OTTWA – Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. has applied for a licence for another sports channel, called Sportsnet 2, which would primarily cover soccer, cricket and rugby. The application for the national Category 2 digital licence was gazetted Thursday by the CRTC (Broadcasting Notice 2007-7).
The new channel would seek “a limited ability to cover other sports,” but is prepared to accept a condition of licence prohibiting coverage of North American professional sports leagues (National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, Canadian Football League and National Football League).
Rogers tells the CRTC in its application that Sportsnet 2 would not directly compete with any existing analog specialty or digital Category 1 stations. Its application states, “Our nature of service and sports coverage will be much more complementary in nature, focusing on specific sports niches that do not receive significant enough coverage from existing analog specialty services.”
Rogers vice-president of business and regulatory affairs Alain Strati writes in his licence application introductory letter that the channel is “committed to showcasing soccer in all its forms” and “fans of cricket and rugby would be similarly well served through our broadcast of international and professional games and matches.”
In its application, Rogers notes that no more than 10% of all programming and no more than 5% of live programming on Sportsnet 2 during the broadcast year would be sports other than soccer, cricket and rugby. Car racing, cycling and track and field would likely make up the other sports programming, Rogers responds to CRTC interrogatories.
Rogers is seeking the right to offer both a standard definition and high-definition version of Sportsnet 2, which was originally called Sportsnet World.
Comments on the licence application are due by July 27.
