channel One Russia Worldwide TV offers a diverse mix of programming including news and documentaries, dramatic specials, feature film presentations, contemporary performances, game shows and sports.
NTDTV is a global independent, non-profit Chinese language TV network with its headquarters in New York City. NTDTV’s programming is more than 90% Mandarin and includes world news, arts and entertainment, variety shows and documentary/ educational programs.
Phoenix North America Chinese Channel (PNACC) features high quality programming that caters to Chinese communities providing news and entertainment television from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and other countries in the Asian Pacific region, 24-hours-a-day. The Channel is broadcast primarily in Mandarin. Content on the channel includes drama series, music, talk shows, current affairs, lifestyle shows, infotainment and locally produced programs.
PTV-Prime USA is a 24-hour family-oriented channel in the Urdu language targeted to South Asian communities. PTV’s diverse programming from Pakistan includes dramas, sitcoms, music, news, documentaries, and religious segments.
RTPi is the international television network of Radiotelevisao Portuguesa, SA, Portugal’s public broadcasting company. The RTPi service consists of diverse, general interest Portuguese language programming, including news and current affairs, drama, sports and music.
TV Globo Internacional (TV Globo) is a 24-hour general interest channel in the Portuguese language targeted at Brazilian and Portuguese communities. TV Globo Internacional programming includes tele-novelas, live news, variety programming, talk shows, documentaries and sports (soccer and live events).
